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.
Data on European cities have been collected as part of the Urban Audit. The ultimate goal is to help improve the quality of urban life. The Urban Audit contains more than 144 variables and more than 50 indicators.
3.2. Classification system
Specific classification and coding system have been developed for the spatial units and for the variablesand indicators.
For the description of the coding system and the list of indicators and variables see the
City statistics manual
For example :
Classification system for variables :
The variable is produced from data collected by the national statistical offices of the countries.
The variables are labeled as follows :
Variable DE1001V - "Population on the 1st of January, total"
Spatial units are described in the City statistics manual.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The time coverage is 1991 - 2024 - all data is annual.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
The unit of mesurement varies from indicator to indicator, variable to variable. In most cases the unit ofmesurement is included in the label.
1991 and 1996 were the reference for the "historical" data collection.
2001, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2014 - 2023 - 2024 reference years for the main data collection.
2005 - 2013 for the period, few variables were collected.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
All data supply of urban statistics is based on volontary agreement the Portal to European Union Law
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 L87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines guaranteeing the confidentiality of andaccess to confidential data used for the production of European Statistics, taking due account of technical developments and users' needs in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable
Annual collection
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not available
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not available
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not available
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not available
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not available
10.6. Documentation on methodology
See : City statistics manual. Methodological manual on territorial typologies
The quality assurance procedures detailed in the manual have been applied.
11.1. Quality assurance
Statistics Belgium undertakes to provide all user with statistics the comply with the quality standardsdefined for European statistics.
Statistics Belgium's quality criteria are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Pratice (CoP).
All apllies, the principles of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM principles).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of data is fully controlled on the hand by internal procedures and on the other hand byEurostat validation methods.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not applicable
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable
12.3. Completeness
Not applicable
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The quality of the variable collected is very good.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
Depends on the domain and the individual variable. But, generally timelimess is about 9 months.
14.2. Punctuality
For much of the data delivery is done by the deadline.
But the availability of some data is later, therefore these data will delivered as soon as they are available.
It is about :
Number of deaths per year under 65 due to diseases of the circulatory or respiratory systems (deadline2 years).
Economically active population (deadline undetermined at this time);
Persons employed (deadline undetermined at this time );
Municipal waste generated (domestic and commercial) (deadline less than one year).
Number of museum visitors (per year) (deadline less than one year).
The cinema variables (deadline less than one year).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The definitions of the "City statistics manual" make it possible to ensure the comparability of data colletedby countries. We point out that there is a new spatial division of the FUA. And some cities include several municipalitiesto create a Greater city.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The majority of data are comparable over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data collected are coherent.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is ensured by applying multivariate and univariate validation checks.
Data collection is mainly based on administrative data, so the workload is responsability of StatisticsBelgium.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable
17.2. Data revision - practice
In case of change in the methodology used, we send to Eurostat, the revision of the data.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected by Statistics Belgium from differents sources, data are collected:
from registers;
from cities;
from regions;
from an estimation.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The Urban Audit project collects data on annual basis.
18.3. Data collection
The data was collected by the National Urban Audit Coordinators (NUAC) on behalf of Eurostat.
The NUACs collected the data from sources available at :
Statbel,
other government departments,
the cities concerned,
regions,
private sources.
On the other hand, some data have been estimated.
18.4. Data validation
All data collected was verified by the National Urban Audit Coordinators and the data quality validationdepartement.
18.5. Data compilation
Data have been compilated by the National Urban Audit Coordinators in Belgium.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
No further comments.
Data on European cities have been collected as part of the Urban Audit. The ultimate goal is to help improve the quality of urban life. The Urban Audit contains more than 144 variables and more than 50 indicators.
8 October 2025
For most of indicators, existing international standards have followed as far as possible.
Statisticas units are mostly persons.
Few variables are collected on households structure, entreprises, dwelings, cities, etc...
For the complete description of the variable see the manuel on city statistics.
For most variables the target stistical universe is the usual residents of the geographical area (city and FUA "Functional Urban Area, Kingdom).
Spatial units are described in the City statistics manual.
1991 and 1996 were the reference for the "historical" data collection.
2001, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2014 - 2023 - 2024 reference years for the main data collection.
2005 - 2013 for the period, few variables were collected.
The quality of the variable collected is very good.
The unit of mesurement varies from indicator to indicator, variable to variable. In most cases the unit ofmesurement is included in the label.
Data have been compilated by the National Urban Audit Coordinators in Belgium.
Data are collected by Statistics Belgium from differents sources, data are collected:
from registers;
from cities;
from regions;
from an estimation.
Annual collection
Depends on the domain and the individual variable. But, generally timelimess is about 9 months.
The definitions of the "City statistics manual" make it possible to ensure the comparability of data colletedby countries. We point out that there is a new spatial division of the FUA. And some cities include several municipalitiesto create a Greater city.
