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.
[4D1_E4] Eurostat - Regional statistics and geographical information
1.3. Contact name
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1.4. Contact person function
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1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
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1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
5 March 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
5 March 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
5 March 2026
3.1. Data description
Due to the nature of transport, a spatial reference is built into most legal acts dealing with transport statistics. In a few cases, these sources can be directly used for the derivation of regional transport indicators, while other indicators are collected on a voluntary basis. This is the case of the regional transport data collection in which both data types are used.
Three types of regional data can be distinguished depending on their source: two are based on data collections performed on the basis of legal acts (the Maritime and Aviation data) and one is a voluntary data collection (infrastructures, vehicles and road accidents).
Regional data collected on voluntary basis: The current regional data collection taking place on a voluntary basis comprises a set of transport indicators at NUTS 0, 1 and 2[1] levels for the road, railways, inland waterways (infrastructure), vehicle stocks and road accidents. The information collected is then disseminated in Eurostat's dissemination database (Eurobase) under “General and regional statistics/Regional statistics by NUTS classification/Regional transport statistics” theme and also mirrored under “Transport/Multimodal data/Regional transport statistics” theme. The annual data collection for infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents was first launched at the beginning of 2002 covering both EU Member States and Candidate countries. Since 2007, it includes EFTA countries as well. Starting from 2023, data on stock of electric vehicles are also collected.
Regional data are collected directly from the countries using a questionnaire: data on transport infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents. Currently, regional datasets are provided via the EDAMIS application. For the voluntary data collection via the EDAMIS portal, the definitions from the 5th edition of the Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics (jointly elaborated by Eurostat, ITF, UNECE) were proposed and countries should use them when reporting the data.
All the methodological issues reported by countries for the Regional data collection (e.g. breaks in time series, data availability and comparability, differences in definitions) are collected and presented in the document Country Specific Notes (See Annex).
Within the collection Maritime transport - data aggregated at standard regional levels (NUTS) there are two tables:
Maritime transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_mapa_nm);
Maritime transport of freight by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_mago_nm).
Within the collection Air transport - data aggregated at standard regional levels (NUTS) there are two tables:
Air transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_avpa_nm)
Air transport of freight by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_avgo_nm)
The tables present the evolution of the number of passengers carried and the volume of freight and mail loaded or unloaded to/from the NUTS regions (level 2, 1 and 0) since 1999. The data is presented at annual level. Before the legal act on air transport statistics was introduced (2003 with 3 years transitional period), air transport statistics were collected using the statistical questionnaire (voluntary basis). Some countries provided figures for passenger transport taking into account “passengers on board” and some “passenger carried”. Until 2007 reference year, the disseminated numbers of passengers aggregated at regional level are actually a mixture of passengers on board and passengers carried data. Since 2008, the air transport regional data are being calculated only by using data collected at the airport level in the frame of the regulatory data collection on air transport. Only airports with more than 150 000 passenger units serviced annually are required to report this data, however some countries also provide detailed information for smaller airports. To solve the problem of double counting, it is necessary to start at the airport level for each aggregate in order to identify the mirror declarations, i.e. the airport routes for which both airports report the volume, since these constitute the routes where the problem of double counting occurs. When calculating the total volume in such cases, only the departure declarations of the concerned airports have been taken into account. The problem of the double counting only appears for the calculation of the total passengers but not for the total arrivals (respectively total departures), which corresponds to the sum of the arrivals (respectively departures) at each domestic airport.
For the tables presenting maritime data at regional level the same aggregation method (exclusion of double counting) is applied taking into account main ports only. Only for these ports (handling more than one million tonnes of goods or recording more than 200 000 passenger movements annually) the detailed statistics allow such aggregation.
For some Member States (up to 1998 data) and for others that joint the EU later (up to 2002) transport flows through ports and airports had been collected, via questionnaire. Because of the difference in the methodologies applied, the data for air and maritime transport at regional level up to 2002 reference year are available in separate tables (listed below) and are no longer updated:
Maritime transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_mapa_om).
