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.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
3.2. Classification system
No applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Total usually resident population at national level.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The usual residence definition includes persons registered in the population register by the end of 31 December. All persons who are legally residents will be included in the register regardless of length of intention of stay. Tourists, diplomatic personnel, illegal immigrants and asylum seekers are not registered in the population register. As a rule it is unlikely that persons apply for residence permit for less than three months but in reality there are people who register to stay longer but leave within a few months as well as some persons have intentions to stay for only three months but later apply for an extension of the stay.
3.5. Statistical unit
Person.
3.6. Statistical population
The population is not based on sampling surveys.
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
31 December 2024
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Person.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not applicable.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not applicable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
The national total population is published five weeks after the end of the reference date whereas the estimated total population is delivered to Eurostat by the latest eight months after the reference date.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Please fill the information in the Annex File.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
The population data are estimated according to the known delay in registration of emigration.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1. Nationals
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with national citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
2. EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with EEA citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
3. NON-EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with non-EEA foreign citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Data transmitted as requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The estimation of the usual resident population with length of stay or intention of stay for 12 months or more has resulted in a total population count of 1 per mille lower than the national total population. The method has been applied for several years to validate the results and as the results are very stable the quality of the accuracy of the estimation is considered solid.
13.2. Sampling error
The data source is administrative registers.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The data source is administrative registers.
14.1. Timeliness
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The total usually resident population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usually Resident Population data collection may differ from those available in National Accounts, Labour Force Survey or in the survey on Income and Living Conditions. The difference is given by the population coverage (see metadata specific to each domain).
15.4. Coherence - internal
The total usually resident population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usually Resident Population data collection may differ from those available in the rest of the Demographic domain. The difference is given by the population definition (see metadata specific to each domain).
The cost of estimating a single number is limited to the cost of discussing and creating the estimation method as well as validation of the method. The persons involved have spent 100 working hours in all on the process. Henceforward the cost will be 5 working hours per year.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
The Central Population Register.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Daily updates from the Central Population Register.
18.3. Data collection
The register on population statistics is compiled via daily updates from the Central Population Register. The updates are stored in a database on statistics on persons (PSD).
18.4. Data validation
Data from the Central Population Register is considered highly reliable with the exceptions of delay in deregistration of non-national immigrants. Data from the Central Population Register is therefore not further validated.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
The estimation of the usual resident population with length of stay or intention of stay for 12 months or more has resulted in a total population count of 1 per mille lower than the national total population.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
8 July 2025
The usual residence definition includes persons registered in the population register by the end of 31 December. All persons who are legally residents will be included in the register regardless of length of intention of stay. Tourists, diplomatic personnel, illegal immigrants and asylum seekers are not registered in the population register. As a rule it is unlikely that persons apply for residence permit for less than three months but in reality there are people who register to stay longer but leave within a few months as well as some persons have intentions to stay for only three months but later apply for an extension of the stay.
Person.
The population is not based on sampling surveys.
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
The estimation of the usual resident population with length of stay or intention of stay for 12 months or more has resulted in a total population count of 1 per mille lower than the national total population. The method has been applied for several years to validate the results and as the results are very stable the quality of the accuracy of the estimation is considered solid.
Person.
Not applicable.
The Central Population Register.
Annual
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
