List of Welsh principal areas

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			(/km^2)	(/mi^2)	(km^2)	(mi^2)
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

• List of Welsh areas by percentage of Welsh-speakers

Notes

1. Re-instated as a principal administrative authority after a gap
2. 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

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.