Wales

Wales is a constituent country of the United Kingdom. Its capital is Cardiff.

Find Wales

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Cardiff
Languages: Welsh & English
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Population: 3,175,200Mid-2025 · ONS / Welsh Government
Area: 20,779 km²8,022.81 square miles
Devolution: 1999Constituent country of the United Kingdom.

Wales in context

Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Cardiff; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

Mountainous and hilly terrain includes Eryri in the north and the Cambrian Mountains inland. Coastal lowlands and southern valleys hold many settlements.

Languages

Welsh has official status in Wales, and both Welsh and English are widely used in public life.

Location

Wales lies on the western side of Great Britain, bordering England and the Irish Sea.

Flag

A red dragon on a field divided horizontally into white above green.

Sources: Welsh Government · 2025 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

History & status

Wales developed from several medieval principalities. English conquest in the late thirteenth century was followed by legal incorporation through sixteenth-century legislation. A referendum in 1997 led to a devolved assembly in 1999, which later became the Senedd, or Welsh Parliament.

1536
Legislation begins the legal incorporation of Wales into England
1997
A referendum supports devolution
1999
The devolved Welsh assembly opens

Sources: Welsh Government · 2025 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Economy

Main activities

Services, manufacturing and public administration are major activities. Aerospace, food production and other manufacturing coexist with farming and tourism. Coal mining and heavy industry shaped the economy historically, but their role has declined.

Industry and production

Manufacturing includes aerospace components, food and other industrial products. Tourism, farming and public services are also important; economic conditions vary between regions.

Sources: Welsh Government · 2025 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Population

3,175,200 · Mid-2025 · ONS / Welsh Government

Sources: Welsh Government · 2025 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Government

A constituent country of the United Kingdom with a devolved legislature, the Senedd or Welsh Parliament, and a Welsh Government headed by a First Minister. The UK Parliament retains responsibilities such as defence and foreign affairs.

Sources: Welsh Government · 2025 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Knowledge check

Three questions about Wales.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in Wales: The devolved Welsh assembly opens?

Sources & notes

Sources: Welsh Government · 2025 population · UK Parliament · devolution · House of Lords · union and devolution history · ONS · regional economic activity

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.