Metropolitan areas in Europe: functional types

Based on the level of the overall index and the functional diversity of the metropolitan areas, four distinct types can be appear to emerge (see map):

Metropolitan areas with extensive functional diversity

The group of 21 largest and most significant metropolitan areas in Europe include important European capitals and some high-density conurbations. These metropolitan areas not only have very high functional importance, but also show extensive functional diversity characterised by at least four of the five functional areas showing above-average index values.

Metropolitan areas with high functional diversity

This group includes 19 fairly large metropolitan areas that are also distinguished by high functional importance. However, metropolitan functional diversity is not as pronounced as in the first group, as only two functional areas are rated above average – For example, some capitals in medium-sized European states have above-average functional importance, but only two factors – one politics, the other mostly culture – are strongly represented.

Metropolitan areas with limited functional diversity

In contrast to the previous type, the 67 medium and small metropolitan areas in this group are ones that draw their importance from the size of the overall index of metropolitan functions rather than from their diversity. National capitals are less frequently represented here. Metropolitan functional diversity is limited in this group and is strongly dominated by one functional area – generally the cultural function.

Metropolitan areas with limited functional diversity and higher specialisation

The 18 metropolitan areas in this group have a relatively low functional importance while simultaneously possessing a particularly high specialisation in one functional area that dominates the overall index by at least 50%. These metropolitan areas should thus be considered national special cases and not fully-functional European metropolitan areas.