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
3.6. Statistical population
Business demography population covers active enterprises engaged in the production and sale of goods and services, as well as the part of other legal entities that produce and render market-oriented services, which is established by a practical criterion saying that their income from selling goods and services should exceed 50% of their total operating income. The target population consists of economically active statistical enterprises that are, according to their principal activity, classified in sections B to N, P to R and divisions S95 and S96. From the reference year 2021 a part of entrepreneurs (unincorporated enterprises), who provide annual financial reports, are included in the BD population.
3.7. Reference area
Results are calculated for the Republic of Serbia.
3.8. Coverage - Time
From the reference year 2018 to 2023.
Before the reference year 2021 the business demography production was not completely consistent, because of some methodological changes (specially for enterprise deaths) aiming to meet Eurostat’s requirements. From the reference year 2021 (when started reliable data series), there have been methodological changes in order to achieve a data coherence between SBS and BD, which must be taken into account when comparing with the data until 2021.
The change refer to units coverage, which, in addition to enterprises and part of other legal units, includes only a part of entrepreneurs, those who provide an annual financial report.
In addition, from the reference year 2021, with the entry into force of the new European regulations related to business statistics (EBS), the coverage of activities has been extended by including NACE sections P, Q and R, as well as divisions 95 and 96 from section S.
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
BD data refer to the annual data of businesses, year 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
Data confidentiality is stipulated by following documents:
Official Statistics Law (Official Gazette of RS, number 104/2009), Articles 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.
in statistical releases and publications Publications.
The results of official statistics are available at the same time to all users on impartial basis; any privileged access by external users before their release is not allowed.
The SORS quality management system is relied on the Serbian official statistics mission and vision, as well as on the European Statistics Code of Practice – CoP and the Total Quality Management – TQM principles, which together make the common quality framework of the European Statistical System (ESS).
Data are compared with data from the previous period as well as with data from the Structural Business Statistics. The level of reliability and accuracy is high because detailed quality control of data is done.
Calculation of BD indicators is in line with international recommendations, standards and practice. Data are internationally consistent because they follow EU practice as well as relevant international concepts, definitions and classifications.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Beside data released in regular tables in SORS, special data processing could be done at the request of the user.
Users on Business demography data are found in all areas of economic and social life.
These are Internal users:
Statistical Business Register,
Structural Business Statistics unit,
National Accounts unit,
Labor Force unit.
External users are:
natural persons, enterprises/businesses,
state administration bodies and units of local self-government,
National Bank of Serbia,
academic and scientific-research institutions
economic analysts
Eurostat and other European institutions
Other international users, such as UN.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
On biennial basis (once in two years), by the means of web interview, the User Satisfaction Survey is implemented. The survey results are available at SORS website:
From the reference year 2021, there have been methodological changes in the BD domain in order to have a data coherence with SBS data (break in series), which must be taken into account when comparing with the data until 2021. BD population coverage is changed with inclusion of the part of unincorporated enterprises, only those who provide annual financial report, in addition to enterprises and part of other legal units. Also with the entry into force of EBS regulation, the coverage of activities has been extended by including the sections P, Q and R, as well as divisions 95 and 96 from section S.
At the moment BD survey covers a part of the variables (mainly table 11 and 12) required by Eurostat regulations and guidelines. It is planned for the next period to extend a variables coverage (employer enterprises, high growth enterprises, regional data).
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
At the moment SORS produce about 42% of total BD data required by EBS regulations.
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 available.
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
There was no any processing errors that are significant in the final data collection process.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested.
14.1. Timeliness
Data generally should be published within 2 calendar years of the end of the reference year.
In the case of indicators on enterprise deaths, a two year lag is foreseen in the methodology in order to confirm whether a presumed death is in fact reactivated. For this reason information on final deaths is generally available later than final data on enterprise births.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested.
14.2. Punctuality
In line with EU regulations on European business statistics (EBS) a part of BD data (table 11 and 12) is sent within the following months after the end of the reference year:
T + 18 months: active enterprises, enterprise birth, enterprise survivals; preliminary death enterprises;
T+30 months: final death enterprises
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):
Series of data are available from the reference year 2018 (calendar year 2020). Restrictions in comparability over time are related to the small size of the time series presently available.
b) Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks:
From the reference year 2021, there have been methodological changes in order to achieve a data coherence between SBS and BD data (break in series), which must be taken into account when comparing with the data until 2021. BD population coverage is changed with inclusion of the part of unincorporated enterprises, only those which provide annual financial report, in addition to enterprises and part of other legal units. In addition, from the reference year 2021, with the entry into force of the new European regulations related to business statistics, the coverage of activities has been extended by including the sections P, Q and R, as well as divisions 95 and 96 from section S.
c) Outliers in time series:
No outliers
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
From calendar year to calendar year - 2020-2022, from the calendar year 2023 (when started a new data series) onwards.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The most important coherence is between Business Demography and Structural Business statistics domains. It is strongly recommended to have the coherence for the variables that are collected and published also by Structural Business statistics domain. Variables which have to be compared are: Number of enterprises, Number of employees and self-employed persons, Number of employees. The aim is to have the same values, however values can differ due to different focus of collections. BD variables are calculated for SBS population which is surveyed.
