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.
Business Activities, Foreign Trade and Prices Unit
Business Structure Section
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
SCB, 701 89 ÖREBRO, Sweden.
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
19 December 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
19 December 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
19 December 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
The population of interest consists of all units in Sweeden that carried out market activities in the relevant reference year.
Until reference year 2021 Business demography used "legal unit".
From reference year 2022 "statistical unit enterprise" (ENT) is used, with exception of survival data that follow enterprises born in 2017-2021, where legal unit is used to keep consistency.
3.6. Statistical population
The target population is the private sector economy, including all active enterprises. In the additional datasets on employer business demography, the threshold is set to one employee at any time of the reference period. The following thresholds are used:
1 employee - population of employer enterprises,
10 employees in the beginning of the growth - population of high-growth enterprises (10%)
3.7. Reference area
Sweden.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2001-2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The number of active, birth, death, as well as high-growth enterprises units is expressed in units.
For the ref. year 2022 survival data of enterprises of age 1Y to 5Y, counted in legal units, expressed in units.
For the ref. year 2023 survival data of enterprises of age 2Y to 5Y, counted in legal units, but age 1Y in enterprises, 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, expressed in units.
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.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
With regard to confidentiality concerning the agency's specific task in the production of statistics, Chapter 24, Section 8 of the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400) applies.
To safeguard information subject to confidentiality belonging to natural persons or enterprises, it is ensured that the information cannot be disclosed directly or indirectly in the published statistics. With regard to personal data, that is, information that directly or indirectly relates to a living person, the Official Statistics Act (2001:99), the Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100) and the Personal Data Act (1998:204) apply.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
No confidentiality applied.
7.2.1. Confidentiality rules (primary and secondary)
Data treatment
Remarks
Confidentiality rules applied
no
None of the information is considered harmfull, since similar information is available in the public BR.
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
not applicable
no remarks
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
no
no remarks
Dominance criteria applied
no
no remarks
If dominance criteria is applied, specify the threshold (in %) and the method of applying the dominance rules
not applicable
no remarks
Secondary confidentiality applied
no
no remarks
If secondary confidentiality is applied, explain the rules and the methods used
not applicable
no remarks
7.2.2. Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
Data treatment
Remarks
Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
yes
Investigation (2011) decided that business demography does not need any confidentiality treatment.
If measures have been taken, describe them briefly
not applicable
no remarks
Impact of these measures
not applicable
no remarks
8.1. Release calendar
Dissemination follows the publishing calendar for the Official Statistics of Sweden. The dates of planned publications are found in the publishing calendar in advance on Statistics Sweden website.
8.2. Release calendar access
Dissemination follows the publishing calendar for the Official Statistics of Sweden.
Statistics Sweden can provide further information which is not available in the dissemination. Everyone with a specific request, given no confidentiality issues, can access the data. Depending on the complexity of the request there may be a cost involved.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Regular press release to the data. The news release is published online at The Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis website.
The statistics are made accessible in the Statistical Database. All this is available via The Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis website, on which other tables and figures are also presented.
MONA (Microdata Online Access) is the standard tool for delivering microdata at Statistics Sweden. Users that get deliveries via MONA can process data over an internet connection without microdata leaving Statistics Sweden. The Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act protects data for individual respondents (microdata), but it is possible to apply for access to data for research or statistical purposes. When a request for data is granted, access to MONA may be given in order to receive the delivery.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are sent to Eurostat to be used in European aggregates and is also released as national data.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
No methodological documents are available.
Documentation is currently being revised.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not requested.
11.1. Quality assurance
The quality policy includes quality of the statistics, processes and operations. It describes the overall guidelines for Statistics Sweden's quality work. More information about Statistics Sweden's quality management can be found on the website.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The Swedish Business Register is generally of a good quality, a result of a long history of the usage of administrative data.
Since BD is so reliant on the state of BR, this is the most important aspect that affects the quality of the statistics.
Thus BD produced by Statistics Sweden generally holds to a high standard.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Bussiness demography satisfies a variety of user needs related to growth analysis and policy analysis.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
NACE I563 does not exist in Sweden by law. All Bars are legally obligated to serve food and are thus classified as restaurants.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
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
The non-sampling error is regarded to be small. The annual frame used allow for a very small frame error and the data-source used for employment calculations (PAYE) holds very high quality.
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 are no processing errors.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested.
14.1. Timeliness
The production time, that is, the time between the endpoint of the reference time and point in time when the statistics are disseminated, is 18 months. The delivery to Eurostat is no more than 18 months. Final National publication is 22 months after reference year.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are transmitted on time.
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): 2001.
Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks:
NAVE Rev. 2 was introduced for reference year 2008 and onwards.
Implementation of Enterprise unit for reference year 2022 for number of active enterprise, birth and death.
Outliers in time series: No.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
2001-2007, 2008-2021, 2022-
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The Business Demography uses an annual frame. This frame is derived from the BR. In Annex I and SBS, the population and classification is mainly related to a time of sampling in November year t. As a consequence, the number of enterprises is higher in BD as BD counts all active units during the reference period.
