Preserved counties of Wales

current areas used in Wales for the ceremonial purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty

Wales is split into eight preserved counties. They are areas used for the ceremonial purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty.

Flag of Wales
Preserved counties of Wales
CategoryLieutenancy areas
LocationWales
Created byLocal Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19)
Created1 April 1996
Number8 (as of 2008)

Between 1974 and 1996, they were used for local government purposes.

Seven of the eight preserved counties are now split into counties and principal areas. Powys is the only one that still exists.

Name Now split into Area (km²) Population
Clwyd Conwy
Denbighshire
Flintshire
Wrexham
2,910 491,100
Dyfed Carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
Pembrokeshire
5,780 375,200
Gwent Blaenau Gwent
Caerphilly
Monmouthshire
Newport
Torfaen
1,553 560,500
Gwynedd Gwynedd
Isle of Anglesey
3,262 187,400
Mid Glamorgan Bridgend
Merthyr Tydfil
Rhondda Cynon Taf
781 423,200
Powys Powys 5,196 132,000
South Glamorgan Cardiff
Vale of Glamorgan
475 445,000
West Glamorgan Neath Port Talbot
Swansea
820 365,500