The local authority area stretches from the coast to the border of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

An extensive dune system stretches along much of the coast, broken by river mouths and areas of development.

Neath with a population of 47,020 is the largest town, followed by Port Talbot (35,633), Briton Ferry (7,186), Pontardawe (5,035), and Glynneath (4,368).

Originally known as "Neath and Port Talbot" in the legislation, the name change happened on the following day.

The unitary authority contains two whole constituencies which are: In 1991 Neath & Port Talbot was a distinct travel to work area (albeit with different boundaries to the current county borough), but the 2001-based revision has merged the locality into a wider Swansea Bay travel to work area.

[11] In June 2008, the economic activity and employment rates in Neath Port Talbot were below the Welsh average.

[12] The Port Talbot Steelworks, operated by Tata, is the largest employer with approximately 3,000 staff (although in 1979 its predecessor employed 12,600); other large employers include General Electric, Hi-Lex Cable Systems Ltd (closing in 2021 [13]), TRW Steering Systems recently closed, Envases (UK) Ltd, Crown Food UK & Ireland, Toyoda Koki, Sofidel, Cornelius Electronics, Excel Electronics Assemblies, and Tedeco.

The University of South Wales has a campus located at Baglan Energy Park in Port Talbot.

A separate daily edition of the South Wales Evening Post is published for the Neath Port Talbot area.

[17] The local council publishes a quarterly, Community Spirit, produced and funded in conjunction with seven other public sector partners.