There&#x27;s multiple confusing metropolitan areas, depending on what you want to count. See: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;San_Francisco_Bay_Area" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;San_Francisco_Bay_Area</a> which lists it at 7.44 million.<p>The 4.5 million is for San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, which notably excludes San Jose and things more associated with that part of the area.