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.
Albanian Institute of Statistics, Annual Business Statistics Sector, Business Statistics Department
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
INSTAT, "Vllazën Huta", street, Nr .3 Tiranë, Shqipëri
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
2 September 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
2 September 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
2 September 2025
3.1. Data description
Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors). SBS covers all activities of the business economy with the exception of agricultural activities, public administration and non-market services such as education and health. Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of active enterprises);
"Output related" variables (e.g. Net turnover, Value added);
"Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Number of employees and self-employed persons); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments).
Currently, the SBS survey collects data on the variable “Turnover,” disaggregated by the type of client residence. The current focus is on addressing non-response and quality issues. To ensure that annual data items required by the SBS Regulation are included in the questionnaire, a revision was made for the reference years 2023 and 2024. This revision introduced a new question on the breakdown of turnover by products, applicable to all relevant service activities.
Annual regional statistics have been compiled since the 2016 reference year. However, a detailed breakdown of the three characteristics at the NUTS-2 regional level is still not available at the NACE Rev. 2 division level (2-digit). Instead, for national purposes, data is compiled only for aggregated groups of NACE Rev. 2 divisions.
3.2. Classification system
The classification used for SBS is the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities (NACE). The data are produced at the national level, broken down by activity, grouped in two-digit levels of this nomenclature. Until 2012, the data were published using NACE Rev.1.1. Starting from the reference year 2013, the data are published in NACE Rev.2. SBS data were double reported in NACE Rev.1.1 and NACE Rev.2 for 2010-2012.
The list of classifications used in the production of Structural Business Statistics is:
Statistical Classification of economic activities NACE Rev. 2;
Statistical Classification of economic activities NACE Rev. 1.1;
EU recommendation 2003/361 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises;
Law No. 43, dated October 17 2002, “For development of Small and Medium-sized enterprises”.
Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE): NACE Rev.2 is used from 2008 onwards. Key data were double reported in NACE Rev.1.1 and NACE Rev.2 only for 2008. From 2002 to 2007 NACE Rev. 1.1 was used and until 2001 NACE Rev.1.
The product breakdown is based on the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) as stated in the Regulation establishing CPA 2008 and its amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 1209/2014 (from reference year 2015 onwards).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Starting reference year 2021 onwards, in the European Community, SBS cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96. Until 2007 the SBS coverage was limited to Sections C to K of NACE Rev.1.1 and from the reference year 2008 to 2020 data was available for Sections B to N and Division S95 of NACE Rev.2.
From 2008 reference year the data collection Business services covers NACE Rev 2 codes: J62, N78, J582, J631, M731, M691, M692, M702, M712, M732, M7111, and M7112. From 2013, as the first reference year, to 2020 information is published on NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown.
Structural Business Statistics in Albania comprise all active enterprises of all legal forms. The population consists of all enterprises that according to the Statistical Business Register were active in December of the reference year and they exercise their activity in one of the activities covered by SBS. Structural business statistics cover enterprises which based on NACE Rev.2 classification, have the main activity in (B) Mining and quarrying, (C) Manufacturing, (D) Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, (E) Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, (F) Construction, (G) Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, (I) Accommodation and food service activities, (H) Transport and storage, (J) Information and communication, (L) Real estate activities, (M) Professional, scientific and technical activities (N) Administrative and support services activities, (P) Private education, (Q) Human health and social work activities, (R) Art, entertainment and recreation, (S) Other service activities (excluding S94).
Total Business in the dataset produced and transmitted to Eurostat is reported without Financial and Insurance services (NACE Section K).
Data requirements, simplifications and technical definitions are defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Basic variables
An enterprise is: "the smallest combination of legal units that is an organizational unit producing goods or services which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations (local unit)". The relationship between an enterprise and a legal unit is therefore defined as: "the enterprise corresponds either to a legal unit or to a combination of legal units".
Employed is defined as the total number of persons who work in the observation unit including proprietors, employees and unpaid family workers.
