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.
National Accounts unit: Spanish Regional Accounts.
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Avenida de Manoteras 50 - 52 28050 Madrid
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
30 September 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 September 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
30 September 2025
3.1. Data description
The Spanish Regional Accounts (Regional Accounts of Spain – SRA), compiled in accordance with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and transmitted to Eurostat, include regional data at NUTS 2 level for Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Value Added (GVA), Compensation of Employees, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), employment (in persons and in hours worked), population and household accounts (income, consumption and disposable income).
At NUTS 2 level, data are broken down by industry according to NACE Rev.2 (A*10).
At NUTS 3 level, data are provided for GDP, GVA, employment (in persons) and population, with a breakdown by NACE Rev.2 (A*6).
The INE does not publish any regional data that is not transmitted to Eurostat.
3.2. Classification system
Classifications used in the compilation of data:
Sectoral breakdown of GDP, GVA, employment, and related variables is based on NACE Rev.2.:
at NUTS 2 level: main aggregation A*10 (10 main sectors)
at NUTS 3 level: main aggregation A*6 (6 main sectors)
NUTS 2024: Territorial breakdown follows the NUTS 2024 classification:
NUTS 2: autonomous communities of Spain,
NUTS 3: provinces
3.3. Coverage - sector
Spanish regional accounts cover all economic activities that are within the production boundary (in terms of the ESA 2010) developed for all institutional units that constitute the national economy.
For the total economy (S1), data are provided on Gross Value Added (GVA), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment (in persons and hours worked), Compensation of Employees, and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF).
Additionally, for the Households sector (S14), household income accounts are provided.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) are compiled consistently using the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) concepts and definitions, specifically in Chapter 13 of Regional Accounts and in Manual on regional accounts methods - 2013 Edition. All data are aligned with the national accounts framework to ensure comparability and coherence. The regional accounts are publicly available on the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) website: INEbase / Economy /Economics accounts /Spanish Regional Accounts / Latest data
3.5. Statistical unit
The units used in the compilation of the Spanish Regional Accounts are defined according to the type of economic analysis to be performed. One of the basic units in ESA 2010 is the institutional unit (IU), which can be, for example, a household, an enterprise, or a government unit. Institutional units are grouped into institutional sectors.
In practice, institutional units often carry out multiple activities simultaneously. To allow for a more precise analysis of production, these units are further divided into smaller, more homogeneous units according to the type of activity. These are referred to as local kind-of-activity units (local KAUs), which are grouped into branches of activity or units of homogeneous production, providing a consistent framework for compiling regional accounts.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population of regional accounts refers to all resident institutional units within a region, i.e., those whose predominant centre of economic interest is located in that territory. A predominant centre of economic interest means that the unit carries out economic activities and transactions of a significant scale over a sufficiently long period (generally, one year or more).
Population stocks in regional accounts are defined as annual average values, calculated as the mean of the population on 1 January of two consecutive years.
These concepts are aligned with those used in the annual national accounts.
3.7. Reference area
The geographical scope is the entire Spanish economic territory. The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) obtain disaggregated data both at the Autonomous Community level (including the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla) and at the provincial level. An extra-regio territory is also defined, covering activities that cannot be assigned to a specific region. There are no overseas territories or other areas not included in the transmission to Eurostat.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The currently available regional data cover the period from 2000 onwards. After the transmission of all data in 2025, the time series will cover the following periods:
For NUTS 2: from 2000 to 2024, except for Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) and household income account, which will be available up to 2023.
For NUTS 3: from 2000 to 2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
The units of measure in the Spanish Regional Accounts depend on the type of data to which they refer.
For economic data the unit of measure is millions of euros.
For employment data the units of measure are thousands of people or thousands of hours worked, depending on the target variable of the estimation.
The accounting period is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Law 12/1989 on the Public Statistical Function (LFEP) regulates the planning and production of official statistics by the State Administration and its dependent entities, as well as the coordination and exchange of statistical information with the Autonomous Communities, Local Corporations, the European Union, and international organizations. Additionally, the INE is responsible for implementing international technical cooperation plans in statistical matters, following confidentiality and quality standards.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The Statistical Law No. 12/1989 specifies that the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE) cannot publish, or make otherwise available, individual data or statistics that would enable the identification of data for any individual person or entity. Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The Spanish Regional Accounts are part of the National Statistical Plan and are therefore governed by Statistical Law 12/1989 on the Public Statistical Function, ensuring statistical confidentiality at all stages of production. Confidential data are treated using anonymization, aggregation, and value suppression as necessary to prevent identification of individuals or entities.
