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.
Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Business Statistics Division, Structural Statistics and SBR Section (SBR = Statistical Business Register)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
SURS, Litostrojska cesta 54, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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
31 August 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
31 August 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
31 August 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 (largely) 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, Hours worked by employees); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments)
Business services statistics (BS) collection contains harmonised statistics on business services. From 2008 onwards BS become part of the regular mandatory annual data collection of SBS. The BS’s data requirement includes variable “Turnover” broken down by products and by type of residence of client.
The annual regional statistics collection includes three characteristics due by NUTS-2 country region and detailed on NACE Rev 2division level (2-digits).
3.2. Classification system
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 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 2013, as the first reference year, to 2020 information is published on NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown.
From 2008 reference year data collection BS covers NACE Rev 2 codes: J62, N78, J582, J631, M731, M691, M692, M702, M712, M732, M7111, and M7112. The BS data for Slovenia represents less than 1% EU total, so the data is no longer collected.
Data requirements, simplifications and technical definitions are defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
3.5. Statistical unit
For compiling the SBS data Statistics Slovenia uses statistical types of units: enterprise and local unit.
3.5.1. Treatment of complex enterprise
Data treatment
Sample frame based on enterprises
no
Surveying all legal units belonging to a complex enterprise
yes
Surveying all legal units within the scope of SBS belonging to a complex enterprise
yes
Surveying only representative units belonging to the complex enterprise
no
Other criteria used, please specify
Comment
3.5.2. Consolidation
Consolidation method
Consolidation carried out by the NSI
yes
Consolidation carried out by responding enterprise/legal unit(s)
yes
Other methods, please specify
Comment
Consolidation carried out by responding enterprise unit only for manual profiling (contact or visit of the unit).
3.6. Statistical population
Target population is fully covered (all required NACE activity codes, size classes and statistical units). The frame for identifying units for the population is Statistical Business Register. No cut-off threshold is applied.
3.7. Reference area
The country or geographic areas are fully covered, no data are excluded. The branches of foreign enterprises are included in the results relating the activities abroad of enterprises of the reporting country. In the results all the activities of the resident enterprises and branches are included.
3.8. Coverage - Time
1995-2023; 2021 new additional observation for some NACE activities as defined by the new legislation.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in millions of €.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
SBS data refer to the annual results and rarely data refer to fiscal year. Statistics Slovenia does not apply special methods when there is mismatch between the calendar and the actual reference period.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Starting with reference year 2021 two new regulations currently form the legal basis of SBS:
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS Regulation), and
The Council Regulation No 58/97 has been amended three times: by Council Regulation No 410/98, Commission Regulation No 1614/2002 and European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2056/2002. As a new amendment of the basic Regulation it was decided to recast the Regulation No 58/97 in order to obtain a new "clean" legal text. In 2008 the European Parliament and Council adopted Regulation No 295/2008 and the provisions of this Regulation were applicable from the reference year 2008 to reference year 2020. Regulation No 295/2008 was amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 446/2014.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
National Statistics Act (OJ RS., No. 45/99 and 9/2001).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
For the confidentiality treatment Statistics Slovenia uses p%-rule. For primary and secondary protection Tau-Argus is in use.
7.2.1. Confidentiality processing
Data treatment
Confidentiality rules applied
yes
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
The threshold is confidential
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
yes
Dominance criteria applied
no
If dominance criteria applied specify the threshold (Number)
/
Secondary confidentiality applied
yes
Comment
p% rule is used
8.1. Release calendar
Statistics Slovenia has advance notice of release dates published on its web page (Products/Release calendar).
All data are available in the published on-line databases. The release calendar enables users to search releases from 1 January 2015 onwards and to review releases announced for the current year. All users get data at the same time.
SURS publishes Release calendar till the end of the year for the next year. Preliminary SBS results are available within 6 months following the end of the reference period (T+6) and final data within 17 months (T+17).
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
SBS data for reference year 2023 were published: 27 June 2024 (preliminary data) and 27 May 2025 (final data).
Publications are available in Slovenian and English.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data are available two times a year with the press release in on-line national database SiStat Database , theme Enterprises, Sub-theme Enterprise Structure and Performance, Structural business statistics.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Statistical Office Slovenia (SURS) also enables access to microdata for statistical analyses and scientific research purpose. It is an option to get access to microdata which can be obtained by registered research institutions, registered researchers and researchers in the general government sector.
The request to access microdata must be submitted on the prescribed form (more information available following this link. The requests are given to further consideration to the Data protection Committee at SURS.
If the request is in line with the rules of providing access to microdata, a contract is signed with the research institution and the researcher that will access the data signs a declaration on data protection.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are sent to Eurostat and are publicly available in their database. Data are used for the calculation of EU aggregates. Nationally data are published in the news releases (First release and E-release) and in on-line SiStat database.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological explanations are available on our website, theme Enterprises, Sub-theme Enterprise Structure and Performance, Structural Business Statistics (available in Slovenian and English).
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Annual quality report is available on our website, theme Enterprises, Sub-theme Enterprise Structure and Performance (available in Slovenian and English).
