A metropolitan area combines an urban agglomeration (the contiguous, built-up area) with zones not necessarily urban in character, but closely bound to the center by employment or other commerce. These outlying zones are

The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs), which are geographical areas designed to represent the functional extent of each of the eight State and Territory capital cities. They were designed to reflect labour markets,

Statistics Canada defines a census metropolitan area (CMA) as an area consisting of one or more adjacent municipalities situated

The European Union's statistical agency, Eurostat, has created a concept named "larger urban zone" (LUZ). The LUZ represents an attempt at a harmonised definition of the

In Bangladesh, the large population centers which have significant Financial, political and administrative Importance are considered to be as

In Brazil, "Metropolitan Regions", "Integrated Development Areas", and "Urban Agglomerations" are created by statute.

In Chinese, there used to be no clear distinction between "megalopolis" (城市群, lit. city cluster) and "metropolitan area" (都市圈) until National Development and Reform Commission issued Guidelines on the Cultivation and Development of Modern Metropolitan