[1] It is the 70th largest Combined Statistical Area in the United States, and is the economic and cultural center of the Inland Northwest.

The CSA is anchored by Spokane and its largest satellite, Coeur d'Alene, which are separated by suburbs that largely follow the path of the Spokane Valley and Rathdrum Prairie.

According to the American Community Survey 1-year estimates (ACS 2016), as of 2016, there were 710,575 people and 276,473 households residing within the CSA.

The racial makeup of the MSA was 85.5% White, 1.4% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $52,596, and about 13.7% of the population lived below the poverty line (including 17.3% of people under the age of 18 and 7.9% of people over the age of 65).