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.
Statistics Denmark, Sankt Kjelds Plads 11, 2100 København Ø
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
16 September 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
16 September 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
16 September 2025
3.1. Data description
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
3.6. Statistical population
Market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96.
3.7. Reference area
Denmark
3.8. Coverage - Time
BD 2009-2023, Employer BD 2014-2023, High Growth enterprises 2012-2023
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.
Derived indicators are expressed in units or percentages.
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.
In connection to publication and delivery of customized statistics, a so-called confidentiality test of data is made. The confidentiality test is made on the basis of two criteria:
The number criteria: If one data cell contains less than 3 observations (enterprises) employment and financial information can not be published
The dominance criteria: If one or two observations (enterprises) contained in one data cell, alone or together constitute a certain percentage of the total turnover of the cell, the turnover and other financial information for this group can not be published.
7.2.1. Confidentiality rules (primary and secondary)
Data treatment
Remarks
Confidentiality rules applied
yes
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
3
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
Protect data cells which can be used by the exclusion method to identify primary confidentiality
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 publication date appears in the release calendar. The date is confirmed in the weeks before
8.2. Release calendar access
The Release Calender can be accessed on our English website: Release Calender.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Statistics are always published at 8:00 a.m. at the day announced in the release calendar. No one outside of Statistics Denmark can access the statistics before they are published
The statistics are published in the StatBank under the subjects in the following tables:
DEMO1: Business Demography by industry (DB07 127-grouping), status, unit and time;
DEMO3: Business Demography by industry (DB07 19 grouping), turnover and export and time;
DEMO4: Business Demography by region, industry (DB07 10-grouping), unit and time;
DEMO5: Business Demography by type of ownership, unit and time;
DEMO6: Business Demography by industry (DB07 10-grouping), unit, year of beginning and time;
DEMO8: Business Demography by enterprise size (full time equivalents), unit and time;
DEMO9: Business Demography by municipality, unit and time;
FDEMO4: Preliminary Business Demography by region, industry (DB07 10-grouping), unit and time.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Data is available on individual level. Researchers may be granted access to anonymised micro-data. Furthermore, specialized data sets and tables may be produced upon request.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Anonymised data from the statistical register may be used for customized tables and analyses. See Customized solutions.
Inquiries may be directed to the person responsible for the Business Demography.
Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The statistics is used by ministries and governmental agencies, regional and county authorities as well as private sector institutions and enterprises. The statistics is also used for service tailor made statistics, where data are combined with different sources of data. Further, the statistics is used by researchers.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There is a large demand for this statistic as a central indicator for entrepreneurship. The national publication covers the entire economy, but many users get tailor-made subpopulations to shed light on different parts of the economy. There is also a large demand to combine data about the new enterprises with all of our other business statistics, and follow the development for enterprises who survive.
12.3. Completeness
Concerning data completeness the statistics lives up to requirements in regulations and guidelines.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100% from required data by Regulation.
The compilation method used in connection with submitting data to the EU differs from the present national compilation method, mainly on sector and ownership cut-off. The national dissemination covers all sectors and ownership structures, where method used for data transmitted to EU follows the definition by the OECD and Eurostat (cf. Eurostat OECD Manual on Business Demography Statistics, 2007 edition).
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
Not applicable.
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
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested.
14.1. Timeliness
The statistics are published annually. The statistics are published about 18 months after the end of the reference year. The relatively long time of publication is primarily due to the fact that the primary statistics included in the Statistics on business demography must be finally compiled, before the Statistics on business demography can be finally compiled. The real period when all basic registers are available until publication is approximately 3 months. From the reference year 2016 the statistics is published with preliminary data 10 months after the end of the reference year.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested.
14.2. Punctuality
The statistics is usually published without delay compared to the announced publication date, as well as sent to Eurostat before the deadlines required by Regulation.
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
First reference year available (calendar year): 2009
Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks: There is a break in dataseries between 2021 and 2022. From 2022 onwards, data is compiled on the basis of a revised method for active enterprise, which is more aligned with the principles set forward in the EBS manual. The time series break result in an overall lower number of enterprises across all industries. The effect on industry level totals, do however differ alot, depending on the industry.
