South East Wales is a geographic and statistical region of Wales generally corresponding to the preserved counties of Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and Gwent. Highly urbanised, it includes the cities of Cardiff and Newport as well as large towns in the South Wales Valleys.
Since 2025, the Office for National Statistics for its International Territorial Level classification, has used a "South East Wales" ITL2 region comprising the ten counties.
Usage and definition The term South East Wales is used by the Welsh Government.Wales Assembly Government: statistical information for South East Wales
In the Wales Spatial Plan, South East Wales is defined for statistical purposes as comprising the local authorities of Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Bridgend (i.e. the preserved counties of Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and Gwent). This area has a population of about 1,430,000 (2007 estimate), just under half the total population of Wales.
The South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre definition of South East Wales includes the whole of the ancient counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, an area which has a population of approximately 2 million (2007 estimate).
The Wales Spatial Plan, a national planning policy document revised in 2008, states that the area "largely had a hand and fingers pattern of urban development over the last 150 years, reflecting its major role in the industrial revolution and the rapid expansion of the iron, coal and steel industries initially in the Heads of the Valleys, then within the South Wales Valleys, then on the coastal plain." Wales Spatial Plan 2008, p.125
The promotion of tourism in South East Wales is the responsibility of Capital Region Tourism, one of four regional tourism partnerships across Wales.Capital Region Tourism. Accessed 26 November 2009
In March 2017, ten local authorities in the region formed the Cardiff Capital Region, following the ratification of a regional city deal.
In April 2021, a South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee was formed to allow the ten local councils in the region to collaborate in areas relating to economic well-being, strategic planning and the development of regional transport policies.
Since 2025, the Office for National Statistics for its International Territorial Level classification, has used a "North Wales" ITL2 region comprising the ten counties, or specifically the four ITL3 regions of Central Valleys and Bridgend, Gwent Valleys, Monmouthshire and Newport, and Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan.
Principal areas The population, density and areas are estimates for from the Office for National Statistics. Principal areaCreatedPopulationDensity (/km2)Area (km2)StyleCardiff 1996City and countyRhondda Cynon Taf 1996County boroughCaerphilly 1996County boroughNewport 1996 County borough/CityBridgend 1996County boroughVale of Glamorgan 1996County boroughMonmouthshire 1996CountyTorfaen 1996County boroughBlaenau Gwent 1996County boroughMerthyr Tydfil 1996County boroughSouth East Wales2017Region
Transport The M4 motorway runs through the region, connecting it with South Wales and London. The A470 road connects Cardiff on the south coast to Llandudno on the north coast.
Mainline rail services run through South East Wales on the South Wales Main Line towards Bristol and London. Other national rail services run from Cardiff and Newport to Birmingham and Nottingham on the Gloucester to Newport Line and to Manchester on the Welsh Marches Line. An urban rail network centred on Cardiff operates in the region and is known as Valley Lines.
Cardiff Airport is the only international airport in Wales.
See also South Wales South Wales Valleys South West Wales North East Wales
Notes
References
External links South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee BBC South East Wales Wales Government: statistical information for South East Wales South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre