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.
| Preserved counties of Wales | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Lieutenancy areas |
| Location | Wales |
| Created by | Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19) |
| Created | 1 April 1996 |
| Number | 8 (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 |