Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The annual Business demography data collection covers variables which explain the characteristics and demography of the business population. The methodology allows for the production of data on enterprise births (and deaths), that is, enterprise creations (cessations) that amount to the creation (dissolution) of a combination of production factors and where no other enterprises are involved (enterprises created or closed solely as a result of e.g. restructuring, merger or break-up are not considered).
A summary of the available indicators is listed below. The data is available at EU, country and regional level, with breakdowns for type of activity, legal form and size class.
For the population of active enterprises:
Number of active enterprises
Number of enterprise births
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years
Number of enterprise deaths
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons)
For the population of active employer enterprises:
Number of enterprises having at least one employee;
Number of enterprises having the first employee;
Number of enterprises having no employees anymore;
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years;
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons).
For high-growth enterprises, the following indicators are available at EU and country level:
Number of high-growth enterprises (growth by 10% or more);
Number of employees of high-growth enterprises;
Number of young high-growth enterprises (up to five years old high-growth enterprises);
Number of employees of young high-growth enterprise.
3.2. Classification system
From 2008 onwards NACE Rev.2 classification (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) is used for all indicators.
Starting with reference year 2021, BD data cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96. The total economy is presented as Industry, construction and services (code BTSXO_S94).
For the reference years 2008-2020, data for the Sections P, Q, R and S were provided on a voluntary basis and K64.2 was not covered.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
3.5. Statistical unit
Enterprise - according to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 696/93. The statistical unit "enterprise" can consist of several legal units.
3.6. Statistical population
The starting point for business demography is the concept of a population of active businesses in a reference year (t). They are defined as businesses that had either turnover or employment at any time during the reference period from 1 January to 31 December in a given year. The criteria laid down in the EUROSTAT / OECD manual on Business Demography have been followed closely for identification of active units.
3.7. Reference area
Territory of Republic of Bulgaria
3.8. Coverage - Time
Years 2008 - 2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The number of active, birth, death and survival enterprises, as well as high-growth enterprises is expressed in units.
The number of employees is counted as head counts and is expressed in units.
The number of persons employed is the sum of number of employees and self-employed persons.
The number of self-employed persons is the average number of persons who were at some time during the reference period the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work, measured in annual average headcounts, expressed in units.
2023
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Starting with reference year 2021, two new regulations form the legal basis of BD statistics:
Before reference year 2021, EU Regulation 2008/295 on structural business statistics, Annex IX, was providing a legal basis for the BD data collection. The Commission implementing EU Regulation 2014/439 ensured data collection on employer enterprises (with at least one employee), high-growth enterprises (more than 10% annual growth over three years) and their employment.
Up to reference year 2006 data have been collected under gentlemen's agreement within the context of the development of Structural Business Statistics.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The Law on Statistics ensures the protection of statistical confidentiality and the use of individual data of enterprises for statistical purposes only.
Law on Statistics (Chapter Six, Art. 25)
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The threshold for the number of enterprises below which the related employment variables are confidential is fewer than 3 enterprises.
The number of enterprises is publishable when the related employment variables are confidential.
The dominance threshold is 85%. The dominance rules are applied only if the number of enterprises is equal or above the threshold.
When treating secondary confidentiality there are applied specific rules, e.g. if there are two values of “1” within an aggregate, one may want to hide a third value, because otherwise the “1” values are quite obvious. Also if on one and the same level of aggregation there are two or more cells marked with primary confidentiality, they protect themselves and do not require marking of secondary confidentiality, except in cases where the number of enterprises in confidential cells is 2.
7.2.1. Confidentiality rules (primary and secondary)
Data treatment
Remarks
Confidentiality rules applied
yes
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
2 or less
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
yes
Dominance criteria applied
yes
If dominance criteria is applied, specify the threshold (in %) and the method of applying the dominance rules
85%
Secondary confidentiality applied
yes
If secondary confidentiality is applied, explain the rules and the methods used
yes
7.2.2. Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
Remarks
Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
no
If measures have been taken, describe them briefly
Impact of these measures
not applicable
8.1. Release calendar
The data are published in accordance with the deadline specified in the Release Calendar presenting the results of the statistical surveys carried out by the NSI of Bulgaria.
8.2. Release calendar access
Release Calendar is available on the NSI website.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Information that is not available in the published publications and/or in the online databases can be provided upon specific request.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Press release on BG NSI web site.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
As an PDF file on NSI.BG. This file includes some basic analysis and charts in Bulgarian and English languages.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Online database called "INFOSTAT" in Bulgarian and Engish languages.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata are not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
We don't disseminate other formats e.g. fax, e-mail, etc.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
On the Website (electronic version) in Bulgarian and English languages.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not requested.
11.1. Quality assurance
NSI of Bulgaria is committed to ensure the highest quality with respect to the compilation of statistical information.
