Jabird
As you have pointed out we have cities and we have connurbations.
Figures quoted relate to just the cities itself as connurbations/hinterlands can be quite vastly populated as you have pointed out.
There are as quoted a number of locations that have a large population but do not have Ryanair flying from the airports within as they most likely do not fill the criteria ie cheap to use.
Again how far is east and where are we going east from?
Andy