Maritime transport of freight by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_mago_om).
Air transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_avpa_om).
Air transport of freight by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_avgo_om).
[1] Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) and its amendments. More information on NUTS classification can be found under the following website.
3.2. Classification system
NUTS classification – regions are classified according to the Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS). The NUTS serves as a reference for the collection, development and harmonisation of EU regional statistics and for socio-economic analyses of the regions (more information is available on Eurostat's website: Overview - NUTS - Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics - Eurostat).
3.3. Coverage - sector
The Regional Transport Statistics covers:
Regional data on infrastructure (inland waterways, railway network, road network);
Stock of vehicles (freight and passengers);
Road traffic accidents (persons injured and persons killed);
Motorways – road, specially designed and built for motor traffic, which does not serve properties bordering on it, and which:
Is provided, except at special points or temporarily, with separate carriageways for traffic in two directions, separated from each other, either by a dividing strip not intended for traffic, or exceptionally by other means;
Has no crossings at the same level with any road, railway or tramway track, or footpath;
Is especially sign-posted as a motorway and is reserved for specific categories of road motor vehicles.
Entry and exit lanes of motorways are included irrespective of the location of the sign-posts. Urban motorways are also included.
Other roads – all roads other than motorways. Roads are line of communication (travelled way) open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles, using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips. Included are paved roads and other roads with a stabilized base, e.g. gravel roads. Roads also cover streets, bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings and interchanges. Toll roads are also included. Excluded are dedicated cycle lanes.
Motorcycles – two-, three- or four-wheeled road motor vehicle not exceeding 400 kg (900 lb) of unladen weight. All such vehicles with a cylinder capacity of 50 cc or over are included, as are those under 50 cc which do not meet the definition of moped.
Passenger cars – road motor vehicle, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine persons (including the driver). Included are: passenger cars, vans designed and used primarily for transport of passengers, taxis, hire cars, ambulances, motor homes. Excluded are light goods road vehicles, as well as motor-coaches and buses, and mini-buses/mini-coaches. "Passenger car" includes micro cars (needing no permit to be driven), taxis and passenger hire cars, provided that they have fewer than ten seats.
Motor-coaches, buses and trolley-buses – passenger road motor vehicle designed to seat more than nine persons (including the driver). Included are mini-buses and mini-coaches designed to seat more than 9 persons (including the driver). This category hence includes:
Motor coaches – passenger road motor vehicle designed to seat 24 or more persons (including the driver) and constructed exclusively for the carriage of seated passengers.
Buses – passenger road motor vehicle designed to carry more than 24 persons (including the driver), and with provision to carry seated as well as standing passengers. The vehicles may be constructed with areas for standing passengers, to allow frequent passenger movement, or designed to allow the carriage of standing passengers in the gangway.
Mini-buses / mini-coaches – passenger road motor vehicle designed to carry 10–23 seated or standing persons (including the driver). The vehicles may be constructed exclusively to carry seated passengers or to carry both seated and standing passengers.
Trolleybuses – passenger road vehicle designed to seat more than nine persons (including the driver), which is connected to electric conductors and which is not rail-borne. This term covers vehicles which may be used either as trolleybuses or as buses, if they have a motor independent of the main electric power supply.
Lorries – rigid road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods.
Road tractors – road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to haul other road vehicles which are not power-driven (mainly semi-trailers). Agricultural tractors are excluded.
Trailers and semi-trailers – goods road vehicle designed to be hauled by a road motor vehicle. In case of semi-trailer, the goods road vehicle has no front axle designed in such way that part of the vehicle and a substantial part of its loaded weight rests on a road tractor. This category excludes agricultural trailers and caravans.
Special purpose road motor vehicles – road motor vehicle designed for purposes other than the carriage of passengers or goods. This category includes: fire brigade vehicles, mobile cranes, self-propelled rollers, bulldozers with metallic wheels or track, vehicles for recording film, radio and TV broadcasting, mobile library vehicles, towing vehicles for vehicles in need of repair, other special purpose road motor vehicles.