Coherence between Business Demography and Business Register data is achieved because the main data source for Business Demography is Business Register.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Methodology and preliminary data compilation process is identical to the one for final data production. That means, the same methodology and sources are used in both cases. Due to the longer available period, for final data more control and checks of data are carried out which improves the final data quality.
Published data are considered final, unless otherwise stated. Significant methodological changes are announced and users can be informed about them on the SORS website.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not available.
18.1. Source data
a) Type of data source:
Statistical Business Register is the sources for the business demography data. Business registers hold data on the creation and cessation of enterprises, their economic activity, their legal form, employment, turnover, and other information.
b) Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
Data from statistical and administrative sources are both used in SBR. Since the registration body (administrative source) determines the legal forms, the administrative source is the only one with information on them and SBR receives this data on a monthly basis. SBR covers all the legal and natural persons registered to perform economic activities (legal units), which is the starting point for further creation of statistical units. There is no threshold - all available business data from accessible administrative and statistical sources is used to update SBR.
The administrative source in charge, which depends on a specific legal form, supplies SBR with the data on births and deaths of legal units, which is used as the basis of defining the creation and cessation of the enterprises. Demographic changes are part of those data, but for now, only in textual form. Although it is not yet specified, the code list of demographic changes that will make statistical analysis easier (it is expected to be created).
The business register follows all NACE rev.2 activities that have been performed on the national territory. Those activities are broken down at the NACE Rev.2 classes (4-digit) at the local unit level.
c) Matching, profiling or imputation:
No
18.1.1. Concepts and sources
The Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA) is the primary administrative source for SBR. Apart from SORS administrative register, which is responsible for registering non-profit entities, state organizations, and bodies, SBRA provides SBR with the main registration and financial information of the legal units, in defined time dynamics (monthly). Additionally, SBR uses data gathered from statistical surveys (statistical sources, on a daily basis) to enhance the quality of its data, particularly the coverage of NACE activities and the locations of the enterprises on which they carrying out its activities.
No imputations or estimations is done.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Considering the SBR,
registering data from administrative sources are collected monthly,
data from financial statements are collected annually, after their processing by the national accounts department,
data from statistical surveys supplies SBR on a daily basis.
18.3. Data collection
Method to access the data from the administrative sources:
direct access to an administrative data base via web service for registering data,
data from financial statements are collected annually, after their processing by the national accounts department; SORS assigned an Official cooperation agreement with certain administrative data sources on access to data,
in the meantime, if there are major changes or additions to the administrative data, SORS receives data again and information about it.
18.3.1. Data matching
To improve the quality of the data regarding its activity status, business data from various administrative and statistical sources, including the Tax Office, the Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA), and statistical surveys that use businesses as their statistical units, have been matched. Also textual records of demographic changes within legal units, derived from the SBRA, have been reviewed with the goal of paying attention as much as possible to the continuity rules.
18.3.2. Manual checks
Through a web service, SBRA sends its data to SBR once a month. Among the data that are received, SBR also compiles textual data on the demographic changes within the legal units. In order to define actual enterprise births and deaths, SBR staff review these changes, but there is still no precise procedure for their maintaining. This work is ahead of SORS.
18.4. Data validation
In order to ensure the quality of the BD results data are pre-validated. Also validation is done automatically by tools provided by Eurostat.
The main validation rules/checks applied before the data are transmitted to Eurostat are as follows:
1. Validation of format and file structure checks - consists of checking the structure of the file or the format of the data, defined in EBS regulations.
2. Intra-dataset checks - consists of quality checks aiming to confirm data coherence between different variables within BD data set. It includes also year to year data validation.
3. Inter-dataset checks - includes all the quality checks in which the content of the data set is compared with the content of other data sets referring to the BD domain.
4. Intra-domain - consists of quality checks aiming to confirm data coherence between BD and other statistical domains, such as SBS domain, taking into account common variables from those domains.
