Find out about the population, climate, symbols, national anthem and more facts about Wales — plus how the country is governed and how it differs from England.

Wales (Cymru) is a country of the United Kingdom — a nation with its own parliament, government, language and teams, but not a sovereign state. It lies on the western side of the island of Great Britain, west of England, with coastline on its other three sides. Around 3.1 million people live here.

The basics

  • Population: 3,107,500 people (Census 2021) — about 4.6 per cent of the UK population
  • Location: Wales is on the island of Great Britain, to the west of England
  • Size: Around 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²) in area
  • Capital: Caerdydd (Cardiff), proclaimed the capital in 1955 — home to the Senedd and the Welsh Government, with a population of around 363,000
  • Cities: Seven. Caerdydd (Cardiff) in the south east, Casnewydd (Newport) to its east and Abertawe (Swansea) to its west; Bangor on the Menai Strait in the north west; Wrecsam (Wrexham), the newest city, awarded city status in 2022; Llanelwy (St Asaph), the second smallest city in the UK; and Tyddewi (St Davids) in Pembrokeshire, the smallest city in the UK with a population under 2,000
  • Time zone: GMT in winter, British Summer Time (GMT+1) in summer
  • Currency: Pound sterling (£) — the same as the rest of the UK
  • Dialling code: +44
  • National day: St David’s Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi), 1 March
  • National symbols: The red dragon, the daffodil and the leek are three of a number of national symbols of Wales
  • National anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers), written in 1856
  • Flag: Y Ddraig Goch — a red dragon on green and white, officially adopted in 1959
  • Government: A devolved government with a First Minister, cabinet and elected parliament — the Senedd — which meets in Cardiff Bay
  • Language: Welsh and English — Wales is a bilingual country. 538,300 people aged three and over could speak Welsh at Census 2021 (17.8 per cent)

Geography and climate

  • Highest mountain: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), in Eryri (Snowdonia National Park), at 1,085m (3,560ft) — the highest peak in Wales and England
  • Biggest natural lake: Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), in Gwynedd
  • National Parks: Wales has three National Parks — Eryri (Snowdonia), Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and the Pembrokeshire Coast — which cover around 20 per cent of the country’s land, plus five National Landscapes
  • Coastline: Around 2,700km (1,680 miles). The Wales Coast Path, opened in 2012 and running 870 miles, was the first path in the world to follow a whole nation’s coast
  • Longest placename: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch, on the Isle of Anglesey — it means “the church of St Mary in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio near a red cave”, and is usually shortened to Llanfairpwll or Llanfair PG
  • Climate: Wales’s weather is mild and variable — with average temperatures of around 20°C (68°F) in summer, and around 6°C (43°F) at low altitude in the winter months

Transport and travel

  • Well connected: Wales is well connected to the rest of the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe by road, rail, sea and air
  • From London: Caerdydd (Cardiff) is around two hours from London by road or by train
  • By air: Cardiff Airport (CWL), at Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, is Wales’s international airport; Liverpool and Bristol airports also serve parts of Wales
  • By sea: Ferries link Holyhead with Dublin, and Fishguard and Pembroke Dock with Rosslare in Ireland
  • By rail: Most rail services in Wales are run by Transport for Wales; the scenic Wales Way routes link the coast and the mountains for touring
  • Driving: The default speed limit on built-up roads in Wales is 20mph — see our guide below before you drive here

Education

  • Schooling: Education is compulsory and state funded from age 5 to 16, delivered through nursery, primary, middle, secondary, special and Welsh-medium schools
  • A Welsh curriculum: Wales has its own Curriculum for Wales and its own made-for-Wales GCSEs, separate from England’s system
  • Further education: Around 172,000 students study at further education institutions in Wales every year
  • Universities: There are eight universities in Wales, and around 25,000 international students from over 145 countries study in Welsh higher education