Net sales comprise the total amount invoiced by the observation unit during the reference period, and this corresponds to market sales of goods or services supplied to third parties. Investments during the reference period include goods, whether bought from third parties or produced for own use, with a life of more than one year including non-produced tangible goods such as land.
Macroeconomic variables
Production is an activity exercised under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit (enterprise), which combines the sources of labour forces, capital and raw materials to produce goods and perform services.
The value of production is based on: Incomes from the sale of goods and services (turnover) realized by the enterprise: 4 (±) Changes in stocks of work in progress, finished goods and work on contract (±) Changes in goods and services purchased for resale in the same condition as received (-) Purchases of goods and services purchased for resale in the same condition as received (+) Capitalized production (+) Subsidies.
Intermediate consumption represents the value of products or services transformed or consumed during production. The uses of fixed assets in work are not taken into consideration.
Value added at basic prices is calculated as the difference between production value and intermediate consumption.
3.5. Statistical unit
In the SBS survey, the enterprise serves as both the observation unit and the target statistical unit. In the case of Albania, an enterprise is equivalent to a legal unit. Both the national-level data and the data broken down by size class, based on the number of persons employed, refer to enterprises.
3.5.1. Treatment of complex enterprise
Data treatment
Sample frame based on enterprises
Yes (One enterprise is equal with legal unit)
Surveying all legal units belonging to a complex enterprise
In SBS frame are included all enterprises (equal to legal units) whose main activity, based on NACE classification, falls within the scope of SBS, excluding Section K (Financial and Insurance Activities). SBS data are compiled using a sample survey.
Surveying all legal units within the scope of SBS belonging to a complex enterprise
In SBS frame are included all enterprises (equal to legal units) whose main activity, based on NACE classification, falls within the scope of SBS, excluding Section K (Financial and Insurance Activities). SBS data are compiled using a sample survey.
Surveying only representative units belonging to the complex enterprise
In SBS frame are included all enterprises (equal to legal units) whose main activity, based on NACE classification, falls within the scope of SBS, excluding Section K (Financial and Insurance Activities). SBS data are compiled using a sample survey.
Other criteria used, please specify
In SBS frame are included all enterprises (equal to legal units) whose main activity, based on NACE classification, falls within the scope of SBS, excluding Section K (Financial and Insurance Activities). SBS data are compiled using a sample survey.
Comment
-
3.5.2. Consolidation
Consolidation method
Consolidation carried out by the NSI
Yes, only for the main enterprise dealing with the distribution of electricity.
Consolidation carried out by responding enterprise/legal unit(s)
No
Other methods, please specify
-
Comment
-
3.6. Statistical population
The statistics comprise all active enterprises in Albania, of all legal forms. The population consists of all enterprises that, according to the statistical business register were active in December of the reference year in economic activities covered by SBS excluding:
Local units;
Enterprises (equal with legal unit) with the main activity code (NACE) that are out of the scope of the SBS survey;
Public enterprises in Education (NACE 85) and Health (NACE 86,87,88).
3.7. Reference area
Albania
3.8. Coverage - Time
1998 is the first reference year for SBS implementation and the period between 1998 until 2001 was a transitional period for SBS implementation. The data set is more complete and comparable starting from the reference year 2002 onwards. Until the reference year 2010, data are available in NACE Rev.1.1. Starting with the reference year 2010, data is available in NACE Rev.2.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of enterprises are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in ALL.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
SBS data refers to a calendar year. This report is based on the reference year 2023.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The national legal basis on which “Structural Business Statistics” is based consists of:
National Statistical Law No.17/2018 on Official Statistics;
Official Statistics National Program for the period 2022-2026,
INSTAT carries out all statistical activities in accordance with the respective EUROSTAT regulations. The results of structural statistics of enterprises in order to be comparable to those of European countries are produced by applying the European Commission Regulations:
Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 (EBS General Implementing Act)
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Structural Business Statistics (SBS) have been transmitted to Eurostat starting from the reference year 2017. Data for the years 2019 to 2022 have been successfully transmitted, validated, and published in the Eurostat website.