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality Statement of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia and other explanations about quality in its national statistics can be found on national website.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Since statistics are calculated on the base of full coverage from administrative or existing statistical sources there are no specific problems with quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users of SBS data are public sector, business entities, research and education sector (researchers and students), media. Most interested are in net turnover, value added and employment data.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Statistics Slovenia does not organize survey related to the user`s satisfaction regarding the availability and the quality of the SBS data. Some information about user satisfaction was published in special release Monitoring the satisfaction and needs of users in 2024.
12.3. Completeness
Most of the data required by the regulation is disseminated. The only data still missing is the detailed revenue breakdown (Table 24), in which Slovenia accounts for more than 1% of the EU total in several activities.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
There are no problems with the coverage bias because full coverage for Structural Business Statistics is granted. Approximately 8 months after first release the results are normally final.
13.2. Sampling error
Since in principle there is complete coverage, the sampling error is not calculated.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Since statistics are calculated on the basis of full coverage from the administrative or existing sources, the non-response rate is assumed to be 0. That is to say, for each unit of the observed population, data is available on at least one variable (from administrative sources).
In certain cases the applied administrative sources are not sufficiently broken down, or do not contain all the necessary variables. For example, the missing variable is Purchase value of goods and materials sold in the Prepayment of income taxes for the income realised upon the pursuit of activities. For the calculation of this variable Statistics Slovenia looks at the division level of the Standard Classification of Activity (SKD) (2th level of SKD or appropriate higher level) and consider the share of this variable (Purchase value of goods and materials sold) in Cost of goods, materials and services (this variable exists in the declaration) from annual accounts for self- employed persons.
The share of variable Purchase value of goods and materials sold obtained from the source Prepayment of income taxes for the income realised upon the pursuit of activities can be calculated. The item non-response occurs also for those variables, for which the data are obtained from existing sources or surveys. For example, for the set of variables obtained from the investment survey, the item non-response rate is the same as the unit non-response rate for this survey.
14.1. Timeliness
According to the Regulation, the results of the First Release should be prepared within 10 months following the end of the reference period (T+10). At the same time, data should also be communicated to Eurostat and published at SURS. At SURS data is published first for national users in June (T+6).
First release of the data for the reference year 2023 was 27th June 2024.
14.2. Punctuality
The data were delivered in the respected transmission deadline.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The same statistical concepts are applied in the entire national territory.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The length of comparable time series is 2005-2023 except new additional NACE Sections from 2021 onward.
15.2.1. Time series
Time series
First reference year available (calendar year)
2005
Calendar year(s) of break in time series
2021
Reason(s) for the break(s)
new regulations and additional NACE Sections
Length of comparable time series (from calendar year to calendar year)
2005-2023
Comment
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data is comparable with other statistical domains. The differences can occur because of different methodology for calculation of variables or observed units.
Differences between Structural Business statistics (SBS) and Business demography (BD) arise due to additional sources that SBS still can use till dissemination of final data in May (additional information on performance of enterprises). BD and SBS are based on Slovenian Statistical Business Register whose data is published early, in December.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The aggregates are consistent with their main sub-aggregates.
Statistics Slovenia has no special statistical survey for SBS and for that reason no burden estimates on respondents.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data revision is planned. Due to the needs of users for timely information, data is published that meet the criteria of the quality of official statistical data. Regular revisions include a more complete data source. Data is revised when newer and more quality data respectively can significantly contribute to the quality of data-based decision-making and when due to publication deadlines determined by the European legislation less accurate data is published.
In a long period Statistics Slovenia did not revise the data transmitted to Eurostat. Preliminary and final data differ in some minor extent because when preparing final data there is more time for checking and some additional sources are available.
18.1. Source data
SBS data is based on Slovenian Statistical Business Register with data on units and employment. For all other variables administrative sources (main source annual reports and tax data) are used.
The data for activities K64.11, K64.19, K65.11, K65.12, K65.20, and K65.30 are prepared on the basis of the final accounts of the Bank of Slovenia, other commercial banks, insurance companies, reinsurance companies, and funds.
The majority of investment data is obtained from the statistical survey on investment "Investments in fixed assets" , for other enterprises not included in the survey, the data on investments is obtained from VAT. The analysis of the differences between investment data collected via the survey and investment data published by national accounts and within SBS was carried out and published in the special document.
Data on payments for agency workers and payments to sub-contractors are collected through the statistical survey "Quaterly performance of enterprises".
18.1.1. Data sources overview
Data sources overview
Survey data
yes
VAT data
yes
Tax data
yes
Financial statements
yes
Other sources, please specify
SBR, statistical survey for investment data, employment statistics for FTE
Comment
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual data collection.
18.3. Data collection
There is no statistical survey for SBS and special questionnaires. Data collection is based on administrative sources or in the case of investments with combination of the statistical survey and administrative source.
18.4. Data validation
Before the data is transmitted to Eurostat Statistics Slovenia, checks out data with EDIT Tool (intra-dataset check, inter-dataset checks). Data is checked for consistency with Business Demography and Investment data. Data is compared with National Accounts and Employment statistics.