Outliers in time series: No.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Business Demography 2009-2021, Employer BD 2014-2021, High Growth enterprises 2012-2021
Break in data series between 2021 & 2022. Data comparable from 2022 onwards
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Business Demography is coherent to the Structural Business Statistics where applicable.
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
Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The number of deaths is revised annually for the preceding period, when the number of reactivations are known.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Typically a few thousand enterprise deaths are recorded in the revised data than in the nonrevised version.
18.1. Source data
Type of data source: Data is collected from the Statistical Business Register.
Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register): All the required activities by NACE Rev.2 and legal forms are covered.
Matching, profiling or imputation: Subsequently various processes are undertaken to determine whether or not an enterprise is new (enterprise birth), terminated (enterprise death), or surviving. The controls are done to validate if the new enterprises, which exists in the administrative reality, are in fact real new enterprises, which enters the economy, or if it is an activity that is continued after a takeover or e.g. a split of an existing enterprise.
18.1.1. Concepts and sources
The Statistical Business Register is the basis of the statistics.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annually.
18.3. Data collection
The statistics is based on register data.
18.3.1. Data matching
Data for Business Demography is gathered from the business register.
Data in the business register is matched using record linkage, given that enterprise ID's are synchronized across data sources compiled in the business register.
18.3.2. Manual checks
Large new enterprises are manually validated regarding the status as a genuine enterprise birth or death. This is amongst other things done using address information and the employment information. What is validated is if the new enterprises which exists in the administrative reality, are in fact real new enterprises, which enters the economy, or if it is an activity that is continued after a takeover or e.g. a split of an existing enterprise. In addition, an extra manual check of enterprises with more than 10 full-time employees or with a turnover of 20 m. DKK or more is performed. This might indicate that the enterprise is formed on basis of e.g. a split-off from a former enterprise, and thereby not being a genuine new enterprise.
18.4. Data validation
The statistics is based on validated data. The statistics is validated against earlier reference years on industry. Moreover, large new enterprises are manually validated regarding the status as a genuine enterprise birth or death. This is amongst other things done using address information and the employment information. What is validated is if the new enterprises which exists in the administrative reality, are in fact real new enterprises, which enters the economy, or if it is an activity that is continued after a takeover or e.g. a split of an existing enterprise. In addition, an extra manually check of enterprises with more than 10 full-time employees or with a turnover of 20 mn. DKK or more is performed. This might indicate that the enterprise is formed on basis of e.g. a split-off from a former enterprise, and thereby not being a genuine new enterprise.
18.5. Data compilation
Data is aggregated from Micro-data delivered by the Statistical Business Register to the level of publication.
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.
16 September 2025
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
Enterprise
Market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96.
Denmark
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.
Derived indicators are expressed in units or percentages.
Data is aggregated from Micro-data delivered by the Statistical Business Register to the level of publication.
Type of data source: Data is collected from the Statistical Business Register.
Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register): All the required activities by NACE Rev.2 and legal forms are covered.
Matching, profiling or imputation: Subsequently various processes are undertaken to determine whether or not an enterprise is new (enterprise birth), terminated (enterprise death), or surviving. The controls are done to validate if the new enterprises, which exists in the administrative reality, are in fact real new enterprises, which enters the economy, or if it is an activity that is continued after a takeover or e.g. a split of an existing enterprise.
Annual
The statistics are published annually. The statistics are published about 18 months after the end of the reference year. The relatively long time of publication is primarily due to the fact that the primary statistics included in the Statistics on business demography must be finally compiled, before the Statistics on business demography can be finally compiled. The real period when all basic registers are available until publication is approximately 3 months. From the reference year 2016 the statistics is published with preliminary data 10 months after the end of the reference year.
Not requested.
First reference year available (calendar year): 2009
Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks: There is a break in dataseries between 2021 and 2022. From 2022 onwards, data is compiled on the basis of a revised method for active enterprise, which is more aligned with the principles set forward in the EBS manual. The time series break result in an overall lower number of enterprises across all industries. The effect on industry level totals, do however differ alot, depending on the industry.
