History of Wales in Timeline

Wales, a country within the United Kingdom, is bordered by the Irish Sea, England, the Bristol Channel, and the Celtic Sea. In 2021, its population was 3.2 million, inhabiting an area of 21,218 square kilometers with over 2,700 kilometers of coastline. The landscape is predominantly mountainous, featuring peaks like Snowdon. Located in the north temperate zone, Wales experiences a changeable, maritime climate. Cardiff serves as its capital and largest city.

1901: Welsh Speakers

In 1901, just under 50 percent of the Welsh population was able to speak the Welsh language.

1904: Welsh Revival

The 1904–1905 Welsh Revival started through the evangelism of Evan Roberts and brought large numbers of converts, sometimes whole communities, to non-Anglican Christianity.

1905: Welsh Revival

The 1904–1905 Welsh Revival started through the evangelism of Evan Roberts and brought large numbers of converts, sometimes whole communities, to non-Anglican Christianity.

1907: Welsh Department for the Board of Education

In 1907, the Welsh Department for the Board of Education was established, marking Wales's first significant educational devolution.

1908: Banknote Issuance Ends

In 1908, the last Welsh bank that issued its own banknotes closed, giving the Bank of England a monopoly on banknote issuance in Wales.

1911: Population reach

By 1911 the population of Wales reached 2,421,000.

1911: Welsh Speakers

In 1911, 43.5 percent of the Welsh population was able to speak the Welsh language.

1913: Peak of Coal Production

In 1913, nearly 233,000 men and women were employed in the South Wales coalfield, mining 56 million tons of coal at its peak of production.

1914: Welsh Church Act

The Church in Wales became independent from the Church of England in 1920 under the Welsh Church Act 1914.

1920: Disestablishment of the Church

The Church in Wales became independent from the Church of England in 1920 under the Welsh Church Act 1914.

1946: National Health Service Act

Public healthcare in Wales was originally formed as part of the NHS structure for England and Wales by the National Health Service Act 1946.

1969: Secretary of State Control

In 1969, powers over the NHS in Wales came under the Secretary of State for Wales.

1971: Decimalisation

Since decimalisation in 1971, at least one of the coins in circulation has emphasized Wales.

1972: Population Size

In 1972, the population of Wales stood at 2.74 million and remained broadly static for the rest of the decade.

1980: Royal Mint Relocation

In 1980, the Royal Mint, responsible for issuing coinage across the UK, was based at a single site in Llantrisant.

1981: Welsh Speakers

In 1981, 18.9 percent of the Welsh population was able to speak the Welsh language.

1988: Bank takeover

In 1988, The Commercial Bank of Wales was taken over by the Bank of Scotland.

1991: Welsh Speakers

In 1991, 18.7 per cent of the population said they could speak Welsh.

1995: Welsh Coinage

In 1995, at least one of the coins in circulation emphasised Wales.

1999: Devolution of NHS Wales

In 1999, responsibility for NHS Wales passed to the Welsh Assembly under devolution, and is now the responsibility of the Minister for Health and Social Services.

2000: Welsh Coinage

In 2000, at least one of the coins in circulation emphasised Wales.

2001: Jewish Community Decline

By 2001, the Jewish community in Wales had declined to approximately 2,000.

2001: Welsh Speakers

The results of the 2001 Census showed an increase in the number of Welsh speakers to 21 per cent of the population aged 3 and older.

2001: Population Increase

Wales population census between 2001 and 2011 saw an increase of 5 percent.

2002: Bank absorbed

In 2002, The Commercial Bank of Wales, established in Cardiff by Sir Julian Hodge in 1971, was absorbed into its parent company, Bank of Scotland.

2002: Economic Output

In 2002, the Welsh economic output per head stood at 90 per cent of the EU25 average and around 80 per cent of the UK average.

2006: Cancellation of Ferry Service

In 2006, the Swansea to Cork ferry service was cancelled.

2006: District Hospitals

In 2006, there were seventeen district hospitals in Wales.

June 2008: Fairtrade Status

In June 2008, Wales became the first nation to be awarded Fairtrade status.

2008: Welsh Coinage

As at 2012, the last designs devoted to Wales saw production in 2008.

March 2010: Reinstatement of Ferry Service

In March 2010, the Swansea to Cork ferry service was reinstated.

2011: Welsh census data

In the 2011 census it was recorded that the proportion of people able to speak Welsh had dropped from 20.8 per cent to 19 per cent. In 2011 the number of Welsh speakers in Wales dropped from 582,000 in 2001 to 562,000.

2011: Muslim Population

In the 2011 census, there were 24,000 reported Muslims in Wales, making up 0.8 per cent of the population.

2011: Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol

Since 2011, Welsh-medium higher education has been supported by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh-language National College) as a delocalised federal institution.

2011: Population Census

The resident population of Wales in 2021 according to the census was 3,107,500 (1,586,600 female and 1,521,000 male), an increase of 1.4 per cent over 2011. A decreased change from the 5 percent increase between 2001 and 2011

2012: Last Welsh Coinage Design

As at 2012, the last designs devoted to Wales saw production in 2008.

2012: Withdrawal of Ferry Service

In 2012, the Swansea to Cork ferry service was withdrawn again.

2017: Intra-Wales Flights

Since 2017, Intra-Wales flights used to run between Anglesey (Valley) and Cardiff, and were operated by Eastern Airways

2018: Education spending

In 2018/19, the UK government spent £1.75bn per year on the military in Wales, which is almost as much as Wales spends on education every year (£1.8 billion in 2018/19) and five times as much as the total amount spent on the police in Wales (£365 million).

2019: Jewish Community Numbers

As of 2019, the Jewish community in Wales only numbers in the hundreds.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions significantly impacted all sectors of the Welsh economy.

2021: Welsh-Speaking Population

According to the 2021 census, the Welsh-speaking population of Wales aged three or older was 17.8 per cent (538,300 people).

2021: Maintained Schools

In 2021–2022, there were 1,470 maintained schools in Wales.

2021: Census Results

The 2021 census recorded that 46.5 per cent had "No religion", more than any single religious affiliation and up from 32.1 per cent in 2011. The largest religion in Wales is Christianity, with 43.6 per cent of the population describing themselves as Christian in the 2021 census.

2021: National Survey for Wales

The National Survey for Wales in 2021–22 reported that 72 per cent of adults surveyed had good or very good general health.

2021: Population Census

The resident population of Wales in 2021 according to the census was 3,107,500 (1,586,600 female and 1,521,000 male), an increase of 1.4 per cent over 2011.