Quantitative quality indicators are compiled by Eurostat and presented in the annual working group meeting with Member States.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Quality assessment is made in accordance with the quality components, laid down in the European Statistics Code of Practice.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Our main users groups are:
EUROSTAT
Bulgarian ministries and other governmental bodies;
Teachers and students from Bulgarian universities;
Individuals from Bulgarian and other European science and research institutes.
Bulgarian newspapers, TV and radio stations
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The NSI of Bulgaria conducts an annual online survey on user satisfaction, encompassing all statistical domains. The results serve to assess the degree to which user needs are being fulfilled.
12.3. Completeness
The cases we have to make some extra data processing to satisfy users data requests are extremely rare, in fact less than 1 percent.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
All BD data required by the Regulation are provided, so completeness rate is 100%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not requested.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Less than 1.0% is the proportion of wrongly designated enterprises according their active/not active status. The matching was carried out at the NACE 4-digit level, using the most detailed available information on the location of enterprise. The per cent of the false matches is insignificant – it is less than 0.4.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Less than 1.0% is the proportion of wrongly designated enterprises according their active/not active status. The matching was carried out at the NACE 4-digit level, using the most detailed available information on the location of enterprise. The per cent of the false matches is insignificant – it is less than 0.4.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested.
14.1. Timeliness
Time lags in months for the main sources used for updating the Business register are:
Tax authority – (12 months);
Social Security register – (1 month);
Trade register – no time lag;
Final data obtained from Annual accounts – (8-10 months).
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested.
14.2. Punctuality
BD data transmission deadlines required by the Regulation were respected.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not requested.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
a) First reference year available (calendar year): 2004-2007; 2008-2020; 2021-2023
b) Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks: For the period 2004 – 2007 the time series are according to NACE Rev. 1, while for the reference 2008-2023 the time series are according to NACE Rev. 2. Break in time series due to the new regulation (EBS Regulation), which came into force for the reference year 2021 onwards.
c) Outliers in time series: No outliers
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
2004-2007; 2008-2020; 2021-2023
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
No differences between number of enterprises, number of employees and self-employed, number of employees in Structural Business Statistics and Business Demography.
Having in mind that BD and SBS include only so called “market oriented” enterprises, there are some differences between BD and Statistical Business Register (SBR) values of indicators. Of course, the SBR values are greater in all NACE Rev.2 Sectors. The extremely big differences in NACE Rev.2 Sectors “P”, “Q” and “R” could be explained with the big concentration of enterprises with source of financing state or municipal budget.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not requested.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not requested.
Not requested.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Enterprise death data are revised annually as preliminary figures are replaced with final data, following the definitions and requirements of the Regulation.
Otherwise BD data are not revised.
According the OECD / Eurostat Business demography Manual, for classifying an enterprise as death we have to wait 2 calendar years. The lack of information during this period is the main reason for the differences between the preliminary and final data on enterprise deaths. The administrative sources used for updating Business register are not sufficient in this case.
17.2. Data revision - practice
We are producing regularly revised information on death enterprises. Final enteprise death data for t-1 and t-2 are transmitted together with preliminary t. It’s an EUROSTAT requirement.
First, we produce data for the death enterprises in the referent year (t). Those data are absolutely preliminary due to the lack of information of their activity in years (t+1) and (t+2). The only source of information we use is the National Insurance Institute, but its data is not very well structured for our goal. That’s why we report these information as “first preliminary” and unreliable one.
Second, we produce data for the death enterprises in the year (t-1). This is the first revision of the data. This time we use our NSI information for the active enterprises in the year (t) and the National Insurance Institute for year (t+1). We report these information to EUROSTAT as “second preliminary” and its quality is better than the previous one.
Third, we produce data for the death enterprises in the year (t-2). This is the second revision of the data, we treat it as final. At this stage we have our NSI information for the active enterprises in the years (t-1) and (t). This information is validated by our NSI staff. So we report it to EUROSTAT as final and official data on death enterprises in the year (t-2).
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
RMAR (Relative Mean Absolute Revisions) is used to measure the level of revisions – final data vs preliminary data. RMAR is the sum of all absolute changes at the lowest activity level for total breakdown divided by the sum of final data.
The Relative Mean Absolute Revision (RMAR) for preliminary data for the reference year 2022, based on comparison with revised 2023 figures, is as follows:
Business demography
Enterprise deaths = 1.46;
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprise deaths = 1.12;
Number of employees in enterprise deaths = 0.77;
Employer business demography
Enterprise deaths = 0.46;
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprise deaths = 2.30;
Number of employees in enterprise deaths = 2.66;
High growth enterprises
Number of high-growth enterprises = 0.01;
Number of employees in high-growth enterprises = 0.02;
18.1. Source data
Type of data source: Main source for updating administrative part of SBR is “Trade register”. Main sources for updating statistical part of SBR are: ISBS (Information system Business statistics) and National Social Security Institute. From the fist source Annual balance sheets data is used and from the second one - monthly data on insured persons.
Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register): All required activities and legal forms are covered in terms of NACE classifications (NACE Rev.2). Business register contains all legal units, registered on the territory of Bulgaria and there is no threshold applied for their inclusion in its scope.
Matching, profiling or imputation: Where only a VAT or Social Security record exists on enterprise level and no local unit information has been obtained, the employment figures are calculated using a turnover per head ratio. This ratio is calculated for every sub class of the NACE classification.
18.1.1. Concepts and sources
Business register contains enterprise birth and death dates. The dates are obtained mainly from the Trade register, annual accounts, Social Security Institute and Tax authority. The quality of dates is checked and it is considered good. There are no significant changes of the source used during the period of the data collection.
Data from the Trade Register are updated weekly, all other data sources yearly.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Main source for updating administrative part of SBR is “Trade register”.
Main sources for updating statistical part of SBR are: ISBS (Information system Business statistics) and National Social Security Institute. From the first source Annual balance sheets data is used and from the second one - monthly data on insured persons.
18.3.1. Data matching
Data matching process and tools: Unique data matching tools has been developed by the Business register unit experts only for this project. MS Office, SPSS, and CIF has been used as supporting and facilitating tools for data checking, verification, formatting and secondary confidentiality treatment.
Matching: The recommended pair-wise matching, the fields used for matching and the order in which the matching was carried out was followed closely. Matching of name and location has been performed for small part of the Business demography population. The amount of clerical work for data checking on this stage of the project is not large.
18.3.2. Manual checks
Multi-site units are identified by checking for links between their local units.
18.4. Data validation
There are no any additional criteria for matching data.
18.5. Data compilation
No procedures for imputation are implemented.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No comments.
The annual Business demography data collection covers variables which explain the characteristics and demography of the business population. The methodology allows for the production of data on enterprise births (and deaths), that is, enterprise creations (cessations) that amount to the creation (dissolution) of a combination of production factors and where no other enterprises are involved (enterprises created or closed solely as a result of e.g. restructuring, merger or break-up are not considered).
A summary of the available indicators is listed below. The data is available at EU, country and regional level, with breakdowns for type of activity, legal form and size class.
For the population of active enterprises:
Number of active enterprises
Number of enterprise births
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years
Number of enterprise deaths
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons)
For the population of active employer enterprises:
Number of enterprises having at least one employee;
Number of enterprises having the first employee;
Number of enterprises having no employees anymore;
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years;
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons).
For high-growth enterprises, the following indicators are available at EU and country level:
Number of high-growth enterprises (growth by 10% or more);
Number of employees of high-growth enterprises;
Number of young high-growth enterprises (up to five years old high-growth enterprises);
Number of employees of young high-growth enterprise.
21 December 2025
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
Enterprise - according to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 696/93. The statistical unit "enterprise" can consist of several legal units.
The starting point for business demography is the concept of a population of active businesses in a reference year (t). They are defined as businesses that had either turnover or employment at any time during the reference period from 1 January to 31 December in a given year. The criteria laid down in the EUROSTAT / OECD manual on Business Demography have been followed closely for identification of active units.
Territory of Republic of Bulgaria
2023
Not requested.
The number of active, birth, death and survival enterprises, as well as high-growth enterprises is expressed in units.
The number of employees is counted as head counts and is expressed in units.
The number of persons employed is the sum of number of employees and self-employed persons.
The number of self-employed persons is the average number of persons who were at some time during the reference period the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work, measured in annual average headcounts, expressed in units.
No procedures for imputation are implemented.
Type of data source: Main source for updating administrative part of SBR is “Trade register”. Main sources for updating statistical part of SBR are: ISBS (Information system Business statistics) and National Social Security Institute. From the fist source Annual balance sheets data is used and from the second one - monthly data on insured persons.
Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register): All required activities and legal forms are covered in terms of NACE classifications (NACE Rev.2). Business register contains all legal units, registered on the territory of Bulgaria and there is no threshold applied for their inclusion in its scope.
Matching, profiling or imputation: Where only a VAT or Social Security record exists on enterprise level and no local unit information has been obtained, the employment figures are calculated using a turnover per head ratio. This ratio is calculated for every sub class of the NACE classification.
Annual
Time lags in months for the main sources used for updating the Business register are:
Tax authority – (12 months);
Social Security register – (1 month);
Trade register – no time lag;
Final data obtained from Annual accounts – (8-10 months).
Not requested.
a) First reference year available (calendar year): 2004-2007; 2008-2020; 2021-2023
b) Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks: For the period 2004 – 2007 the time series are according to NACE Rev. 1, while for the reference 2008-2023 the time series are according to NACE Rev. 2. Break in time series due to the new regulation (EBS Regulation), which came into force for the reference year 2021 onwards.
