The Cardiff Urban Area is the name given to the urban area around Cardiff. The vast bulk of the population and area are contributed by Cardiff which had a population of 292,150 as recorded at the 2001 census. The rest was made up by the towns of Penarth and Dinas Powys connected to the south-east of the city along Cardiff Bay. The total official population of this urban area was given to be 327,706 in 2001. The population of the Cardiff unitary authority (not co-terminous with the built-up area or the wider urban area) in 2001 was 305,353. Cardiff Council estimated the population of the unitary authority at 317,500 in 2006.

Settlements

According to the ONS definition the Cardiff Urban Area consists of the following settlements: