The continuing dispersion of international metropolitan areas is
illustrated by recently released 2011 Census of India
preliminary data for the Mumbai "larger" metropolitan area. The
historical core, the "island" district of Mumbai (Inner Mumbai)
lost population between 2001 and 2011, while all growth was in
suburban areas outside the historic core. Indeed, since 1981,
Inner Mumbai lost 140,000 residents, while suburban areas gained
13.2 million. The larger metropolitan area is defined by
district boundaries, the census division level below that of the
state. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has
a more "tight" definition, composed of smaller administrative
units (municipalities), however that data is not yet available
on the internet (Note). The larger metropolitan area includes
four districts, two of which compose the city of Mumbai, Inner
Mumbai (the historic core), and Outer Mumbai. The larger
metropolitan area also includes the district of Thane, which is
to the east and north of Mumba