The Washington metropolitan area (also referred to as the National Capital Region, Greater Washington, or locally as the DMV, short for District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) is the metropolitan area comprising Washington, D.C., the federal capital of the United States, and its surroundings. The metropolitan area includes all of Washington, D.C., and parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. The United States federal government defines the area as the Washington–DC, VA–MD–WV metropolitan statistical area. It anchors the southern end of the densely populated Northeast megalopolis and is part of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area, the country's third-largest. The area's estimated total population of 6,304,975 (as of 2023) makes it the country's seventh-most populous metropolitan area. It is one of the country's most educated and affluent metropolitan areas.
Nomenclature The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the area as the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV metropolitan statistical area, a metropolitan statistical area used for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau and other agencies. The region's three largest cities are the federal city of Washington, D.C., the county (and census-designated place) of Arlington, and the independent city of Alexandria. The Office of Management and Budget also includes the metropolitan statistical area as part of the larger Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area, which has a population of 9,546,579 as of the 2014 Census Estimate.
The Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia portions of the metropolitan area are sometimes referred to as the National Capital Region, particularly by federal agencies such as the military, Department of Homeland Security, and some local government agencies. The National Capital Region portion of the Washington metropolitan area is also colloquially known by the abbreviation "DMV", which stands for the "District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia". Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, is at the center of the region. This is the source of the term Inside the Beltway, referring to Federal government insiders and related interests. Washington, D.C. is colloquially referred to as simply "the District" due to its status as a federal district. The Virginian portion of the region is known as Northern Virginia. The Maryland portion of the region is sometimes called the Maryland-National Capital Region by local authorities but rarely by the general public.
Composition
The U.S. Census Bureau divides the Washington metropolitan statistical area into three (formerly two) metropolitan divisions: Washington, DC–MD Metropolitan Division, consisting of Washington D.C., Prince George's County and Charles County, Maryland Arlington–Alexandria–Reston, VA–WV Metropolitan Division, consisting of Northern Virginia and Jefferson County, WV Frederick–Gaithersburg–Rockville, MD Metropolitan Division, consisting of Montgomery and Frederick counties
Counties or county equivalents and populations
+Counties and County equivalents within the Washington metropolitan areaCounty2025 estimate2020 CensusChangeAreaDensityFairfax County, VirginiaMontgomery County, MarylandPrince George's County, MarylandWashington, District of ColumbiaPrince William County, VirginiaLoudoun County, VirginiaFrederick County, MarylandArlington County, VirginiaCharles County, MarylandStafford County, VirginiaCity of Alexandria, VirginiaSpotsylvania County, VirginiaFauquier County, VirginiaJefferson County, West VirginiaCulpeper County, VirginiaCity of Manassas, VirginiaWarren County, VirginiaCity of Fredericksburg, VirginiaCity of Fairfax, VirginiaCity of Manassas Park, VirginiaClarke County, VirginiaCity of Falls Church, VirginiaRappahannock County, VirginiaTotal
Summary by state
+Summary by state/district – Washington metropolitan areaState/districtPopulation (2020)% of totalArea in sq mi% of totalDensityWashington, D.C.689,54511%611%11,295Maryland2,560,37940%2,30535%1,111Virginia 3,077,53748%3,98761%772West Virginia57,7011%2103%275
Regional organizations
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Founded in 1957, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) is a regional organization of 21 Washington-area local governments, as well as area members of the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. MWCOG provides a forum for discussion and the development of regional responses to issues regarding the environment, transportation, public safety, homeland security, affordable housing, community planning, and economic development.
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, a component of MWCOG, is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the metropolitan Washington area.
Consortium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area Chartered in 1964, the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area is a regional organization of 20 colleges and universities in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the United States Institute of Peace, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts representing nearly 300,000+ students. The consortium facilitates course cross registration between all member universities, and universalizes library access across some of its member universities through the Washington Research Library Consortium. It additionally offers joint procurement programs, joint academic initiatives, and campus public safety training.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Formed in 1967 as an interstate compact between Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, the WMATA is a tri-jurisdictional government agency with a board composed of representatives from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the United States Federal government that operates transit services in the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is a multi-jurisdictional independent airport authority, created with the consent of the United States Congress and the legislature of Virginia to oversee management, operations, and capital development of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dulles International Airport.
Greater Washington Board of Trade Founded in 1889, the Greater Washington Board of Trade is a network of regional businesses that work to advance the culture, economy, and resiliency of the Washington metropolitan area.
Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
The Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington (CAGW) works to increase appreciation, support, and resources for arts and culture in the Washington metropolitan area.
Principal cities
The metropolitan area is defined as including the following principal cities (not all of which are incorporated as cities; one, Arlington, is actually a county, while Bethesda, Reston, McLean, and North Bethesda are unincorporated census-designated places).
