Sheep now outnumber people three to one in Wales, according to the latest figures released by farmers in the region.

The number of sheep grazing in the sparsely populated Welsh mountains and valleys has risen by almost two million over the last seven years, data from the June 2016 Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture revealed.

Annual census figures shows there are currently 9.81 million sheep and lambs in Wales, compared to 3,026,000 people.

But the sheep population is yet to reach its late 1990s high of around 12 million.

The population dropped to a low of around eight million in 2008, but in 2009 it began a steady increase of 3.2 per cent year on year and it is continuing to grow.

John Richards, industry information executive for Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales), said the increase was an indication of confidence in the future of the industry.

"There are still challenges for the lamb industry in Wales," said Mr Richards.

"Ensuring that everyone, including farmers and processors, get a good price for their product is vital, and means continuing to respond to changing customer demands.

"Political uncertainties around Brexit also mean that it’s difficult to predict accurately how the structure of future support payments and trade arrangements will affect livestock numbers."

'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales Show all 17 1 /17 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' Deena, age 12, looks at her Easter Chocolate at her home in Port Talbot, Wales. From the series, The Big O: an intimate study of the young people behind the childhood obesity statistics 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' Sam, age 18 at home in her bedroom, Abervan, Wales. Sam would like nothing more than to be a Disney Princess. From the series, The Big O: an intimate study of the young people behind the childhood obesity statistics 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' Sam, 18 at home in the paddling pool, Abervan, Wales. From the series, The Big O: an intimate study of the young people behind the childhood obesity statistics 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' Michaela, 15, works out at her local gym near Swansea. From the series, The Big O: an intimate study of the young people behind the childhood obesity statistics 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' From the series 'Looking for Lilacs' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' From the series 'Looking for Lilacs' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' From the series 'Looking for Lilacs' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' From the series 'Rutherglen', shot in Wales and Scotland 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' From the series 'Rutherglen', shot in Wales and Scotland 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Housing development, Ravenscraig, 2014' from the series 'Phoenix: the fall and rise of Ravenscraig' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Regional Sports Facility, 2014' from the series 'The Fall and Rise of Ravenscraig' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Sandy Logan, 2014' by Colin McPherson from the series 'Phoenix: the fall and rise of Ravenscraig' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Kevin 'Lucky' Telford' from the series 'Unsullied And Untarnished' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Lisa Bell' from the series 'Unsullied And Untarnished' (Riders and dignitaries during Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering 2014) 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Stacey, Kirknewton, 2014' from the series 'Scottish Sweet Sixteen' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Millie Angel, aged 16, Portobello, Edinburgh, May 2014' from the series 'Sweet Sixteen: Teenage Scottish voters'. Also from the larger series 'Homecoming 2013 - 2014' 'Common Ground': New Documentary Photography from Scotland and Wales 'Common Ground' 'Goal, Craigmiller, Edinburgh' from the series 'Scottish Sweet Sixteen'

Although Wales has the largest sheep population of any region in the UK, sheep also outnumber people in Scotland.