Light goods road vehicles (Goods vehicles <= 3.5 tonnes) - Goods road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg, designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. Includes category N1 of the UN Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3). This category includes: vans designed for and used primarily for transport of goods, pick-ups, small lorries, and two- or three-wheeled vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg.
Electric vehicles - refer to 'pure' electric vehicles (battery-electric vehicles - BEVs). Trolley buses, as electric vehicles per se, are included. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as well as hydrogen-powered vehicles are excluded.
Persons killed – any person killed immediately or dying within 30 days as a result of an injury accident, excluding suicides. A killed person is excluded if the competent authority declares the cause of death to be suicide, i.e. a deliberate act to injure oneself resulting in death. For countries that do not apply the threshold of 30 days, conversion coefficients are estimated so that comparisons on the basis of the 30 day-definition can be made.
Person injured – any person who as result of an injury accident was not killed immediately or not dying within 30 days, but sustained an injury, normally needing medical treatment, excluding attempted suicides. Persons with lesser wounds, such as minor cuts and bruises are not normally recorded as injured. An injured person is excluded if the competent authority declares the cause of the injury to be attempted suicide by that person, i.e. a deliberate act to injure oneself resulting in injury, but not in death.
Total railway lines – line of communication made up by rail exclusively for the use of railway vehicles. This does not include stretches of road or water even if rolling stock is conveyed over such routes, e.g. by wagon carrying trailers or ferries. Lines solely used for tourism are excluded as are railways constructed solely to serve mines, forests or other industrial or agricultural undertakings and which are not open to public traffic.
Railway lines with double or more tracks – part of the railway lines with more than one pair of rails over which rail borne vehicles can run.
Electrified railway lines – line with one or more electrified running tracks. The following types of electric current are in use:
Sections of lines adjacent to stations that are electrified only to permit shunting and not electrified as far as the next stations are to be counted as non-electrified lines.
Navigable inland waterways – a stretch of water, not part of the sea, which by natural or man-made features is suitable for navigation, primarily by inland waterway vessels. This term covers navigable rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries. The length of rivers and canals is measured in mid-channel. The length of lakes and lagoons is measured along the shortest navigable route between the most distant points to and from which transport operations are performed. A waterway forming a common frontier between two countries is reported by both.
Navigable rivers and lakes – natural waterway and expanse of water open for navigation, irrespective of whether it has been improved for that purpose. Lagoons (brackish water area separated from the sea by a coastal bank) are included.
Navigable canal – waterway built primarily for navigation.
Transport infrastructure at regional level (road, rail and inland waterways network). Total number of vehicles by vehicle category registered at regional level. Victims of road traffic accidents represented at regional level. Weight of goods (and mail - in case of air transport) and number of passengers counted in the ports and airports respectively, at regional level.
3.7. Reference area
Member States of the European Union; EFTA countries (IS, CH, LI, NO); some European Union Candidate and Potential candidate countries (BA, MK, ME, AL, RS, TR, XK, UA).
3.8. Coverage - Time
Annual data for transport infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents are available since 1990.
The maritime transport data are available annually since 1997.
The air transport data are available annually since 1993.
Annual data collection for infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents was first launched at the beginning of 2002 covering both Member States and Candidate countries. Since 2007, it includes EFTA countries as well. Data on the stock of electric vehicles are collected since 2023.
Regional data are collected directly from the countries (administrative data) using a questionnaire: data on transport infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents (collected previously – till 2006 – on Excel sheets and then – till 2012- using on-line questionnaires). Since 2012 regional datasets are provided using an integrated environment for data transmission (EDAMIS).
