List of Welsh principal areas

This is a list of the 22 principal areas of Wales 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.

Names Date
created
Population Population density Area Style Administrative centre
English Welsh (/km2) (/mi2) (km2) (mi2)
CardiffCaerdydd 1996 372,089 2,6416,840 14154 County, city Cardiff
SwanseaAbertawe 1996 241,282 6391,660 378146 County, city Swansea
Rhondda Cynon Taf 1996 239,018 5641,460 424164 County borough Pontypridd
CarmarthenshireSir Gaerfyrddin 1996 189,117 80210 2,370920 County Carmarthen
CaerphillyCaerffili 1996 176,130 6351,640 277107 County borough Ystrad Mynach
NewportCasnewydd 1996 161,506 8482,200 19073 County borough, city Newport
FlintshireSir y Fflint 1996 155,319 353910 440170 County Mold
BridgendPen-y-bont ar Ogwr 1996 146,136 5831,510 25197 County borough Bridgend
Neath Port TalbotCastell-nedd Port Talbot 1996 142,158 322830 441170 County borough Port Talbot
WrexhamWrecsam 1996 135,394 269700 504195 County borough, city Wrexham
Powys 1974 133,891 2667 5,1812,000 County Llandrindod Wells
Vale of GlamorganBro Morgannwg 1996 133,492 4031,040 331128 County borough Barry
PembrokeshireSir Benfro 1996 124,367 77200 1,618625 County Haverfordwest
Gwynedd 1974 117,591 46120 2,535979 County Caernarfon
Conwy 1996 114,290 102260 1,126435 County borough Conwy
DenbighshireSir Ddinbych 1996 96,558 115300 837323 County Ruthin
MonmouthshireSir Fynwy 1996 93,886 111290 849328 County Usk
Torfaen 1996 92,860 7391,910 12649 County borough Pontypool
Ceredigion 1996 71,610 40100 1,785689 County Aberaeron and Aberystwyth
Isle of AngleseyYnys Môn 1996 69,049 97250 712275 County Llangefni
Blaenau Gwent 1996 67,014 6161,600 10942 County borough Ebbw Vale
Merthyr TydfilMerthyr Tudful 1996 58,883 5281,370 11143 County borough Merthyr Tydfil