Work

  • The working week: The standard working week is around 37 hours, and most workers get around five weeks’ holiday a year, plus bank holidays
  • Key industries: Advanced materials and manufacturing, the creative industries, financial and professional services and fintech, energy and environment, food and drink, life sciences, tech and tourism
  • Costs: Prime office rents in Cardiff are around 50 per cent lower than the average London rate

Economy

  • The market: Businesses in Wales have easy access to the whole UK market
  • Exports: Welsh exports range from refined oil shipped from Milford Haven to honey made in Newtown. Germany is Wales’s top export destination, taking around a fifth of exports
  • The Royal Mint: Based at Llantrisant, the Royal Mint makes around five billion coins a year for some 60 countries — every UK coin in your pocket was made in Wales
  • Visitors: Wales welcomes around 10 million visitors a year, including about one million international visitors
  • Big events: Wales has hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010, the NATO Summit in 2014, the UEFA Champions League Final in 2017 and matches at the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019

How Wales is governed

  • The Senedd (Welsh Parliament): 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs) sit in Cardiff Bay and make laws on health, education, housing, transport, farming and the environment. From the 2026 election the Senedd grows to 96 members, elected by proportional representation
  • The Welsh Government: The First Minister and cabinet who run the NHS in Wales, schools policy, transport and other devolved services day to day
  • Westminster: The UK Parliament keeps defence, foreign policy, immigration and most taxation and welfare. Wales elects 32 MPs to the House of Commons
  • Policing and justice: Unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, policing and courts are not devolved in Wales — Wales shares the England and Wales legal system
  • Welsh taxes: The Welsh Revenue Authority collects Land Transaction Tax, which replaced Stamp Duty in Wales in 2018, and the Senedd can vary income tax through the Welsh Rates of Income Tax
  • Local government: 22 principal area councils run local services, from social care to bins

Wales and England: what is actually different

  • Speed limits: Wales made 20mph the default limit on restricted (built-up) roads in September 2023 — England’s default remains 30mph
  • Prescriptions: Free for everyone in Wales since 2007; England charges per item
  • Organ donation: Wales introduced the opt-out (deemed consent) system in 2015 — the first UK nation to do so
  • Carrier bags: Wales was the first UK nation to charge for single-use bags, in 2011
  • Water: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a not-for-profit company — unique in England and Wales
  • Buying a home: Land Transaction Tax applies in Wales, with different rates and bands from England’s Stamp Duty
  • Council tax: Welsh homes were last revalued in 2003; English bands still rest on 1991 values

Language and culture

  • The language: Cymraeg (Welsh) is a Celtic language spoken in this land for over 1,500 years — the oldest living language in Britain
  • Where it is strongest: Gwynedd, where 64.4 per cent of people aged three and over speak Welsh, and the Isle of Anglesey at 55.8 per cent (Census 2021)
  • The target: The Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy aims for a million Welsh speakers by 2050
  • Welsh media: S4C, the Welsh-language TV channel, launched in 1982; BBC Radio Cymru broadcasts in Welsh daily
  • The eisteddfod: Wales’s travelling festival of music, poetry and performance — the National Eisteddfod is one of Europe’s largest cultural festivals
  • The anthem moment: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was the first national anthem ever sung before a sporting event — Wales v New Zealand, Cardiff, 1905

Sport

  • Rugby: The national game. Wales play at the Principality Stadium in Caerdydd (Cardiff), capacity around 73,900, and have won Grand Slams in 2005, 2008, 2012, 2019 and 2021
  • Football: Wales reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals and the 2022 World Cup — their first World Cup since 1958
  • Why separate teams? The Football Association of Wales (1876) is the third-oldest national association in world football, and Wales helped found rugby’s international board in 1886. Both teams predate the modern UK structures
  • The four regions and clubs: Cardiff Rugby, Dragons RFC, Ospreys and Scarlets in rugby; Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham AFC and Newport County in the English football leagues