Transport flows through ports and airports had been collected, via the regional questionnaire, for some Member States up to 1998 data and for others that joint the EU more recently, up to 2002. After these dates, data has been collected within the framework of the relevant legal acts for maritime or air transport statistics and derived from the data available in the maritime and aviation statistics databases for the purpose of regional transport statistics.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The transport infrastructure data on the length of motorways and other roads, the length of the railway network (by type of railway lines) and the length of the waterways network (by type of waterways) is expressed in kilometres. For motorways and total railway lines, data are also available as kilometres per 1000km2 of national territory. The stock of vehicles (by type of vehicle) is expressed in absolute numbers and, for certain vehicle categories, in units per 1000 inhabitants. The road accident data (persons killed and persons injured) are expressed in absolute numbers, and in absolute numbers per million inhabitants. The air and maritime transport data are expressed in 1000 for passengers and in thousands of tonnes for the freight. Data collected are reported as of 31st December.
Data are collected on a yearly base.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Most regional indicators are collected on a voluntary basis (see point 3.1).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), 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.
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
The regional transport Eurobase dissemination tables are updated yearly, once the voluntary data collection is concluded.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
An online news release or news item accompanies the annual update of the Statistics Explained article on Stock of vehicles at regional level. News releases are issued at 11 a.m. CET on Eurostat's website.
Eurostat's online database Eurobase (under General and regional statistics/Regional Statistics by NUTS classification/Regional Transport Statistics) is the most complete and most up-to-date source of European Union regional transport statistics.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological notes are available in the different publications containing regional statistics. Definitions of the terms used in the frame of the regional transport statistics are available in the Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics - 5th edition. See also the reference manual in the Annex.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
See point 11 – Quality management.
11.1. Quality assurance
The quality assurance of the EU regional transport statistics data is based on the following principles:
The reporting countries shall use similar methods and definitions in order to produce quality data. However, the sample design, the assurance of a sufficient response rate and the general conducting of surveys is the reporting countries' responsibility.
The statistical error (percentage standard error) of the micro-data transmitted to Eurostat shall not be greater than 5% (special conditions apply to smaller countries, see Commission Regulation (EC) 642/2004).
Eurostat validates the incoming micro-data, record by record, by applying detailed validation checks, at collection time.
Eurostat carries out time series checks with the aggregated data, in particular when preparing publications. Comparisons with nationally aggregated data ("supplementary tables") are also performed.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
A specific emphasis is put on the correctness of the data provided in the frame of the regional transport data collection. More particularly, the respect of the definitions and of the reference period (for instance stock of vehicles as of 31st December) needs to be checked. A way to check methodological issues is to compare data with other sources: crosschecks of the regional data at NUTS 0 level with Common questionnaire data are regularly performed by Eurostat and allow for instance to detect methodological issues.
If countries are not able to provide data according to the definitions commonly agreed, the related footnotes should be supplied in the questionnaire (and will be used when disseminating the figures provided).
The main tools for the assessment of the quality of the aggregated regional data are:
Methodological comparisons with the national surveys and the recommended methodology, including coverage of surveys, simplifying assumptions, register quality, sampling rate and response rate.
The main users of the EU regional statistics are the European Commission, the national authorities of the EU Member States, research institutions and industrial organisations.
The use of regional statistics by administrations is frequently indirect, data are used by the administrations via studies executed by researchers and other contractors.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There are no specific user surveys on the regional data collection.
The regional data on transport infrastructure network, vehicle stock and road accidents may be incomplete, mostly due to the voluntary nature of the data collection.
Completeness of data is high for air and maritime transport. For these modes, regional data are derived from data collection for which there is an obligation of data provision for the Member States and, as a consequence, there are very few gaps in the data provision since the framework legal act came into force (example: derogation granted at the beginning of the data collection).
13.1. Accuracy - overall
See 11– Quality management.
13.2. Sampling error
See 11 – Quality management.
13.3. Non-sampling error
See 11 – Quality management.
14.1. Timeliness
The regional transport Eurobase dissemination tables are updated yearly, when the voluntary data collection is completed.
14.2. Punctuality
The punctuality generally varies from country to country, from dataset to dataset.
The Regional transport data collection is launched once a year; it is a voluntary data collection.
Maritime transport: Quarterly data should be transmitted by Member States to Eurostat within 5 months of the end of the period of observation; annual data within 8 months.
