Wales

Anthem:

Hen Wlad fy Nhadau / Land of my fathers

Capital:

Cardiff, population 317,523

Other major towns:

Swansea, Newport, Wrexham

Official Languages:

Welsh, English

Government:

Welsh Assembly Government

First Minister for Wales:

Rhodri Morgan AM (Assembly Member)

Deputy First Minister:

Ieuan Wyn Jones AM

Area:

20,780km² (8023m²)

Population:

2,965,885 (StatsWales 2006)

Population density:

143 persons per square kilometre

Patron Saint:

St David

Currency:

Pound Sterling (£)

Physical

Key facts

Total Area:

20,780km2 (8023m2)

Highest mountain:

Snowdon
[Welsh name: Yr Wyddfa
(The tomb)]
It’s the highest mountain in
England and Wales at 1085m
(3560 ft)

Other mountains
(In order of size):

Carnedd Llewleyn (1064m)
Glyder Fawr (1064m)
Y Garn (947m)
Elidir Fawr (924m)
Tryfan (915m)
Aran Fawddwy (905m)
Y Lliwedd (898m)
Cadair Idris (893m)

The Welsh economy

Key facts

Population:

2,965,885 (StatsWales 2006)

Gross Value Added:

£14,396 per head or 78.1

GDP per capita (PPP):

€22,567 or 95.8 per cent of the average for the 27 countries of the EU as a whole, when expressed using the purchasing power standard (PPS) (2004)£14,396 per head or 78.

Currency:

Pound sterling GBP

Top five export industries:

Metals (£2,228m)
Energy (£1,730m)
Chemicals (£1,091m)
Engineering (£1,008m)
Automotive (£696m)

Top five export destinations:

USA (£2,072m)
Germany (£1,410m)
Ireland (£903m)
Belgium (£647m)
France (£586m)

Population of Wales Facts

Population:

2,965,885 (StatsWales 2006)

Birth rate:

11.3 per 1000 population

Population growth:

By 2031, the population to
increase by 11 percent to
3.3 million

Life expectancy at birth:

Males 76.6
Females 81.0

1. Cardiff

2. Rhondda Cynon Taff

3. Swansea

4. Carmarthenshire

5. Caerphilly

6. Flintshire

7. Newport

8. Neath Port Talbot

9. Bridgend

10. Powys

11. Wrexham

12. The Vale of Glamorgan

13. Gwynedd

14. Pembrokeshire

15. Conwy

16. Denbighshire

17. Torfaen

18. Monmouthsire

19. Ceredigion

20. Blaenau Gwent

21. Isle of Anglesey

22. Merthyr Tydfil

National Parks and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty

Key facts

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Wye Valley
Isle of Anglesey Coast
Llyn Peninsula
Gower Peninsula
Clwydian Hills

National Parks

Snowdonia National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Brecon Beacons National Park.