The Groningen-Assen metropolitan area includes the key cities of Groningen (230,000 inhabitants) and Assen (67,000 inhabitants) as well as the surrounding municipalities. Altogether it had over half a milion inhabitants in 2018.
The airport of the region is Groningen Airport Eelde.
| Municipality | Nos. of inhabitants | |
|---|---|---|
| 01-01-2016 | 31-05-2018 | |
| Assen | 67,061 | 67,776 |
| Bedum | 10,433 | 10,438 |
| Groningen | 201,200 | 202,332 |
| Haren | 19,076 | 19,895 |
| Leek | 19,536 | 19,680 |
| Midden-Groningen [1] | n/a [2] | 60,953 |
| Noordenveld | 31,039 | 31,353 |
| Ten Boer | 7,352 | 7,275 |
| Tynaarlo | 32,804 | 33,532 |
| Winsum | 13,633 | 13,552 |
| Zuidhorn | 18,794 | 18,921 |
| Total | 470,555 | 505,853 |