Air transport: According to the existing legal basis, countries have 6 months to deliver the data for the reference monthly period.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
At regional level and when comparing data overtime, data for some regions might not be comparable due to the changes in the NUTS classification.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The comparability over time of the regional transport data derived from the maritime and air transport data collection and of the data collected in the frame of the regional questionnaire is checked using reports allowing detecting abnormal evolutions. In such cases, countries are contacted either to correct the data provided if necessary or to provide the methodological information explaining the evolution observed.
Major events affecting comparability over time are reported in the Country Specific Notes (see Annexes).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data coherence across the domains is very good for air and maritime transport. Data at regional level (NUTS level 2, 1 and 0) are derived from the data collected for these modes of transport, allowing the implementation of different quality checks to ensure the coherence of the data between the air and maritime transport sections and the data from the regional transport section.
Cross domain comparisons are however not applicable to the data on transport infrastructure network, vehicle stock and road accidents.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherence of the data collected, in the framework of the regional data on transport infrastructure network, vehicle stock and road accidents, is ensured during the data provisions thanks to built-in validation rules (e.g. coherence between totals at different NUTS levels and completeness of the data provided).
All discrepancies in the data are also described in a separate methodological document containing Country Specific Notes (see Annex).
There are overlaps between the regional data collection and data collected under the Eurostat/ITF/UNECE Common Questionnaire on Inland Transport Statistics. As the data are derived from two different data collections, they might display discrepancies. Currently, alignment efforts between both data collections are taking place. Even so small differences are expected to remain, given, for example, the different reporting schedules and rounding effects.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates, if existing, are updated for consistency with new country data.
Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated. European aggregates, if available, are updated for consistency with new country data.
The impact of major revisions is analysed. Time series breaks caused by major revisions are flagged and major revisions are documented in the metadata and Country Specific Notes, if applicable.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected and/or compiled by the competent national authorities, which could be the National Statistical Office, the Civil Aviation Authorities or directly by airports (air transport), the Ministry of Transport (inland waterways, railway and road networks, victims), and the National Maritime Administration or the port authorities (maritime transport).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The regional data collection on transport infrastructure network, vehicle stock and road accidents is launched once a year.
The air transport data that are used for calculating regional aggregates are provided on a monthly basis while the maritime transport data are provided on a quarterly/annual basis. The detailed data are aggregated at regional levels and disseminated in Eurobase once a year.
18.3. Data collection
Data are collected and/or compiled by the competent national authorities, which can be for instance the National Statistical Office, the Civil Aviation Authorities or directly by airports (air transport), the Ministry of Transport (inland waterways, railway and road networks, victims), and the National Maritime Administration or the port authorities (maritime transport) and submitted to Eurostat via EDAMIS (the Eurostat's single entry point application for data).
[1] Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) and its amendments.
18.4. Data validation
A set of built-in validation rules are applied both before the data are transmitted to Eurostat (voluntary data collection) and before integration of the data provided to Eurostat database (aviation and maritime). Additional quality checks are made based on the time series and mirror checks (maritime and aviation).
18.5. Data compilation
Based on the regional data on transport infrastructure network, stock of the vehicles and road accidents, the following indicators are calculated with the help of population and area data:
Density of motorways network;
Density of railway network;
Number of people killed in car accidents per million inhabitants;
Number of passenger cars per 1000 inhabitants (for a given year, this indicator is calculated on the basis of the stock of vehicles as of 31st December and the population figures as of 1st January of the following year).
Due to the nature of transport, a spatial reference is built into most legal acts dealing with transport statistics. In a few cases, these sources can be directly used for the derivation of regional transport indicators, while other indicators are collected on a voluntary basis. This is the case of the regional transport data collection in which both data types are used.
Three types of regional data can be distinguished depending on their source: two are based on data collections performed on the basis of legal acts (the Maritime and Aviation data) and one is a voluntary data collection (infrastructures, vehicles and road accidents).
