The Wichita metropolitan area, officially known as the Wichita, Kansas MSA, is a metropolitan area in south-central Kansas at the confluence of the Little Arkansas and Arkansas Rivers, anchored by the city of Wichita. The U.S. Census Bureau defines the metropolitan statistical area as consisting of Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick, and Sumner counties. Covering 4,180 square miles (10,390 km²), the 2024 estimated census placed the population at 661,217, making it the largest metropolitan area anchored in Kansas. However, the bi-state Kansas City metropolitan area, which extends into both Kansas and Missouri, is larger.

Cultural attractions include the Wichita Art Museum, the Ulrich Museum of Art, Exploration Place, the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Botanica Wichita, the Kansas Aviation Museum, and the Museum of World Treasures. Performing arts venues include Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, the Orpheum Theatre, the Scottish Rite Temple, and Intrust Bank Arena. Other attractions include the Sedgwick County Zoo, Keeper of the Plains sculpture, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Historic features include the Old Cowtown Museum, the Douglas Design District, Delano neighborhood, and the Arkansas River crossing marked by the Keeper of the Plains. Historic cultural origins include the city’s role as a cattle-shipping center during the late 19th century, early aviation manufacturing, and its contributions to American fast-food franchising, as the founding place of chains such as White Castle, Pizza Hut, and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

The Wichita metropolitan area is located in south-central Kansas along the Arkansas River, near its confluence with the Little Arkansas River. The city of Wichita forms the urban core, with development radiating outward into suburban and exurban communities. The metro is generally surrounded by agricultural land, with smaller satellite towns connected by state routes.

Downtown Wichita lies near the geographic center of the city, bordered by the Arkansas River to the west and the historic Delano and Old Town districts. Suburban growth is concentrated in Sedgwick County, and mostly within Wichita.

As of the census of 2000, there were 571,166 people, 220,440 households, and 149,768 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 82.36% White, 7.51% African American, 1.06% Native American, 2.73% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.67% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.23% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $42,070, and the median income for a family was $50,202. Males had a median income of $37,025 versus $24,444 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $19,519.

In 2024, the Wichita metropolitan area had a GDP of approximately US$ 46.47 billion, which represents about 20.6% of Kansas’s total nominal GDP, making it the second-largest contributor to Kansas’s economy.