Greater Kota Kinabalu refers to the urbanised areas surrounding the city of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the state of Sabah and is the largest city in the state. The contiguous built-up urban agglomeration around Kota Kinabalu extends beyond the city boundary on the south side and into the district of Penampang. and to a lesser but growing extent into the districts of Papar (south) and Tuaran (north).
The term Greater Kota Kinabalu is normally used by the state and federal government in relation to social and economic development planning and strategy such as the Sabah Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority, Sabah Town and Regional Planning Department. and the Greater Kota Kinabalu Flood Prevention Committee.
Greater Kota Kinabalu is sometimes referred to as Kota Kinabalu Urban Area, Conurbation of Kota Kinabalu or Kota Kinabalu Metropolitan Area. Kota Kinabalu Metropolitan Area may also include the towns and districts of Papar 38 km south and Tuaran 34 km north of Kota Kinabalu being satellite towns within the metropolitan area.
The population of Greater Kota Kinabalu is 629,943 and Kota Kinabalu Metropolitan Area (including Papar and Tuaran) is 837,694. The population of the city/district of Kota Kinabalu is 462,963. Greater Kota Kinabalu ranks among the six largest conurbation in Malaysia together with Kuala Lumpur (Klang Valley), Greater Penang, Johor Bahru, Ipoh and Kuching. A government investment promotion body estimates the population of Greater KK to be 900,000.
The economic center and focus point of Kota Kinabalu is a small area by the coast known as the Kota Kinabalu Central Business District or Kota Kinabalu City Center.