Washington, D.C. Arlington, Virginia Alexandria, Virginia Frederick, Maryland Gaithersburg, Maryland Bethesda, Maryland Rockville, Maryland Reston, Virginia McLean, Virginia North Bethesda, Maryland
Politics
The Washington metropolitan area is considered a Democratic stronghold. The last Republican to win it was Richard Nixon in his 1972 landslide reelection. Since Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, Democratic candidates have easily won the area by double-digits.
, Democrats hold the mayoralty of D.C., the Maryland governorship, and the Virginia governorship. + Presidential election results Year DEM GOP Others202468.4% 2,176,82528.4% 901,8863.2% 101,645202072.3% 2,320,65825.5% 818,4182.2% 70,283201669.0% 1,860,67825.7% 692,7435.4% 145,269201267.5% 1,813,96330.9% 829,5671.7% 44,708200868.0% 1,603,90231.0% 728,9161.0% 25,288200461.0% 1,258,74338.0% 785,1441.4% 19,735200058.5% 1,023,08937.9% 663,5903.6% 62,437199657.0% 861,88137.0% 558,8306.0% 89,259199253.0% 859,88934.1% 553.36912.9% 209,651198850.4% 684,45348.6% 659,3441.0% 14,219198451.0% 653,56848.5% 621,3770.4% 5,656198044.7% 484,59044.6% 482,50611.1% 115,797197654.2% 590,48144.9% 488,9951.0% 10,654197244.2% 431,25754.8% 534,2351.1% 10,825196849.4% 414,34539.1% 327,66211.5% 96,701196469.8% 495,49030.2% 214,2930.1% 462196052.5% 204,61447.3% 184,4990.1% 593
Demographics Racial composition The area has been a magnet for international immigration since the late 1960s. It is also a magnet for internal migration (persons moving from one region of the U.S. to another).
Racial composition of the Washington metropolitan area.
2021 American Community Survey Non-Hispanic White: 43% Black or African American: 24% (including African 5.4%, West Indian 1.2%, and Ethiopian 0.8%) Hispanic or Latino: 17% Asian: 11% Mixed and other: 6%
! Hispanic origin !! Asian origin |- |5.2% Salvadoran ||2.9% Indian |- |2.3% Mexican ||1.9% Chinese |- |1.6% Guatemalan ||1.2% Korean |- |1.2% Puerto Rican ||1.2% Vietnamese |- |0.9% Honduran ||1.0% Filipino |- |0.9% Peruvian ||0.5% Pakistani |- |0.8% Bolivian ||0.2% Japanese |- |0.5% Colombian ||0.2% Thai |- |0.5% Dominican ||0.2% Bangladeshi |- |5.6% Other ||1.0% Other |} Source: Census Reporter
2010 U.S. Census
White: 54.8% Black: 25.8% Asian: 9.3% Hispanic: 13.8% Mixed and other: 3.7%
2006
White: 51.7% Black: 26.3% Asian: 8.4% Hispanic: 11.6% Mixed and other: 2.0%
1980 White: 67.8% Black: 26.0% Asian: 2.5% Hispanic: 2.8% Mixed and other: 0.9%
Social indicators
The Washington metropolitan area has ranked as the highest-educated metropolitan area in the nation for four decades. As of the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, the three most educated places with 200,000 people or more in Washington–Arlington–Alexandria by bachelor's degree attainment (population 25 and over) are Arlington, Virginia (68.0%), Fairfax County, Virginia (58.8%), and Montgomery County, Maryland (56.4%). Forbes magazine stated in its 2008 "America's Best- And Worst-Educated Cities" report: "The D.C. area is less than half the size of L.A., but both cities have around 100,000 Ph.D.'s."
The Washington metropolitan area has held the top spot in the American College of Sports Medicine's annual American Fitness Index ranking of the United States' 50 most populous metropolitan areas for two years running. The report cites, among other things, the high average fitness level and healthy eating habits of residents, the widespread availability of health care and facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, and parks, low rates of obesity and tobacco use relative to the national average, and the high median household income as contributors to the city's community health.
In the 21st century, the Washington metropolitan area has overtaken the San Francisco Bay Area as the highest-income metropolitan area in the nation. The median household income of the region is US$72,800. The two highest median household income counties in the nation – Loudoun and Fairfax County, Virginia – are components of the MSA (and No. 3 is Howard County, officially in Baltimore's sphere but strongly connected with Washington's); measured in this way, Alexandria ranks 10th among municipalities in the region – 11th if Howard is included – and 23rd in the entire United States. 12.2% of Northern Virginia's 881,136 households, 8.5% of suburban Maryland's 799,300 households, and 8.2% of Washington's 249,805 households have an annual income in excess of $200,000, compared to 3.7% nationally.