INSTAT also regularly completes a series of questionnaires for international organizations concerning the results of the annual structural survey. These include submissions to the European Commission (Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs), the OECD, UN, and other relevant institutions.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The data collected are considered strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes and scientific research in accordance with the national Statistical Law No.17/2018 “On Official Statistics”, date 10 Mars 2018 and Law no. 9887, dated 10 Mars 2008 "Personal Data Protection".
Article 31 of the Law on Official Statistics clearly define that all statistical information collected by INSTAT is confidential and may only be used or published in such summary tables that do not identify the information of the unit.
Direct identification is called when a statistical unit is directly identified by its name, address, or any officially recognized identification number. When data processing is performed in such a way as to enable the data subject to be identified, the data must be coded immediately so that the entities are no longer recognized.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Albanian Institute of Statistics protects and does not disseminate data it has obtained or it has access to, which enables the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units. Albania Institute of Statistics takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means that might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit is disseminated by the Albanian Institute of Statistics if and only if:
these data have been treated, as it is specifically set out in the Regulation, in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality or;
the statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data.
The confidential data that are transmitted to the Albanian Institute of Statistics are used exclusively for statistical purposes and the only persons who have the right to have access to these data are the personnel engaged in this task. Issues referring to the observance of statistical confidentiality are examined by the staff working at the Albanian Institute of Statistics. The responsibilities of this staff are to recommend on: which detailed level the statistical data can be disseminated, so as the identification, either directly or indirectly, of the surveyed statistical unit is not possible; the anonymization criteria for the microdata provided to users; the access granting to researchers on confidential data for scientific purposes.
In SBS data, primary confidentiality is flagged on either too few enterprises (where the number of units is less than 3), or if the dominant share of the largest two units is 85% or more. Secondary confidentiality is flagged in order to protect primary confidential data, which are suppressed so that sensitive information is not revealed. These are identified and flagged by NSO using a common methodology applied by other statistical agencies.
7.2.1. Confidentiality processing
Data treatment
Confidentiality rules applied
Yes
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
Less than 3
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
No (If the number of enterprises is confidential, all other indicators are treated as confidential)
Dominance criteria applied
Yes
If dominance criteria applied specify the threshold (Number)
85 %
Secondary confidentiality applied
Yes
Comment
-
8.1. Release calendar
Announcements about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available in the website. The announcements and delays are pre-announced in this calendar. The date of the next publication and the reasons for the delays are specified.
8.2. Release calendar access
The Calendar of Publications is available on the INSTAT website: Calendar | Instat
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the article 34 of Law No.17/2018 “On Official Statistics” as amended, the INSTAT disseminates statistics on INSTAT website and other media for simultaneous access, respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The following dissemination channels are used to release the results:
All the information is available in both Albanian and English language. Since 2011, the Pc-Axis system is provided external users on the web a longer time series data from SBS 2002 reference year. You can access the database as follows: PxWeb - Select table
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
SBS micro-level databases are not released due to confidentiality concerns. Only aggregated data is made available to external users. Even the micro data are not published, they can be accessed based on the article 34, point 17 of the low No. 17/2018, “On official statistics”.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Users can submit specific requests for data from the SBS survey through a dedicated section for all the data in INSTAT : Search for data | Instat
10.6. Documentation on methodology
A short explanation related to the definitions of the main concepts and methodological explanations are provided to users in the end of press releases and publications. Additional support information is given to internal users when needed or required. Also the methodological notes are published at INSTATs website as following: Structural Business Statistics | Instat
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The Annual Business Statistics unit document all the work process and procedure for the SBS for internal purposes.
11.1. Quality assurance
INSTAT is committed to ensure the highest quality with respect to the compilation of statistical information.
