It is centered on the city of Savannah and encompasses three counties: Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham.

[4] Savannah is the third most populous of Georgia's fourteen metropolitan areas (after Atlanta and Augusta).

It was the fastest-growing metro area in the state for the period 2010–2020, followed by Atlanta, Gainesville, and Warner Robins.

(Note: "census-designated places" are unincorporated) At the 2000 United States census, the Savannah metropolitan area grew to 293,000 people, 111,105 households, and 76,405 families.

[10] Since British colonization of the Americas, and the establishment of the Province of Georgia, Christianity grew to become the present-day metropolitan area's dominant religion, with Native American religions declining in practice, though the Gullah-Geechee communities also brought West African religions and derivatives including Hoodoo to the area.

In some Gullah communities within the Savannah metropolitan area, Hoodoo is still practiced to the present day alongside other West African religions.

The single-second largest Christian denomination was the Catholic Church, served by the Diocese of Savannah.

[12] Within the area, the oldest continually-functioning Jewish synagogue is Congregation Mickve Israel.

The economy has been primarily stimulated by the Port of Savannah and by military facilities, medical centers, and colleges and universities.