18.5. Data compilation
For the purposes of calculating the BD variables, SORS created an integral database containing the necessary data from the SBR and SBS survey. The database contains the SBS population. In the SBR, a frozen data was taken at the end of the calendar year, updated with data from administrative and statistical sources, as well as with data on demographic changes. From the reference year 2021, due to the calculation of variables related to enterprise deaths, was made a data base also for the reference year 2019 and 2020. For defined population, the following data on enterprise was taken from SBR: enterprise birth, date of cessation of enterprise, legal form, activity status of enterprise. Data taken from SBS are as follows: ID number of enterprise, NACE activity code (administrative and statistical), enterprise name, address data, Number of employees, Number of employees and self-employed persons and Turnover. Based on the integrated data, the variables defined in the EBS regulations were calculated. There are no data on the Number of employees and self-employed persons in the SBR, so they were taken from the SBS survey, where the Number of number of employees and self-employed persons is calculated by adding one employee to the Number of employees for all units with less than 5 employees. Data for the reference year 2022 was added to this data base and results was made based on those data.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No comment.
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
4 September 2025
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
Enterprise
Business demography population covers active enterprises engaged in the production and sale of goods and services, as well as the part of other legal entities that produce and render market-oriented services, which is established by a practical criterion saying that their income from selling goods and services should exceed 50% of their total operating income. The target population consists of economically active statistical enterprises that are, according to their principal activity, classified in sections B to N, P to R and divisions S95 and S96. From the reference year 2021 a part of entrepreneurs (unincorporated enterprises), who provide annual financial reports, are included in the BD population.
Results are calculated for the Republic of Serbia.
BD data refer to the annual data of businesses, year 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
For the purposes of calculating the BD variables, SORS created an integral database containing the necessary data from the SBR and SBS survey. The database contains the SBS population. In the SBR, a frozen data was taken at the end of the calendar year, updated with data from administrative and statistical sources, as well as with data on demographic changes. From the reference year 2021, due to the calculation of variables related to enterprise deaths, was made a data base also for the reference year 2019 and 2020. For defined population, the following data on enterprise was taken from SBR: enterprise birth, date of cessation of enterprise, legal form, activity status of enterprise. Data taken from SBS are as follows: ID number of enterprise, NACE activity code (administrative and statistical), enterprise name, address data, Number of employees, Number of employees and self-employed persons and Turnover. Based on the integrated data, the variables defined in the EBS regulations were calculated. There are no data on the Number of employees and self-employed persons in the SBR, so they were taken from the SBS survey, where the Number of number of employees and self-employed persons is calculated by adding one employee to the Number of employees for all units with less than 5 employees. Data for the reference year 2022 was added to this data base and results was made based on those data.
a) Type of data source:
Statistical Business Register is the sources for the business demography data. Business registers hold data on the creation and cessation of enterprises, their economic activity, their legal form, employment, turnover, and other information.
b) Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
Data from statistical and administrative sources are both used in SBR. Since the registration body (administrative source) determines the legal forms, the administrative source is the only one with information on them and SBR receives this data on a monthly basis. SBR covers all the legal and natural persons registered to perform economic activities (legal units), which is the starting point for further creation of statistical units. There is no threshold - all available business data from accessible administrative and statistical sources is used to update SBR.
The administrative source in charge, which depends on a specific legal form, supplies SBR with the data on births and deaths of legal units, which is used as the basis of defining the creation and cessation of the enterprises. Demographic changes are part of those data, but for now, only in textual form. Although it is not yet specified, the code list of demographic changes that will make statistical analysis easier (it is expected to be created).
The business register follows all NACE rev.2 activities that have been performed on the national territory. Those activities are broken down at the NACE Rev.2 classes (4-digit) at the local unit level.
c) Matching, profiling or imputation:
No
Annual.
Data generally should be published within 2 calendar years of the end of the reference year.
In the case of indicators on enterprise deaths, a two year lag is foreseen in the methodology in order to confirm whether a presumed death is in fact reactivated. For this reason information on final deaths is generally available later than final data on enterprise births.
Not requested.
a) First reference year available (calendar year):
Series of data are available from the reference year 2018 (calendar year 2020). Restrictions in comparability over time are related to the small size of the time series presently available.
b) Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks:
From the reference year 2021, there have been methodological changes in order to achieve a data coherence between SBS and BD data (break in series), which must be taken into account when comparing with the data until 2021. BD population coverage is changed with inclusion of the part of unincorporated enterprises, only those which provide annual financial report, in addition to enterprises and part of other legal units. In addition, from the reference year 2021, with the entry into force of the new European regulations related to business statistics, the coverage of activities has been extended by including the sections P, Q and R, as well as divisions 95 and 96 from section S.