There are different methodology and observation units so it is not possible to check consistency between the data available in the Institution and the data available outside the Institution but releases in other institutions are monitored.
18.5. Data compilation
In certain cases the applied administrative sources are not sufficiently broken down, or do not contain all the necessary variables. For example, the missing variable is Purchase value of goods and materials sold in the Prepayment of income taxes for the income realised upon the pursuit of activities. For the calculation of this variable Statistics Slovenia looks at the lowest level of the Standard Classification of Activity (SKD) (5th level of SKD or appropriate higher level) and consider the share of this variable (Purchase value of goods and materials sold) in Cost of goods, materials and services (this variable exists in the declaration) from annual accounts for self- employed persons.
The item non-response occurs also for those variables, for which the data is obtained from existing sources or surveys. For example, for the set of variables obtained from the investment survey, the item non-response rate is the same as the unit non-response rate for this survey.
For the time being, there is no estimate on the missing values. A certain estimate is being made for individual sources which are insufficiently broken down. For example, the micro variable Net sales revenue is missing in the turnover tax declaration. To calculate this variable at the lowest level of SKD (5-digit SKD or an appropriate higher level) the share of such a variable should be considered in the whole turnover in the final accounts for individual entrepreneurs. When calculating the variable Net sales revenue, the right shares are multiplied by all turnover from the turnover tax declaration.
18.6. Adjustment
No corrections are applied in case the reference period differs from the calender year. Data differs slightly.
No additional comments.
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 (largely) 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, Hours worked by employees); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments)
Business services statistics (BS) collection contains harmonised statistics on business services. From 2008 onwards BS become part of the regular mandatory annual data collection of SBS. The BS’s data requirement includes variable “Turnover” broken down by products and by type of residence of client.
The annual regional statistics collection includes three characteristics due by NUTS-2 country region and detailed on NACE Rev 2division level (2-digits).
Data requirements, simplifications and technical definitions are defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.
For compiling the SBS data Statistics Slovenia uses statistical types of units: enterprise and local unit.
Target population is fully covered (all required NACE activity codes, size classes and statistical units). The frame for identifying units for the population is Statistical Business Register. No cut-off threshold is applied.
The country or geographic areas are fully covered, no data are excluded. The branches of foreign enterprises are included in the results relating the activities abroad of enterprises of the reporting country. In the results all the activities of the resident enterprises and branches are included.
SBS data refer to the annual results and rarely data refer to fiscal year. Statistics Slovenia does not apply special methods when there is mismatch between the calendar and the actual reference period.
There are no problems with the coverage bias because full coverage for Structural Business Statistics is granted. Approximately 8 months after first release the results are normally final.
Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units.
Monetary data are expressed in millions of €.
Employment variables are expressed in units.
Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
In certain cases the applied administrative sources are not sufficiently broken down, or do not contain all the necessary variables. For example, the missing variable is Purchase value of goods and materials sold in the Prepayment of income taxes for the income realised upon the pursuit of activities. For the calculation of this variable Statistics Slovenia looks at the lowest level of the Standard Classification of Activity (SKD) (5th level of SKD or appropriate higher level) and consider the share of this variable (Purchase value of goods and materials sold) in Cost of goods, materials and services (this variable exists in the declaration) from annual accounts for self- employed persons.
The item non-response occurs also for those variables, for which the data is obtained from existing sources or surveys. For example, for the set of variables obtained from the investment survey, the item non-response rate is the same as the unit non-response rate for this survey.
For the time being, there is no estimate on the missing values. A certain estimate is being made for individual sources which are insufficiently broken down. For example, the micro variable Net sales revenue is missing in the turnover tax declaration. To calculate this variable at the lowest level of SKD (5-digit SKD or an appropriate higher level) the share of such a variable should be considered in the whole turnover in the final accounts for individual entrepreneurs. When calculating the variable Net sales revenue, the right shares are multiplied by all turnover from the turnover tax declaration.
SBS data is based on Slovenian Statistical Business Register with data on units and employment. For all other variables administrative sources (main source annual reports and tax data) are used.
The data for activities K64.11, K64.19, K65.11, K65.12, K65.20, and K65.30 are prepared on the basis of the final accounts of the Bank of Slovenia, other commercial banks, insurance companies, reinsurance companies, and funds.
The majority of investment data is obtained from the statistical survey on investment "Investments in fixed assets" , for other enterprises not included in the survey, the data on investments is obtained from VAT. The analysis of the differences between investment data collected via the survey and investment data published by national accounts and within SBS was carried out and published in the special document.
Data on payments for agency workers and payments to sub-contractors are collected through the statistical survey "Quaterly performance of enterprises".
Annual.
According to the Regulation, the results of the First Release should be prepared within 10 months following the end of the reference period (T+10). At the same time, data should also be communicated to Eurostat and published at SURS. At SURS data is published first for national users in June (T+6).
First release of the data for the reference year 2023 was 27th June 2024.
The same statistical concepts are applied in the entire national territory.
The length of comparable time series is 2005-2023 except new additional NACE Sections from 2021 onward.