In accordance with the Statistics Law, INSTAT use statistical methods and processes in compliance with internationally recognized scientific principles and standards conduct ongoing analyses of the statistics with a view to quality improvements and ensure that statistics are as up to-date. In performing its tasks it follows the general principles of quality management from the European Statistics Code of Practice. INSTAT declares that it takes into account the following principles: impartiality, quality of processes and products, user orientation, employee orientation, effectiveness of statistical processes, reducing the workload for respondents.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
SBS data is compared with previous year's SBS data and checked for any large changes in the data, especially due to large deviations in the main variables concerned. When available the data is checked with the available administrative data sources for confirmation.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of SBS are classified as external and internal.
External users are:
Ministries and public administrations that uses these data for economic and social policy planning purposes;
Universities (teachers/graduate and post-graduate students), research organizations;
National and international NGOs;
Enterprises;
General public which gets the information via mass media through publications made by Statistical Office.
Some main indicators are sent to European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General, OECD, etc.
Internal users are those within the institution of INSTAT.
National Account Directory;
Short-Term Statistics Sectors;
Statistical Business Register;
Employment and wages Sector.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
INSTAT annually conducts the Survey for Measuring User Satisfaction, the results of which are published on the web at the link: User Satisfaction Survey. The 2024 survey results show that the overall quality of the topic “Structural Business Statistics" was rated 3.86 (77.2) on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good)
12.3. Completeness
The degree of completeness of the data for the Structural Business Survey, based on Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation) and methodologies used by Eurostat, is satisfactory.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall, the data are reviewed and compared with previous years to identify any significant deviations. Any such discrepancies are verified using financial statements or other administrative sources, when available.
Each year, INSTAT implements several measures to increase response rates and mitigate the impact of non-response through imputation, including:
Collecting data directly from enterprises;
Conducting face-to-face interviews by trained enumerators following detailed instructions;
Prioritizing larger businesses; if these enterprises decline direct interviews but prefer to provide information via mail or email, an official request is sent to the enterprise`s president;
Inviting enterprises to contact the Statistical Office with any questions, where qualified staff are always available to assist.
13.2. Sampling error
The sampling error is estimated for key indicators including Net Sales, Employment, and the Total Number of Enterprises, both at the section level and at the national level. These estimates are presented in Annex 1.
All indicator values are weighted to accurately represent the entire population.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Unit non-response takes in consideration enterprises that are unable or unwilling to give the answers, when interviewers are unable to find the enterprises address, when other barriers exist to complete the interview, or when it is not possible to obtain information from other administrative sources about the enterprise. The unit non-response rate for Structural Business Statistics 2023 is 10.6 %. Item non-response rate for the main variables of Structural Business Statistics 2023 are: for Turnover is 2.2% and for Number of employed is 2.0 %. Over coverage is possible when a unit is registered in the activity under observation, but it actually performs some other activity, which is not the subject of observation. Over coverage rate for Structural Business Statistics 2023 is 3.1%.
14.1. Timeliness
The results of the “Structural Business Survey” are published on the INSTAT website approximately 415 days after the end of the reference period (T + 415 days). The reference period of the SBS 2023 results is 31 December 2023.
Reference period
31 December 2023
Date of publication
15 February 2025
Timeliness
415
SBS Final data for the reference year 2023 have been transmitted to Eurostat few days after the regulatory deadline.
14.2. Punctuality
Reference period
31 December 2023
Date of announcement
15 February 2025
Date of publication
15 February 2025
Time lag
0
SBS Survey data are published based on the publication calendar.
The SBS 2023 national publication has been punctual in time in 100%.
Related to the reference period, Albania use calendar year which corresponds to the fiscal year. The population consists of all enterprises that, according to statistical business register were active in December of the reference year.
The classification of enterprises is done based on Classification of Economic Activities, NACE Rev.2 according to Regulation (EC) No. 1893/2006 for “Implementation of NACE Rev. 2 in Structural Business Statistics”.
