The city of Barranquilla serves as a major trade center for Colombia, housing the largest port in the country.

Due to rapid growth, the region has undergone a series of successive projects intended to harmonize the city and the smaller towns that form its commuter belt, such as the creation of regional lines in the TransMetro of Barranquilla, the bus rapid transit system of the city, to allow for faster commute times.

Local celebrities and personalities have included Sofia Vergara, Shakira, Paulina Vega, Nina Garcia, and Carmen Villalobos.

This conurbation has grown significantly as a direct result of this and led the region to emerge as a metropolitan hub for the country's Atlantic coast.

The Barranquilla metro area is home to the following major league professional sports teams: