List of Welsh principal areas

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]

Name	Date created	Population	Population density		Area		Style
Name	Date created	Population	(/km²)	(/mi²)	(km²)	(mi²)	Style
Cardiff	1996^[a]	372,089	2,641	6,840	141	54	County, city
Swansea	1996^[a]	241,282	639	1,660	378	146	County, city
Rhondda Cynon Taf	1996	239,018	564	1,460	424	164	County borough
Carmarthenshire	1996^[a]	189,117	80	210	2,370	920	County
Caerphilly	1996	176,130	635	1,640	277	107	County borough
Newport	1996^[a]	161,506	848	2,200	190	73	County borough, city
Flintshire	1996^[b]	155,319	353	910	440	170	County
Bridgend	1996	146,136	583	1,510	251	97	County borough
Neath Port Talbot^[c]	1996	142,158	322	830	441	170	County borough
Wrexham	1996	135,394	269	700	504	195	County borough, city
Vale of Glamorgan	1996	133,492	403	1,040	331	128	County borough
Powys	1974	133,891	26	67	5,181	2,000	County
Pembrokeshire	1996^[a]	124,367	77	200	1,618	625	County
Gwynedd^[d]	1974^[e]	117,591	46	120	2,535	979	County
Conwy^[f]	1996	114,290	102	260	1,126	435	County borough
Denbighshire	1996^[b]	96,558	115	300	837	323	County
Monmouthshire	1996^[b]	93,886	111	290	849	328	County
Torfaen	1996	92,860	739	1,910	126	49	County borough
Ceredigion^[g]	1996	71,610	40	100	1,785	689	County
Isle of Anglesey	1996^[a]	69,049	97	250	712	275	County
Blaenau Gwent	1996	67,014	616	1,600	109	42	County borough
Merthyr Tydfil	1996^[a]	58,883	528	1,370	111	43	County borough

Notes

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

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United Kingdom	Urban areas Cities Nicknames GVA
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Northern Ireland	Localities Districts by population / density / area religion or religion brought up in national identity Pre-2015 districts Towns and villages

v t e Principal areas of Wales
Areas	Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Isle of Anglesey Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhondda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham
Lists	Date / population / area Welsh speakers Highest point Councils Council armorials