The statistical unit in SBS is enterprise, equal to legal unit.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Due to the implementation of NACE Rev 2, SBS data has a breakdown of time series. SBS statistics are provided annually and are comparable from 1998 until 2012. Time series exists since 1998 (as reference year) but the data from year 2002 onwards are more reliable.
Based on NACE Rev 1.1 classification the SBS data are comparable from 2002 to 2012, providing a comparability of 11-year time series (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=11).
In NACE Rev 2 the SBS data are provided from 2010 onwards, providing a comparability of 14-year time series (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=14).
From 2010 onwards are added two new economic activities (Private enterprises dealing with health and education activity) and is excluded fishing. For the other activities, SBS data are comparable over the years.
15.2.1. Time series
Time series
First reference year available (calendar year)
2002
Calendar year(s) of break in time series
2010
Reason(s) for the break(s)
NACE coverage, New NACE implementation
Length of comparable time series (from calendar year to calendar year)
11
Comment
Time series exists since 1998 (as reference year) but the data from year 2002 onwards are comparable.
Based on Nace Rev 1.1 classification the Structural Business Statistics data are comparable from 2002 to 2012, providing a comparability of 11-year time series (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=11).
In Nace Rev 2 the Structural Business Statistics data are provided from 2010 onwards, providing a comparability of 14-year time series (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=14).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data on Structural business statistics can be found in the following related domains: short-term statistics (STS), labour cost statistics, labour force survey (LFS). In these collections data similar to SBS can be found, but it should be noted that methodological differences exist which can explain inconsistencies. Apparent inconsistencies between SBS data and the data from labour cost statistics, labour force survey and short-term statistics have been examined. For example the employment statistics in SBS data differs with the indicator in labour force survey due to the methodological aspects used. In LFS persons are asked if they have been occupied in a job for the reference year while in SBS enterprise is asked for the average number of persons employed. SBS data are compared with STS data for the “Turnover” variable. This is done regularly to see the tendencies and to have comparable data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalised. The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data internal series are confirmed.
Preliminary data until the publication of the final results are under review. Review means the continuous completion of data. The accuracy of the published data may increase as a result of the changes made possible by the provision of more complete and qualitative new data, which contribute to the improvement of the preliminary results.
17.2. Data revision - practice
SBS does general revisions on the data due to:
The implementation of new NACE classification;
Changes in methodology;
Revision of weights (new and/or improved data sources, corrections of errors).
SBS tries to follow the standard guidelines and principles in the revisions done in collaboration with technical assistance. All the revisions are made transparent to the users and are part of each publication.
18.1. Source data
The survey serves as the sole source of data collection for the Structural Business Statistics (SBS). The sample is drawn from the updated register of enterprises that were active in December of the reference year. The following categories are excluded from this register to built the SBS frame:
Local unit;
Enterprises with activities out of scope of SBS coverage;
State-owned enterprises in Education (NACE Rev. 2 85) and Health (NACE Rev. 2 86, 87, 88).
In this way the Frame is created, which has a total of 117,291 enterprises from which a sample with a size of 18,451 enterprises was selected.
The selection method used is "Stratified Systematic Random Sampling (SRS)". Stratification is mainly based on NACE Rev.2, 2 digits level and on enterprise size (number of employed). Turnover has also been used as a stratification variable. The SBS sample selection was revised to enhance the coverage of economic activities that have a significant impact on the Albanian economy in order to cover the main 3 digit level codes.
Classification of enterprises by activity is done according to the Nomenclature of Economic Activities, NACE Rev.2.
The classification of enterprises by size is done according to the number of employed.
In most of the economic activities for enterprises with 1-9 employed, a sample was selected for the survey. Enterprises with 10 or more employed were exhaustively surveyed.
Some differences are on the following activities:
For Nace 47, 85, 86, 87, 88 the sample is done for enterprises with 1-4 employed.
For Nace 3511, 4120, 45XX, 4639, 4673, 4690, 46XX, 4711, 4730, 4773, 47YY, 4941, 5510, 6200, 7900 he the sample is done for enterprises with 1-19 employed.
