Statistics of companies in UK
Companies population in Wales
Number of companies in region Wales is 516,786, which is 4.2% of all 12,320,384 companies in UK. Wales is ranked 10th among 12 regions in the number of companies. Last update of company data was on 31/08/2026.
Companies location and business activity breakdown in Wales
The region with the highest number of companies - 254,783 is Cardiff. Blaenau Gwent has the lowest number of companies - 4,483. The top three most frequently registered business activities are Wholesale, retail - 25.6%, Science - 12.0% and Administrative - 9.3%.
Number of companies by county 516,786 companies with data in Wales
Business activity overview 503,883 companies with data in Wales
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 - 9.8%, Other business support service - 4.6% and Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate - 3.7%.
Distribution of companies by SIC CODE 503,883 companies with data in Wales
Companies population incorporation and dissolution trend in Wales
The highest number of incorporated companies in any one month is 11,392 in in April 2024. There are usually fewer dissolved companies than incorporated, the highest number recorded being for February 2025 - 12,311 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 January 2026, there were 8,223 companies with at least one PCS from China. Other popular countries are Turkey, Pakistan and Morocco.
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 October 2023 - 34.42%. Since 2017 the number of dissolutions has exceeded the number of new incorporations. The highest proportion to be dissolved in one month was 45.90% was in June 2025. 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.