Wales in ten dates

  • 1535–1542: The Laws in Wales Acts unite Wales with England under one legal system
  • 1856: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau written in Pontypridd
  • 1955: Caerdydd (Cardiff) proclaimed capital of Wales
  • 1959: Y Ddraig Goch officially adopted as the national flag
  • 1997: Wales votes for a devolved assembly by just 6,721 votes (50.3 per cent Yes)
  • 1999: The National Assembly for Wales opens in Cardiff
  • 2011: Welsh given official status by the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure; voters back full law-making powers
  • 2020: The Assembly is renamed Senedd Cymru — the Welsh Parliament
  • 2023: The 20mph default speed limit begins in built-up areas
  • 2026: The Senedd expands from 60 to 96 members at the election

Frequently asked questions

Is Wales a country?

Yes — one of the four countries of the United Kingdom, with its own parliament, government and national teams. It is not a sovereign state: no separate UN seat, currency or armed forces. Our full guide, Is Wales a Country?, explains the argument in depth.

Is Wales part of England?

No. Wales and England are separate countries that share a legal system (the “England and Wales” jurisdiction) — a legacy of the 1535–1542 Acts. Since 1999, most Welsh domestic policy has been made in Cardiff, not London.

What language do they speak in Wales?

English, spoken by almost everyone, and Welsh — spoken by 538,300 people aged three and over (17.8 per cent, Census 2021). Signs, public services and broadcasting are bilingual.

What is the capital of Wales?

Caerdydd (Cardiff), since 1955 — the largest city in Wales, home to the Senedd, the Welsh Government and the Principality Stadium.

What currency does Wales use?

The pound sterling (£), as in the rest of the UK. There are no separate Welsh banknotes in circulation.

Why does Wales have its own rugby and football teams?

Because Wales helped create both sports’ international structures in the 19th century, before the modern UK sporting bodies existed — and the teams, and the anthem before kick-off, have been part of Welsh life ever since.

Related stories

Is Wales a Country? The Simple Answer

Why Wales is a country but not a sovereign state — and why the argument never quite settles.

What Is the Capital of Wales? Cardiff Explained

How a coal port became a capital only in 1955, and what Cardiff does for Wales today.

Wales Population: How Many People Live in Wales?

The census numbers, the trends behind them, and where people in Wales actually live.

Is Wales in the UK or England?

The UK, Great Britain, England and Wales untangled — the distinction that explains everything else.

What Language Do They Speak in Wales?

Welsh and English side by side: where Welsh is spoken, how it is growing, and phrases to try.

Why Does the Welsh Flag Have a Dragon?

The story of Y Ddraig Goch, from battle standard to one of the world’s oldest national flags.

Money Matters: Currency and the Cost of Living in Wales

The facts about currency, making money and what everyday life costs in Wales.

More guides in this hub

  • How Big Is Wales? Size Compared to Countries and US States
  • Why Is Wales Called Wales? The Real Origin of the Name
  • What Does Cymru Mean?
  • What Currency Does Wales Use? Money Basics for Visitors
  • Wales vs England: What Is Actually Different?
  • Why Does Wales Have Its Own Rugby and Football Teams?
  • What Is Wales Famous For? 25 Things Only Wales Has
  • How Many Counties Are in Wales? The 22 Principal Areas Explained
  • Does Wales Have Its Own Government?
  • National Symbols of Wales: Dragon, Leek and Daffodil Explained
  • How Old Is Wales? The Nation’s Story in 10 Dates
  • Wales Time Zone, Dialling Code and Practical Facts
  • Driving in Wales: Rules Visitors Get Wrong
  • Is Wales Expensive? Real Costs for Visitors and Movers

Sources

Published by The National Wales. Checked by the Wales Newsroom Desk editor against the sources above; last reviewed 22 October 2026. This hub is reviewed every six months, and whenever official statistics change. If you spot an error, contact the Wales Newsroom Desk and we will correct it.