8.1. Release calendar
The advance release calendar that shows the release dates for the coming year is disseminated by the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE) in the last quarter of each year. Subsequently, on the last Friday of each month (t), the exact day for the publication of the structural statistics scheduled for the month (t+2) is announced.
The data is released simultaneously according to the advance release calendar to all interested parties by issuing the press release. At the same time, the data are posted on the INE website) almost immediately after the press release is issued. Also some predefined tailor-made requests are sent to registered users. Some users could receive partial information under embargo as it is publicly described in the European Statistics Code of Practice
Regional data are disseminated annually. Each release includes provisional, revised, or definitive data according to the standard revision cycle. Provisional estimates refer to the most recent year, revised data correspond to the following update after incorporating new information, and definitive data are published once no further revisions are expected.
The data are transmitted to Eurostat at the same time as the national publication.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The results of the statistical operations are normally disseminated by using press releases that can be accessed via both the corresponding menu and the Press Releases Section in the web.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The users of the regional accounts can access the data of the 2024 Statistical Review through the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE) website (Economy / Economic Accounts section).
The results tables are available at the following links:
Press release: contains a summary of the regional situation of the economy, paying special attention to the evolution of GDP and to disposable income per capita in the different Autonomous Communities.
Main results: where GDP estimates are presented (at market prices and per capita) and population figures at regional and provincial levels, as well as regional variations in volume.
Detailed results: contains information on the economy as a whole at regional and provincial level, broken down into branches of economic activity.
Main results: where the estimation of the Gross Disposable Income of Households is presented (absolute and per capita data) at regional and provincial levels.
Detailed results: contains information from the Allocation of Primary Income Account and the Secondary Distribution of Income Account at the regional and provincial levels, as well as the Redistribution of Income in Kind Account at the Autonomous Community level.
Detailed results: contains the final consumption of households in each region with the divisions of COICOP.
On the INE website, information can also be obtained on other bases of the SRA (Statistical Review 2019, 2010, 2008, 2000, 1995 and 1986).
The series published by the SRA can be accessed through the EUROSTAT database.
In addition to official publication channels, the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE) carries out complementary data dissemination through various mechanisms. These include analytical documents, technical reports, and public presentations, produced both within the framework of other statistical processes and in response to specific user demands.
All dissemination activities strictly comply with data protection and statistical confidentiality regulations, in accordance with the National Statistical Law and applicable international standards.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
INEbase is the system the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE) uses to store statistical information on the Internet. It contains all the information the INE produces in electronic formats. The primary organisation of the information follows the theme-based classification of the Inventory of Statistical Operations of the State General Administration . The basic unit of INEbase is the statistical operation, defined as the set of activities that lead to obtaining statistical results on a determined sector or subject based on the individually collected data. Also included in the scope of this definition are synthesis preparation.
Information about the SRA can be obtained at the following link.
Information on regional accounts is also disseminated through the INE’s social media channels, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The Manual on Regional Accounts Methods is available online and provides detailed information on the methodology, definitions, sources, and compilation procedures used for the regional accounts. It can be accessed at the following link:
In addition, on the INE website there is a document outlining the main methodological and source changes introduced in the 2024 statistical revision, along with an estimate of their impact:
This standardised methodological report contains, from field 10.6 to 17.2, the elements of what it considers to be the "user-oriented quality report" for this operation.
11.1. Quality assurance
The Spanish Regional Accounts applies standardized and controlled procedures to ensure the quality, accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of the statistics produced. Key indicators are used to monitor quality, and periodic evaluations are conducted to drive continuous improvement. Additionally, staff receive ongoing training, and communication channels with users and other INE units are promoted to ensure that statistical products meet user needs and comply with international standards.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
In order to ensure the strict application of the concepts of ESA 2010, the National and Regional Accounts are periodically monitored by Eurostat.
Validation and quality assessment steps include: data validation at source, consistency checks with national accounts, time series analysis to detect anomalies, and structured revision procedures.