The method used to distribute the sample across strata is the "Neyman Allocation" method, in publishing domains.
18.1.1. Data sources overview
Data sources overview
Survey data
Yes
VAT data
No
Tax data
No
Financial statements
No
Other sources, please specify
Social security File (employment data)
Comment
The Financial statements data, VAT data and Tax data are used only for data editing and imputation. Social security File is used as the main source for employment data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data are collected on a yearly basis.
18.3. Data collection
SBS is collected by face-to-face interview with paper questionnaires. The necessary software and procedures for manual entry are prepared already when preparing for data collection. At that time the procedures and software needed are tested and are done with eventual corrections. All data are integrated into a single database after data entry and controls are done. The SBS survey has 5 questionnaires for each main activities (industry, construction, trade, services that require turnover by products, other services). Before conducting a survey, the subject matter expert specifies and analyses which are the needs and requests. Based on the results of those needs and requests, it is done the survey design and is prepared all the infrastructure needed.
Important phase in the preparation for data collection is the preparation of all the necessary materials and the preparation of data entry software. The sample is divided among enumerators; the enumerators are selected and trained. During the training the enumerators receive the prepared materials (guideline of questionnaire, enumerator’s tasks, notification letter for enterprises etc.). In case of lack of clarity, the reporting unit is contacted. In case of non-reporting, the reporting unit is re contacted by the subject matter staff or an official letter is sent in request of the unit. Key respondents are treated with priority. This sub-process is one of the key stages in the statistical process since correct communication with reporting units and appropriate controls in data collection, especially monitoring and eliminating non-response, contribute to greater quality of collected data.
18.4. Data validation
As regards the level of data, the data editing procedures can broadly be divided into data editing at micro level. In data editing at micro level procedures are implemented at the level of individual units, i.e. at the level of micro data.
1.Data editing in the questionnaire.
Completeness checks, valid values checks, range checks, and logical control of the questionnaire. The controller staff have the program to check the mathematical control of the questionnaire. The number of incoming questionnaires should be equal to the number of distributed questionnaires in the administrative units.
Individual checks are done for the cases of refusal and no contacts (response indicator).
The answered active enterprises are checked for the coherence of data given in different sessions of the questionnaire.
Checking the economic activity and the identification sessions.
2.Controlling the coherence of data with the administrative sources.
3.An appropriate weight is calculated for each unit that reported its data.
This weight is calculated for various reasons: unequal probability of selection, nonresponse, adjustment to population values, and model estimation. Outlier treatment is taken into consideration during the weighting procedure.
18.5. Data compilation
For the data compilation, there are three basic procedures:
1. Quality of data
There are applied some rules for analyzing quality of data:
Mathematic control of the questionnaire;
Logic control of the questionnaire’s data;
Comparison of time series data
Comparison of data with other statistics available in INSTAT;
Comparison of data with balance sheet file;
Determination of some ratios’ limits, for example, average wages and salaries per employee, margin per turnover, etc;
Analyse of huge deviations from average.
2. Treatment of non-response
Are considered as all cases of:
Non-contact;
Full refuse;
Partial refuses (for different tables and indicators).
The treatment of non-response is done using direct methods or their combinations such as:
Study of time series of enterprise and sector data;
Data from balance-sheet file;
Data from Social security file;
The information from other files available in INSTAT;
Average data of the sector where the enterprise is included are analyzed and used;
Data from enterprises that have similar conditions are used;
Method of average structure, especially for expenditures is used;
3. Re-weighting procedure
For the untreated part, the re-weighing method is used.
Programs in SAS Software, Macro Clan are used for re-weighing and data estimation. The estimation is done according to the traditional Horvitz-Thompson method (also known as the π evaluator), which is applied from the design stage of SRS.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable. No seasonal adjustments are made to the SBS data.