Regional data collected on voluntary basis: The current regional data collection taking place on a voluntary basis comprises a set of transport indicators at NUTS 0, 1 and 2[1] levels for the road, railways, inland waterways (infrastructure), vehicle stocks and road accidents. The information collected is then disseminated in Eurostat's dissemination database (Eurobase) under “General and regional statistics/Regional statistics by NUTS classification/Regional transport statistics” theme and also mirrored under “Transport/Multimodal data/Regional transport statistics” theme. The annual data collection for infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents was first launched at the beginning of 2002 covering both EU Member States and Candidate countries. Since 2007, it includes EFTA countries as well. Starting from 2023, data on stock of electric vehicles are also collected.
Regional data are collected directly from the countries using a questionnaire: data on transport infrastructure, vehicle stocks and road accidents. Currently, regional datasets are provided via the EDAMIS application. For the voluntary data collection via the EDAMIS portal, the definitions from the 5th edition of the Illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics (jointly elaborated by Eurostat, ITF, UNECE) were proposed and countries should use them when reporting the data.
All the methodological issues reported by countries for the Regional data collection (e.g. breaks in time series, data availability and comparability, differences in definitions) are collected and presented in the document Country Specific Notes (See Annex).
Within the collection Maritime transport - data aggregated at standard regional levels (NUTS) there are two tables:
Maritime transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_mapa_nm);
Maritime transport of freight by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_mago_nm).
Within the collection Air transport - data aggregated at standard regional levels (NUTS) there are two tables:
Air transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_avpa_nm)
Air transport of freight by NUTS 2 region (tran_r_avgo_nm)
The tables present the evolution of the number of passengers carried and the volume of freight and mail loaded or unloaded to/from the NUTS regions (level 2, 1 and 0) since 1999. The data is presented at annual level. Before the legal act on air transport statistics was introduced (2003 with 3 years transitional period), air transport statistics were collected using the statistical questionnaire (voluntary basis). Some countries provided figures for passenger transport taking into account “passengers on board” and some “passenger carried”. Until 2007 reference year, the disseminated numbers of passengers aggregated at regional level are actually a mixture of passengers on board and passengers carried data. Since 2008, the air transport regional data are being calculated only by using data collected at the airport level in the frame of the regulatory data collection on air transport. Only airports with more than 150 000 passenger units serviced annually are required to report this data, however some countries also provide detailed information for smaller airports. To solve the problem of double counting, it is necessary to start at the airport level for each aggregate in order to identify the mirror declarations, i.e. the airport routes for which both airports report the volume, since these constitute the routes where the problem of double counting occurs. When calculating the total volume in such cases, only the departure declarations of the concerned airports have been taken into account. The problem of the double counting only appears for the calculation of the total passengers but not for the total arrivals (respectively total departures), which corresponds to the sum of the arrivals (respectively departures) at each domestic airport.
For the tables presenting maritime data at regional level the same aggregation method (exclusion of double counting) is applied taking into account main ports only. Only for these ports (handling more than one million tonnes of goods or recording more than 200 000 passenger movements annually) the detailed statistics allow such aggregation.
For some Member States (up to 1998 data) and for others that joint the EU later (up to 2002) transport flows through ports and airports had been collected, via questionnaire. Because of the difference in the methodologies applied, the data for air and maritime transport at regional level up to 2002 reference year are available in separate tables (listed below) and are no longer updated:
Maritime transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_mapa_om).
Maritime transport of freight by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_mago_om).
Air transport of passengers by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_avpa_om).
Air transport of freight by NUTS 2 region - questionnaire (tran_r_avgo_om).
[1] Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) and its amendments. More information on NUTS classification can be found under the following website.
Motorways – road, specially designed and built for motor traffic, which does not serve properties bordering on it, and which:
Is provided, except at special points or temporarily, with separate carriageways for traffic in two directions, separated from each other, either by a dividing strip not intended for traffic, or exceptionally by other means;
Has no crossings at the same level with any road, railway or tramway track, or footpath;
Is especially sign-posted as a motorway and is reserved for specific categories of road motor vehicles.
