Los Angeles is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California and serves as the primary commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. As of 2025, the city has an estimated population of 3.87 million residents within its limits, making it the second-most populous city in the United States, following New York City. It is also the largest city in the Western United States.
The city is characterized by an ethnically and culturally diverse population and serves as the principal hub of a metropolitan area containing 12.9 million people as of 2024. Additionally, Greater Los Angeles—a combined statistical area including the Los Angeles and Riverside–San Bernardino metropolitan areas—is a sprawling metropolis with over 18 million residents.