DS Metropolitan regions > Information on data > EN > REVAMP

Metropolitan regions can play a crucial role in the economic, social, and cultural development of a country. They often serve as centres for business, commerce, and innovation.

Metropolitan regions are based on the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). They refer to NUTS 3 regions or a combination of NUTS 3 regions that encompass all functional urban areas (FUAs) with a population of at least 250 000 people.

Focus on commuting

Accounting for commuting patterns is crucial when analysing regional data. Commuting can significantly impact statistics on population, economic activities, and other indicators. Using metropolitan regions helps capture the economic and social interactions that extend beyond administrative boundaries.

Available topics

Data is available for the following topics:

  • demography
  • economic accounts
  • business demography
  • labour market

Policy context

Metropolitan regions are relevant to various EU policies, such as the cohesion policy and the urban agenda for the EU, that aim to address regional disparities, promote sustainable development, and improve the overall well-being of citizens.