Entry and exit lanes of motorways are included irrespective of the location of the sign-posts. Urban motorways are also included.
Other roads – all roads other than motorways. Roads are line of communication (travelled way) open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles, using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips. Included are paved roads and other roads with a stabilized base, e.g. gravel roads. Roads also cover streets, bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings and interchanges. Toll roads are also included. Excluded are dedicated cycle lanes.
Motorcycles – two-, three- or four-wheeled road motor vehicle not exceeding 400 kg (900 lb) of unladen weight. All such vehicles with a cylinder capacity of 50 cc or over are included, as are those under 50 cc which do not meet the definition of moped.
Passenger cars – road motor vehicle, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine persons (including the driver). Included are: passenger cars, vans designed and used primarily for transport of passengers, taxis, hire cars, ambulances, motor homes. Excluded are light goods road vehicles, as well as motor-coaches and buses, and mini-buses/mini-coaches. "Passenger car" includes micro cars (needing no permit to be driven), taxis and passenger hire cars, provided that they have fewer than ten seats.
Motor-coaches, buses and trolley-buses – passenger road motor vehicle designed to seat more than nine persons (including the driver). Included are mini-buses and mini-coaches designed to seat more than 9 persons (including the driver). This category hence includes:
Motor coaches – passenger road motor vehicle designed to seat 24 or more persons (including the driver) and constructed exclusively for the carriage of seated passengers.
Buses – passenger road motor vehicle designed to carry more than 24 persons (including the driver), and with provision to carry seated as well as standing passengers. The vehicles may be constructed with areas for standing passengers, to allow frequent passenger movement, or designed to allow the carriage of standing passengers in the gangway.
Mini-buses / mini-coaches – passenger road motor vehicle designed to carry 10–23 seated or standing persons (including the driver). The vehicles may be constructed exclusively to carry seated passengers or to carry both seated and standing passengers.
Trolleybuses – passenger road vehicle designed to seat more than nine persons (including the driver), which is connected to electric conductors and which is not rail-borne. This term covers vehicles which may be used either as trolleybuses or as buses, if they have a motor independent of the main electric power supply.
Lorries – rigid road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods.
Road tractors – road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to haul other road vehicles which are not power-driven (mainly semi-trailers). Agricultural tractors are excluded.
Trailers and semi-trailers – goods road vehicle designed to be hauled by a road motor vehicle. In case of semi-trailer, the goods road vehicle has no front axle designed in such way that part of the vehicle and a substantial part of its loaded weight rests on a road tractor. This category excludes agricultural trailers and caravans.
Special purpose road motor vehicles – road motor vehicle designed for purposes other than the carriage of passengers or goods. This category includes: fire brigade vehicles, mobile cranes, self-propelled rollers, bulldozers with metallic wheels or track, vehicles for recording film, radio and TV broadcasting, mobile library vehicles, towing vehicles for vehicles in need of repair, other special purpose road motor vehicles.
Light goods road vehicles (Goods vehicles <= 3.5 tonnes) - Goods road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg, designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. Includes category N1 of the UN Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3). This category includes: vans designed for and used primarily for transport of goods, pick-ups, small lorries, and two- or three-wheeled vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3 500 kg.
Electric vehicles - refer to 'pure' electric vehicles (battery-electric vehicles - BEVs). Trolley buses, as electric vehicles per se, are included. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as well as hydrogen-powered vehicles are excluded.
Persons killed – any person killed immediately or dying within 30 days as a result of an injury accident, excluding suicides. A killed person is excluded if the competent authority declares the cause of death to be suicide, i.e. a deliberate act to injure oneself resulting in death. For countries that do not apply the threshold of 30 days, conversion coefficients are estimated so that comparisons on the basis of the 30 day-definition can be made.
