Metro Atlanta , designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell , GA Metropolitan Statistical Area , is the most populous metro area in the US state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) in the United States . The Combined Statistical Area spans up to 39 counties in north Georgia and had an estimated 2015 population of 6.3 million people . It is the third largest metropolitan region in the Census Bureau 's Southeast region behind Greater Washington and South Florida .
Atlanta metropolitan area is located in south Georgia.