Greater Los Angeles is the most populous metropolitan area in California, spanning five counties and covering over 33,000 square miles—making it the largest metro region in the U.S. by land area. With an estimated population of over 18.3 million in 2023, it ranks as the second-largest metropolitan area in the country (behind New York) and one of the world's largest megacities. While globally renowned as the nexus of the entertainment industry (film, TV, and music), it is also a powerhouse in international trade, technology, and sports, holding the third-largest metropolitan economy in the world with an output exceeding $1 trillion. The region is officially structured into components, including the core Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan statistical area (home to roughly 13 million people) and the broader Inland Empire and Ventura County areas. Although it borders the San Diego–Tijuana region, the two are separated by Camp Pendleton, but together they form part of a larger Southern California megalopolis that extends into Mexico.