Person injured – any person who as result of an injury accident was not killed immediately or not dying within 30 days, but sustained an injury, normally needing medical treatment, excluding attempted suicides. Persons with lesser wounds, such as minor cuts and bruises are not normally recorded as injured. An injured person is excluded if the competent authority declares the cause of the injury to be attempted suicide by that person, i.e. a deliberate act to injure oneself resulting in injury, but not in death.
Total railway lines – line of communication made up by rail exclusively for the use of railway vehicles. This does not include stretches of road or water even if rolling stock is conveyed over such routes, e.g. by wagon carrying trailers or ferries. Lines solely used for tourism are excluded as are railways constructed solely to serve mines, forests or other industrial or agricultural undertakings and which are not open to public traffic.
Railway lines with double or more tracks – part of the railway lines with more than one pair of rails over which rail borne vehicles can run.
Electrified railway lines – line with one or more electrified running tracks. The following types of electric current are in use:
Sections of lines adjacent to stations that are electrified only to permit shunting and not electrified as far as the next stations are to be counted as non-electrified lines.
Navigable inland waterways – a stretch of water, not part of the sea, which by natural or man-made features is suitable for navigation, primarily by inland waterway vessels. This term covers navigable rivers, lakes, canals and estuaries. The length of rivers and canals is measured in mid-channel. The length of lakes and lagoons is measured along the shortest navigable route between the most distant points to and from which transport operations are performed. A waterway forming a common frontier between two countries is reported by both.
Navigable rivers and lakes – natural waterway and expanse of water open for navigation, irrespective of whether it has been improved for that purpose. Lagoons (brackish water area separated from the sea by a coastal bank) are included.
Navigable canal – waterway built primarily for navigation.
Transport infrastructure at regional level (road, rail and inland waterways network). Total number of vehicles by vehicle category registered at regional level. Victims of road traffic accidents represented at regional level. Weight of goods (and mail - in case of air transport) and number of passengers counted in the ports and airports respectively, at regional level.
Member States of the European Union; EFTA countries (IS, CH, LI, NO); some European Union Candidate and Potential candidate countries (BA, MK, ME, AL, RS, TR, XK, UA).
Data are collected on a yearly base.
See 11– Quality management.
The transport infrastructure data on the length of motorways and other roads, the length of the railway network (by type of railway lines) and the length of the waterways network (by type of waterways) is expressed in kilometres. For motorways and total railway lines, data are also available as kilometres per 1000km2 of national territory. The stock of vehicles (by type of vehicle) is expressed in absolute numbers and, for certain vehicle categories, in units per 1000 inhabitants. The road accident data (persons killed and persons injured) are expressed in absolute numbers, and in absolute numbers per million inhabitants. The air and maritime transport data are expressed in 1000 for passengers and in thousands of tonnes for the freight. Data collected are reported as of 31st December.
Based on the regional data on transport infrastructure network, stock of the vehicles and road accidents, the following indicators are calculated with the help of population and area data:
Density of motorways network;
Density of railway network;
Number of people killed in car accidents per million inhabitants;
Number of passenger cars per 1000 inhabitants (for a given year, this indicator is calculated on the basis of the stock of vehicles as of 31st December and the population figures as of 1st January of the following year).
Data are collected and/or compiled by the competent national authorities, which could be the National Statistical Office, the Civil Aviation Authorities or directly by airports (air transport), the Ministry of Transport (inland waterways, railway and road networks, victims), and the National Maritime Administration or the port authorities (maritime transport).
The regional transport Eurobase dissemination tables are updated yearly, once the voluntary data collection is concluded.
The regional transport Eurobase dissemination tables are updated yearly, when the voluntary data collection is completed.
At regional level and when comparing data overtime, data for some regions might not be comparable due to the changes in the NUTS classification.
The comparability over time of the regional transport data derived from the maritime and air transport data collection and of the data collected in the frame of the regional questionnaire is checked using reports allowing detecting abnormal evolutions. In such cases, countries are contacted either to correct the data provided if necessary or to provide the methodological information explaining the evolution observed.
Major events affecting comparability over time are reported in the Country Specific Notes (see Annexes).
