metro atlanta, designated by the united states office of management and budget as the atlanta–sandy springs–roswell, ga metropolitan statistical area, is the most populous metro area in the us state of georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area (msa) in the united states. its economic, cultural and demographic center is atlanta, and has an estimated 2018 population of 5,949,951 according to the u.s. census bureau. the metro area forms the core of a broader trading area, the atlanta–athens-clarke–sandy springs combined statistical area. the combined statistical area spans up to 39 counties in north georgia and has an estimated 2017 population of 6,555,956. atlanta is considered a "beta(+) world city." it is the third largest metropolitan region in the census bureau's southeast region behind greater washington and greater miami.