Below the estimates at section level and country total for the key indicators: Turnover, Number of Employees and Persons Employed and Total Number of Enterprises together with the respective Coefficient of Variation.
Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors). SBS covers all activities of the business economy with the exception of agricultural activities, public administration and non-market services such as education and health. Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of active enterprises);
"Output related" variables (e.g. Net turnover, Value added);
"Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Number of employees and self-employed persons); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments).
Currently, the SBS survey collects data on the variable “Turnover,” disaggregated by the type of client residence. The current focus is on addressing non-response and quality issues. To ensure that annual data items required by the SBS Regulation are included in the questionnaire, a revision was made for the reference years 2023 and 2024. This revision introduced a new question on the breakdown of turnover by products, applicable to all relevant service activities.
Annual regional statistics have been compiled since the 2016 reference year. However, a detailed breakdown of the three characteristics at the NUTS-2 regional level is still not available at the NACE Rev. 2 division level (2-digit). Instead, for national purposes, data is compiled only for aggregated groups of NACE Rev. 2 divisions.
Data requirements, simplifications and technical definitions are defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
Basic variables
An enterprise is: "the smallest combination of legal units that is an organizational unit producing goods or services which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations (local unit)". The relationship between an enterprise and a legal unit is therefore defined as: "the enterprise corresponds either to a legal unit or to a combination of legal units".
Employed is defined as the total number of persons who work in the observation unit including proprietors, employees and unpaid family workers.
Net sales comprise the total amount invoiced by the observation unit during the reference period, and this corresponds to market sales of goods or services supplied to third parties. Investments during the reference period include goods, whether bought from third parties or produced for own use, with a life of more than one year including non-produced tangible goods such as land.
Macroeconomic variables
Production is an activity exercised under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit (enterprise), which combines the sources of labour forces, capital and raw materials to produce goods and perform services.
The value of production is based on: Incomes from the sale of goods and services (turnover) realized by the enterprise: 4 (±) Changes in stocks of work in progress, finished goods and work on contract (±) Changes in goods and services purchased for resale in the same condition as received (-) Purchases of goods and services purchased for resale in the same condition as received (+) Capitalized production (+) Subsidies.
Intermediate consumption represents the value of products or services transformed or consumed during production. The uses of fixed assets in work are not taken into consideration.
Value added at basic prices is calculated as the difference between production value and intermediate consumption.
In the SBS survey, the enterprise serves as both the observation unit and the target statistical unit. In the case of Albania, an enterprise is equivalent to a legal unit. Both the national-level data and the data broken down by size class, based on the number of persons employed, refer to enterprises.
The statistics comprise all active enterprises in Albania, of all legal forms. The population consists of all enterprises that, according to the statistical business register were active in December of the reference year in economic activities covered by SBS excluding:
Local units;
Enterprises (equal with legal unit) with the main activity code (NACE) that are out of the scope of the SBS survey;
Public enterprises in Education (NACE 85) and Health (NACE 86,87,88).
Albania
SBS data refers to a calendar year. This report is based on the reference year 2023.
Overall, the data are reviewed and compared with previous years to identify any significant deviations. Any such discrepancies are verified using financial statements or other administrative sources, when available.
Each year, INSTAT implements several measures to increase response rates and mitigate the impact of non-response through imputation, including:
Collecting data directly from enterprises;
Conducting face-to-face interviews by trained enumerators following detailed instructions;
Prioritizing larger businesses; if these enterprises decline direct interviews but prefer to provide information via mail or email, an official request is sent to the enterprise`s president;
Inviting enterprises to contact the Statistical Office with any questions, where qualified staff are always available to assist.
Number of enterprises are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in ALL.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
For the data compilation, there are three basic procedures:
1. Quality of data
There are applied some rules for analyzing quality of data:
Mathematic control of the questionnaire;
Logic control of the questionnaire’s data;
Comparison of time series data
Comparison of data with other statistics available in INSTAT;
Comparison of data with balance sheet file;
Determination of some ratios’ limits, for example, average wages and salaries per employee, margin per turnover, etc;
Analyse of huge deviations from average.