Quality assessment results are documented and partially disseminated to users through metadata and Eurostat Quality Reports.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users of the Spanish Regional Accounts are public administrations, particularly ministries and regional governments, which use the information for the design and monitoring of economic and budgetary policies. Other users include European institutions (Eurostat, European Commission), international organizations (OECD, IMF), research centers, universities, the media, and private companies.
The results provide a coherent statistical framework for regional analysis, economic policy decision-making, resource allocation, and monitoring territorial convergence. Public administrations require homogeneous and comparable series at both national and European levels, while researchers and academics demand more sectoral and territorial detail. Key outputs include regional GDP, employment, and household income accounts.
The information is made available to users through official publications, online databases and metadata, ensuring accessibility, transparency, and comparability.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The INE has carried out general user satisfaction surveys in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019 and it plans to continue doing so every three years. The purpose of these surveys is to find out what users think about the quality of the information of the INE statistics and the extent to which their needs of information are covered. In addition, additional surveys are carried out in order to acknowledge better other fields such as dissemination of the information, quality of some publications, etc.
On the INE website, in its section Methods and Projects / Quality and Code of Practice / INE quality management / User surveys are available users satisfaction surveys (USS) conducted to date.
12.3. Completeness
The overall completeness rate of the mandatory data as requested in the ESA 2010 transmission programme is very high. All information available in Eurostat’s Quality report
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Regional accounts are a synthesis statistic, and their accuracy largely depends on the information sources used in their compilation. However, these sources are analysed and processed before being incorporated into the production process.
Regional data in Spain are generally more accurate at NUTS 2 level (autonomous communities), where the underlying administrative and survey data are complete and reliable. At NUTS 3 level (provinces), the data are less precise due to higher disaggregation and reliance on estimation methods.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
The accounts for any reference year are first published, at the latest, by the end of the following year, in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 549/2013, and become definitive at most three years after that year ends. In 2025, the publication of GDP has been brought forward to September, instead of December that was done previously.
The time lag in publication is mainly due to the need to collect and process information from multiple sources (administrative and survey-based), ensure consistency with the National Accounts, and carry out quality checks. Efforts to reduce the publication lag include process automation, the use of preliminary estimates, and the integration of more timely administrative sources.
14.2. Punctuality
The Spanish Regional Accounts are transmitted to Eurostat within the legal deadlines established by Regulation (EU) No 549/2013, ensuring timely compliance with EU requirements for national and regional accounts.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) ensure comparability across NUTS 2 regions by consistently applying ESA 2010 concepts and methods. Limitations may arise from the size and structure of some administrative sources and differences in the availability of local surveys, but these have a limited impact on key aggregates such as regional GDP and employment. The SRA fully adheres to ESA 2010 concepts, and any minor discrepancies are documented in the methodological chapters of the reports.
At the European level, comparability with other countries is achieved through harmonization of concepts and methods.
15.2. Comparability - over time
In the Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA), time series are generally comparable, with consistent application of ESA 2010 concepts and methods. No significant changes in key variables such as regional GDP, gross value added, or employment have occurred, so the series remain consistent and comparable over recent periods, with no breaks identified in recent cycles.
For users, comparable time series for regional GDP and employment at NUTS 2 level span 24 years, providing sufficient methodological consistency for longitudinal analysis and comparisons.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The Spanish Regional Accounts are consistent with the National Accounts, as they are coherent with the Accounts of the Territorial Public Administrations and the General Government prepared by the National Audit Office (IGAE), as well as with Foreign Trade statistics and the Balance of Payments.
Coherence is ensured through necessary adjustments and systematic comparison across these official sources.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Regional estimates for all aggregates are consistent with annual figures within the ESA 2010 framework, ensuring coherence across NUTS levels and NACE sectors. Coherence is maintained through the consistent application of ESA 2010 concepts, methods, and classification systems across all regional and sectoral breakdowns.
The estimated budget appropriation necessary to finance this statistic foreseen in the 2025 Annual Programme is 315.16 thousand euros.
The direct burden on respondents is nil, as the Spanish Regional Accounts are prepared using information provided by other statistics.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The INE applies a data revision policy that includes planned routine revisions, extensive revisions due to methodological or source changes, unplanned revisions for detected errors, and conceptual/methodological revisions according to recommendations included in the Harmonised European Revision Policy (HERP). Regional GDP is updated in September following the National Accounts, while other aggregates are updated in December. In addition, sources and methods are reviewed at least every five years, with 2029 being the next scheduled year for a comprehensive review.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Information on revisions is made available to users through official publications, methodological notes, and dedicated sections on the National Statistics Institute’s website. Users are informed about the nature, causes, and impact of revisions to ensure transparency and to maintain confidence in the statistical outputs.
