List of Welsh principal areas

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Population in Wales is concentrated in South Wales and the northeast; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

This is a list of the 22 principal areas of Wales[1][2] giving their most recent date of creation and the style by which they are known.

The population and density are from the Office for National Statistics 2022 estimates.[3]

Names  | Date
created  | Population  | Population density  | Area  | Style  | Administrative centre

|
|
|
|
|
|

English  | Welsh  | (/km2)  | (/mi2)  | (km2)  | (mi2)
Cardiff | Caerdydd  | 1996[a] | 372,089  | 2,641  | 6,840  | 141  | 54  | County, city  | Cardiff
Swansea | Abertawe  | 1996[a] | 241,282  | 639  | 1,660  | 378  | 146  | County, city  | Swansea
Rhondda Cynon Taf | 1996  | 239,018  | 564  | 1,460  | 424  | 164  | County borough  | Pontypridd
Carmarthenshire | Sir Gaerfyrddin  | 1996[a] | 189,117  | 80  | 210  | 2,370  | 920  | County  | Carmarthen
Caerphilly | Caerffili  | 1996  | 176,130  | 635  | 1,640  | 277  | 107  | County borough  | Ystrad Mynach
Newport | Casnewydd  | 1996[a] | 161,506  | 848  | 2,200  | 190  | 73  | County borough, city  | Newport
Flintshire | Sir y Fflint  | 1996[b] | 155,319  | 353  | 910  | 440  | 170  | County  | Mold
Bridgend | Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr  | 1996  | 146,136  | 583  | 1,510  | 251  | 97  | County borough  | Bridgend
Neath Port Talbot[c] | Castell-nedd Port Talbot  | 1996  | 142,158  | 322  | 830  | 441  | 170  | County borough  | Port Talbot
Wrexham | Wrecsam  | 1996  | 135,394  | 269  | 700  | 504  | 195  | County borough, city  | Wrexham
Powys | 1974  | 133,891  | 26  | 67  | 5,181  | 2,000  | County  | Llandrindod Wells
Vale of Glamorgan | Bro Morgannwg  | 1996  | 133,492  | 403  | 1,040  | 331  | 128  | County borough  | Barry
Pembrokeshire | Sir Benfro  | 1996[a] | 124,367  | 77  | 200  | 1,618  | 625  | County  | Haverfordwest
Gwynedd[d] | 1974[e] | 117,591  | 46  | 120  | 2,535  | 979  | County  | Caernarfon
Conwy[f] | 1996  | 114,290  | 102  | 260  | 1,126  | 435  | County borough  | Conwy
Denbighshire | Sir Ddinbych  | 1996[b] | 96,558  | 115  | 300  | 837  | 323  | County  | Ruthin
Monmouthshire | Sir Fynwy  | 1996[b] | 93,886  | 111  | 290  | 849  | 328  | County  | Usk
Torfaen | 1996  | 92,860  | 739  | 1,910  | 126  | 49  | County borough  | Pontypool
Ceredigion[g] | 1996  | 71,610  | 40  | 100  | 1,785  | 689  | County  | Aberaeron and Aberystwyth
Isle of Anglesey | Ynys Môn  | 1996[a] | 69,049  | 97  | 250  | 712  | 275  | County  | Llangefni
Blaenau Gwent | 1996  | 67,014  | 616  | 1,600  | 109  | 42  | County borough  | Ebbw Vale
Merthyr Tydfil | Merthyr Tudful  | 1996[a] | 58,883  | 528  | 1,370  | 111  | 43  | County borough  | Merthyr Tydfil

## See also

[edit]

* List of Welsh areas by percentage of Welsh-speakers

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Re-instated as a principal administrative authority after a gap
2. ^ a b c Re-instated as a principal administrative authority after a gap. Boundaries significantly altered in 1996 from its previous incarnation.
3. ^ Named as 'Neath and Port Talbot' in legislation. Name changed by the council.
4. ^ Named as 'Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire' in legislation. Name changed by the council.
5. ^ Boundaries significantly altered in 1996 from its previous incarnation.
6. ^ Named as 'Aberconwy and Colwyn' in legislation. Name changed by the council.
7. ^ Named as 'Cardiganshire' in legislation. Name changed by the council.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Welsh Local Authority Links - WLGA". www.wlga.wales. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
2. ^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 - Schedule 1: The New Principal Areas". Legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 5 July 1994. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
3. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

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Lists of settlements in the United Kingdom

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Principal areas of Wales

Areas|

* Blaenau Gwent
* Bridgend
* Caerphilly
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* Carmarthenshire
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* Denbighshire
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Geography of Wales

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|

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