Storstadsregioner

Storstadsregioner, or metropolitan regions, are urban areas centered on large cities that extend beyond the core city to include surrounding municipalities connected by strong economic and commuting ties. The concept describes how people live and work across a dense, integrated labor market and shared infrastructure. Borders of storstadsregioner are not fixed administrative boundaries but are defined by functional connections such as commuting patterns, transit corridors, housing markets, and economic activity.

In Sweden and other Nordic contexts, storstadsregioner are commonly used in regional planning and policy to coordinate transport, housing, and climate adaptation across municipalities. A storstadsregion typically comprises a core city (storstad) and several neighboring municipalities within a feasible commuting radius. The region is characterized by high population density, concentrated employment, and substantial investments in rail, road, and urban development.

Key examples include Storstockholm (Stockholm metropolitan region), Göteborgsregionen (Gothenburg metropolitan region), and Malmöregionen (Malmö–Lund region). Data and boundaries for storstadsregioner are produced by national statistics agencies and planning authorities using functional urban area concepts, commuting patterns, and population measures.

Storstadsregioner are used to inform regional planning, infrastructure investments, and economic development strategies. They face challenges related to governance across multiple municipalities, affordable housing, and aligning transportation and climate objectives within a shared regional framework.