18.1. Source data
The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) are compiled using a combination of direct and indirect sources. Direct sources provide information on the level of an accounting aggregate, while indirect sources provide information on the change of an aggregate or part of it between two periods and are adjusted using statistical procedures.
The main sources include:
structural business statistics, such as the Structural Business Statistics, the Construction Structure Survey, and the Labour Cost Survey;
price statistics, including consumer, industrial, and housing price indices;
production and activity indicators, such as industrial and services indices, retail trade, passenger transport;
administrative registers, including Social Security affiliation, agricultural holdings, and fiscal data.
All sources are integrated and adjusted using statistical procedures to produce regional accounts with territorial and temporal breakdowns.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Regional accounts are compiled from primary statistics and administrative sources collected on an annual basis.
A noteworthy aspect is that, thanks to the new methodology introduced in the 2021 Population Censuses, based entirely on the use of administrative registers, annual population data are now available.
Furthermore, some statistical sources periodically revise their data, and these updates are incorporated into the annual compilation to ensure that the information accurately and consistently reflects the economic situation of each region.
18.3. Data collection
Data collection techniques may vary depending on the type of source, date of data availability, etc.
In general, the data are sent to the regional accounts unit by the different units that prepare them, although sometimes, if the level of disaggregation is adequate and the date of publication fits the work scheme of the SRA, the information can be obtained directly from the corresponding database.
18.4. Data validation
Once the basic indicators are selected, they are subjected to a series of treatments: identification of outliers, cleaning of errors, estimation of missing data, adaptation to the terms of National Accounts, among others.
18.5. Data compilation
The process of elaboration of the SRA can be structured in several phases:
Obtaining the baseline information and adapting it to the concepts of National Accounts.
Processing of information: once we have the baseline information, it undergoes a series of treatments such as identifying outliers, cleaning errors, estimating missing data and adapting it to the terms of National Accounts.
Implementation of the regionalisation methods foreseen in the ESA 2010 as well as in the manual of regional accounts methods elaborated by Eurostat. According to the information obtained in each case, ascending, descending or mixed methods will be applied.
Adjustment to the Spanish National Accounts data.
Analysis of results: finally, an overall assessment of all the information is made, carrying out numerous controls of consistency and viability.
18.6. Adjustment
Adjustments are applied to ensure consistency between national accounts data and regional accounts. These adjustments mainly concern the allocation of national aggregates to regional levels and may involve balancing procedures, harmonisation of sources, and corrections to account for statistical discrepancies.
For more information about the SEC 2010, you can refer to the following link:
The Spanish Regional Accounts (Regional Accounts of Spain – SRA), compiled in accordance with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and transmitted to Eurostat, include regional data at NUTS 2 level for Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Value Added (GVA), Compensation of Employees, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), employment (in persons and in hours worked), population and household accounts (income, consumption and disposable income).
At NUTS 2 level, data are broken down by industry according to NACE Rev.2 (A*10).
At NUTS 3 level, data are provided for GDP, GVA, employment (in persons) and population, with a breakdown by NACE Rev.2 (A*6).
The INE does not publish any regional data that is not transmitted to Eurostat.
30 September 2025
The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) are compiled consistently using the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) concepts and definitions, specifically in Chapter 13 of Regional Accounts and in Manual on regional accounts methods - 2013 Edition. All data are aligned with the national accounts framework to ensure comparability and coherence. The regional accounts are publicly available on the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) website: INEbase / Economy /Economics accounts /Spanish Regional Accounts / Latest data
The units used in the compilation of the Spanish Regional Accounts are defined according to the type of economic analysis to be performed. One of the basic units in ESA 2010 is the institutional unit (IU), which can be, for example, a household, an enterprise, or a government unit. Institutional units are grouped into institutional sectors.
In practice, institutional units often carry out multiple activities simultaneously. To allow for a more precise analysis of production, these units are further divided into smaller, more homogeneous units according to the type of activity. These are referred to as local kind-of-activity units (local KAUs), which are grouped into branches of activity or units of homogeneous production, providing a consistent framework for compiling regional accounts.