2. Treatment of non-response
Are considered as all cases of:
Non-contact;
Full refuse;
Partial refuses (for different tables and indicators).
The treatment of non-response is done using direct methods or their combinations such as:
Study of time series of enterprise and sector data;
Data from balance-sheet file;
Data from Social security file;
The information from other files available in INSTAT;
Average data of the sector where the enterprise is included are analyzed and used;
Data from enterprises that have similar conditions are used;
Method of average structure, especially for expenditures is used;
3. Re-weighting procedure
For the untreated part, the re-weighing method is used.
Programs in SAS Software, Macro Clan are used for re-weighing and data estimation. The estimation is done according to the traditional Horvitz-Thompson method (also known as the π evaluator), which is applied from the design stage of SRS.
The survey serves as the sole source of data collection for the Structural Business Statistics (SBS). The sample is drawn from the updated register of enterprises that were active in December of the reference year. The following categories are excluded from this register to built the SBS frame:
Local unit;
Enterprises with activities out of scope of SBS coverage;
State-owned enterprises in Education (NACE Rev. 2 85) and Health (NACE Rev. 2 86, 87, 88).
In this way the Frame is created, which has a total of 117,291 enterprises from which a sample with a size of 18,451 enterprises was selected.
The selection method used is "Stratified Systematic Random Sampling (SRS)". Stratification is mainly based on NACE Rev.2, 2 digits level and on enterprise size (number of employed). Turnover has also been used as a stratification variable. The SBS sample selection was revised to enhance the coverage of economic activities that have a significant impact on the Albanian economy in order to cover the main 3 digit level codes.
Classification of enterprises by activity is done according to the Nomenclature of Economic Activities, NACE Rev.2.
The classification of enterprises by size is done according to the number of employed.
In most of the economic activities for enterprises with 1-9 employed, a sample was selected for the survey. Enterprises with 10 or more employed were exhaustively surveyed.
Some differences are on the following activities:
For Nace 47, 85, 86, 87, 88 the sample is done for enterprises with 1-4 employed.
For Nace 3511, 4120, 45XX, 4639, 4673, 4690, 46XX, 4711, 4730, 4773, 47YY, 4941, 5510, 6200, 7900 he the sample is done for enterprises with 1-19 employed.
The method used to distribute the sample across strata is the "Neyman Allocation" method, in publishing domains.
The dissemination of SBS data is done on annual basis.
The results of the “Structural Business Survey” are published on the INSTAT website approximately 415 days after the end of the reference period (T + 415 days). The reference period of the SBS 2023 results is 31 December 2023.
Reference period
31 December 2023
Date of publication
15 February 2025
Timeliness
415
SBS Final data for the reference year 2023 have been transmitted to Eurostat few days after the regulatory deadline.
Related to the reference period, Albania use calendar year which corresponds to the fiscal year. The population consists of all enterprises that, according to statistical business register were active in December of the reference year.
The classification of enterprises is done based on Classification of Economic Activities, NACE Rev.2 according to Regulation (EC) No. 1893/2006 for “Implementation of NACE Rev. 2 in Structural Business Statistics”.
The statistical unit in SBS is enterprise, equal to legal unit.
Due to the implementation of NACE Rev 2, SBS data has a breakdown of time series. SBS statistics are provided annually and are comparable from 1998 until 2012. Time series exists since 1998 (as reference year) but the data from year 2002 onwards are more reliable.
Based on NACE Rev 1.1 classification the SBS data are comparable from 2002 to 2012, providing a comparability of 11-year time series (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=11).
In NACE Rev 2 the SBS data are provided from 2010 onwards, providing a comparability of 14-year time series (CC2=Jlast-Jfirst+1=14).
From 2010 onwards are added two new economic activities (Private enterprises dealing with health and education activity) and is excluded fishing. For the other activities, SBS data are comparable over the years.
