Statistics of companies in UK

Companies population in Wales

Number of companies in region Wales is 388,614, which is 3.6% of all 10,842,197 companies in UK. Wales is ranked 10th among 12 regions in the number of companies. Last update of company data was on 31/10/2024.

Companies location and business activity breakdown in Wales

The region with the highest number of companies - 157,236 is Cardiff. Blaenau Gwent has the lowest number of companies - 3,857. The top three most frequently registered business activities are Wholesale, retail - 21.1%, Science - 12.3% and Construction - 10.1%.

Number of companies by county 388,614 companies with data in Wales

Cardiff
157,236
40.5%
Swansea
26,051
6.7%
Rhondda Cynon Taff
19,095
4.9%
Newport
18,807
4.8%
Flintshire
17,619
4.5%
Carmarthenshire
13,857
3.6%
Bridgend
13,115
3.4%
The Vale of Glamorgan
11,845
3.0%
Pembrokeshire
11,192
2.9%
Caerphilly
10,898
2.8%
Wrexham
10,483
2.7%
Powys
10,086
2.6%
Monmouthshire
9,911
2.6%
Denbighshire
9,594
2.5%
Neath Port Talbot
8,595
2.2%
Conwy
8,416
2.2%
Gwynedd
8,063
2.1%
Torfaen
6,642
1.7%
Ceredigion
5,067
1.3%
Merthyr Tydfil
4,190
1.1%
Isle of Anglesey
3,995
1.0%
Blaenau Gwent
3,857
1.0%

Business activity overview 376,322 companies with data in Wales

Wholesale, retail
81,825
21.1%
Science
47,766
12.3%
Construction
39,222
10.1%
Administrative
36,263
9.3%
ICT
29,432
7.6%
Accommodation
25,296
6.5%
Manufacturing
23,296
6.0%
Real Estate
22,542
5.8%
Service
19,697
5.1%
Transportation
15,074
3.9%
Health
13,404
3.4%
Financial
11,391
2.9%
Arts
10,983
2.8%
Dormant
10,440
2.7%
Education
7,937
2.0%
Agriculture
4,313
1.1%
Home
3,962
1.0%
Water
1,658
0.4%
Energy
1,391
0.4%
Public
956
0.2%
Mining
772
0.2%
Extraterritorial
174
0.0%

Industrial classification of companies in Wales

The Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC code) is a system of classifying industries in UK by business activities. Each company can operate under multiple SIC codes. The top three business activities for the whole of the UK are Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet - 6.3%, Other business support service - 4.7% and Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate - 3.7%.

Distribution of companies by SIC CODE 376,322 companies with data in Wales

Companies population incorporation and dissolution trend in Wales

The highest number of incorporated companies in any one month is 7,024 in in April 2024. There are usually fewer dissolved companies than incorporated, the highest number recorded being for October 2024 - 8,846 companies were dissolved.

Incorporation and dissolution of companies by month Wales

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Persons with significant control
in companies in Wales

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) have been registered in Companies House since April 2016. PSC have various functions, e.g. ownership of shares or voting rights. In this section we analyse companies with at least one Person with Significant Control from a foreign country.

Top countries with local PSCs in companies in Wales

The most popular country, as regards to PSC origin, is China. In October 2024, there were 2,901 companies with at least one PCS from China. Other popular countries are Pakistan, Morocco and United States.

Top 10 countries with local PSCs Wales

Percentage of companies with foreign PSCs being incorporated each month in the Wales

The highest proportion of companies with a foreign PSC to be incorporated in one month was in February 2023 - 19.98%. Since 2017 the number of dissolutions has exceeded the number of new incorporations. The highest proportion to be dissolved in one month was 25.36% was in August 2024. The low number of dissolutions in 2016 is the result of only a small number of companies registering their PSC in Company House in that year.

Percentage of companies with foreign persons (PSC) incorporated and dissolved each month Wales