The statistical population of regional accounts refers to all resident institutional units within a region, i.e., those whose predominant centre of economic interest is located in that territory. A predominant centre of economic interest means that the unit carries out economic activities and transactions of a significant scale over a sufficiently long period (generally, one year or more).
Population stocks in regional accounts are defined as annual average values, calculated as the mean of the population on 1 January of two consecutive years.
These concepts are aligned with those used in the annual national accounts.
The geographical scope is the entire Spanish economic territory. The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) obtain disaggregated data both at the Autonomous Community level (including the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla) and at the provincial level. An extra-regio territory is also defined, covering activities that cannot be assigned to a specific region. There are no overseas territories or other areas not included in the transmission to Eurostat.
The accounting period is the calendar year.
Regional accounts are a synthesis statistic, and their accuracy largely depends on the information sources used in their compilation. However, these sources are analysed and processed before being incorporated into the production process.
Regional data in Spain are generally more accurate at NUTS 2 level (autonomous communities), where the underlying administrative and survey data are complete and reliable. At NUTS 3 level (provinces), the data are less precise due to higher disaggregation and reliance on estimation methods.
The units of measure in the Spanish Regional Accounts depend on the type of data to which they refer.
For economic data the unit of measure is millions of euros.
For employment data the units of measure are thousands of people or thousands of hours worked, depending on the target variable of the estimation.
The process of elaboration of the SRA can be structured in several phases:
Obtaining the baseline information and adapting it to the concepts of National Accounts.
Processing of information: once we have the baseline information, it undergoes a series of treatments such as identifying outliers, cleaning errors, estimating missing data and adapting it to the terms of National Accounts.
Implementation of the regionalisation methods foreseen in the ESA 2010 as well as in the manual of regional accounts methods elaborated by Eurostat. According to the information obtained in each case, ascending, descending or mixed methods will be applied.
Adjustment to the Spanish National Accounts data.
Analysis of results: finally, an overall assessment of all the information is made, carrying out numerous controls of consistency and viability.
The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) are compiled using a combination of direct and indirect sources. Direct sources provide information on the level of an accounting aggregate, while indirect sources provide information on the change of an aggregate or part of it between two periods and are adjusted using statistical procedures.
The main sources include:
structural business statistics, such as the Structural Business Statistics, the Construction Structure Survey, and the Labour Cost Survey;
price statistics, including consumer, industrial, and housing price indices;
production and activity indicators, such as industrial and services indices, retail trade, passenger transport;
administrative registers, including Social Security affiliation, agricultural holdings, and fiscal data.
All sources are integrated and adjusted using statistical procedures to produce regional accounts with territorial and temporal breakdowns.
Regional data are disseminated annually. Each release includes provisional, revised, or definitive data according to the standard revision cycle. Provisional estimates refer to the most recent year, revised data correspond to the following update after incorporating new information, and definitive data are published once no further revisions are expected.
The data are transmitted to Eurostat at the same time as the national publication.
The accounts for any reference year are first published, at the latest, by the end of the following year, in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 549/2013, and become definitive at most three years after that year ends. In 2025, the publication of GDP has been brought forward to September, instead of December that was done previously.
The time lag in publication is mainly due to the need to collect and process information from multiple sources (administrative and survey-based), ensure consistency with the National Accounts, and carry out quality checks. Efforts to reduce the publication lag include process automation, the use of preliminary estimates, and the integration of more timely administrative sources.
The Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA) ensure comparability across NUTS 2 regions by consistently applying ESA 2010 concepts and methods. Limitations may arise from the size and structure of some administrative sources and differences in the availability of local surveys, but these have a limited impact on key aggregates such as regional GDP and employment. The SRA fully adheres to ESA 2010 concepts, and any minor discrepancies are documented in the methodological chapters of the reports.
At the European level, comparability with other countries is achieved through harmonization of concepts and methods.
In the Spanish Regional Accounts (SRA), time series are generally comparable, with consistent application of ESA 2010 concepts and methods. No significant changes in key variables such as regional GDP, gross value added, or employment have occurred, so the series remain consistent and comparable over recent periods, with no breaks identified in recent cycles.
For users, comparable time series for regional GDP and employment at NUTS 2 level span 24 years, providing sufficient methodological consistency for longitudinal analysis and comparisons.