Both BD and BR are based on an annual frame and the same time period. However, the annual inquiry/BR-information was produced in March and BD-information in June. In May we receive information on employment concerning December year t and this generates a lot of information and also register work. In the Quality Report (previously: Annual Inquiry) this source concerning employment and the corresponding register work is not available as the Inquiry is delivered in April. However, the figures in BD and BR are very close concerning both number of enterprises and employment. There are also some differences due to different inclusions of institutional sectors. BR includes all institutional sectors. This is the main reason for differences regarding section L, together with the exclusion in BD of property management of tenant-owners' association.
For ref. year 2021 there are as stated differences between domains.
For reference year 2022, the Swedish Business Register has implemented the new interpretation of the enterprise as a statistical unit.
This enables the possibility for BD to switch from legal units to enterprises. BD, SBS and FATS are from ref year 2022 all based on the same annual frame, thus being harmonized.
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
Harmonized revision with SBS.
17.2. Data revision - practice
In the final data the population and the variables are more complete.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not available.
18.1. Source data
Type of data source: Administrative data, Business Register (BR).
Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
All required activities and legal forms are covered. The criteria for inclusion in SBR are VAT and/or employment and/or Company tax. Also, all legal persons that are not active according to above registrations are included in the register.
There is no threshold regarding VAT.
Matching, profiling or imputation: All units in Business Register (BR) contain timestamps for birth and death.
Paye as you earn – PAYE Labour variables are primarily calculated from PAYE in combination with data from SRU and survey data from labour statistics. From PAYE we can calculate Employees, employees and self-employed persons. The calculations are made by the SBS team to ensure coherence.
18.1.1. Concepts and sources
SBR contains all information.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual data collection.
18.3. Data collection
SBR and Annual frame is harmonized and available for all annual business statistics.
18.3.1. Data matching
a) Data matching process and tools:
The suggested matching procedures in the methodological guidelines have been followed. The required annual frames have been produced and completed with nationally available information. Newly started enterprises for the reference year t are compared with active enterprises year t-1 and t-2 while dead enterprises for the reference year t are compared with active enterprises year t+1 and t+2. The produced populations of birth and death will be used in the matching procedure to find real birth and death.
b) Matching:
To identify potential births and deaths, the annual frame identification number is used. First matching ENT as a first indication of birth or death, then on legal unit and local unit.
18.3.2. Manual checks
Due to time constraints only limited manual checks were performed.
18.4. Data validation
We prepare a dataset that is consistent with the template. Then the template is loaded into SAS and an automatic comparison is made, cell by cell.
Any missing combinations are handled. Final files are tested against previous ref. years and then tested in Inputhall.
18.5. Data compilation
For BD, very few imputations are made. In some few cases the nuts region cannot be determined and then the region will allways be coded in the largest region.
Annual average i calculated by taking headcount of employees of self-employed persons per month from PAYE.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
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.
19 December 2025
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
The population of interest consists of all units in Sweeden that carried out market activities in the relevant reference year.
Until reference year 2021 Business demography used "legal unit".
From reference year 2022 "statistical unit enterprise" (ENT) is used, with exception of survival data that follow enterprises born in 2017-2021, where legal unit is used to keep consistency.
The target population is the private sector economy, including all active enterprises. In the additional datasets on employer business demography, the threshold is set to one employee at any time of the reference period. The following thresholds are used:
1 employee - population of employer enterprises,
10 employees in the beginning of the growth - population of high-growth enterprises (10%)
Sweden.
2023.
Not requested.
The number of active, birth, death, as well as high-growth enterprises units is expressed in units.
For the ref. year 2022 survival data of enterprises of age 1Y to 5Y, counted in legal units, expressed in units.
For the ref. year 2023 survival data of enterprises of age 2Y to 5Y, counted in legal units, but age 1Y in enterprises, 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, expressed in units.
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 BD, very few imputations are made. In some few cases the nuts region cannot be determined and then the region will allways be coded in the largest region.
Annual average i calculated by taking headcount of employees of self-employed persons per month from PAYE.
Type of data source: Administrative data, Business Register (BR).
Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
All required activities and legal forms are covered. The criteria for inclusion in SBR are VAT and/or employment and/or Company tax. Also, all legal persons that are not active according to above registrations are included in the register.
There is no threshold regarding VAT.
Matching, profiling or imputation: All units in Business Register (BR) contain timestamps for birth and death.
Paye as you earn – PAYE Labour variables are primarily calculated from PAYE in combination with data from SRU and survey data from labour statistics. From PAYE we can calculate Employees, employees and self-employed persons. The calculations are made by the SBS team to ensure coherence.
Annual.
The production time, that is, the time between the endpoint of the reference time and point in time when the statistics are disseminated, is 18 months. The delivery to Eurostat is no more than 18 months. Final National publication is 22 months after reference year.
Not requested.
First reference year available (calendar year): 2001.
Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks:
NAVE Rev. 2 was introduced for reference year 2008 and onwards.
Implementation of Enterprise unit for reference year 2022 for number of active enterprise, birth and death.
