<P> There are several different definitions of the region . Many refer to the Twin Cities as the seven - county region which is governed under the Metropolitan Council regional governmental agency and planning organization . The Office of Management and Budget officially designates 16 counties as the Minneapolis -- St. Paul -- Bloomington MN - WI Metropolitan Statistical Area , the 16th largest in the United States . The entire region known as the Minneapolis -- St. Paul MN - WI Combined Statistical Area , has a population of 3,866,768 , the 14th largest , according to 2015 Census estimates . </P>
<P> There are several different definitions of the region . Many refer to the Twin Cities as the seven - county region which is governed under the Metropolitan Council regional governmental agency and planning organization . The Office of Management and Budget officially designates 16 counties as the Minneapolis -- St. Paul -- Bloomington MN - WI Metropolitan Statistical Area , the 16th largest in the United States . The entire region known as the Minneapolis -- St. Paul MN - WI Combined Statistical Area , has a population of 3,866,768 , the 14th largest , according to 2015 Census estimates . </P>
what 's the population of the twin cities metro area
what 's the population of the twin cities metro area
3,866,768
3,866,768