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.
[IT1] National Institute of Statistics (Istat) (Italy)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
DCAT - Direzione Centrale per le Statistiche Ambientali e Territoriali
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Piazza G. Marconi 26/C
00144 Roma
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
19 December 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
19 December 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
19 December 2025
3.1. Data description
The data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the quality of life in cities.
Data is collected for the following spatial levels:
City;
Functional Urban Area;
National level.
The most updated list of Italian Cities and FUAs can be found in the SITUAS section of Istat's website as well as in the Local Administrative Units (LAU) list publsihed annually by Eurostat.
Data availability and the relevant metadata are presented in the file "Italy_metadata" in the Annex.
3.2. Classification system
Eurostat developed a specific classification and coding system for the City Statistics spatial units and variables.
With regards to the spatial units, the coding used reflects the spatial hierarchy:
Cities: CC###C = Country code + Three-digit sequential number + C
FUAs: CC###F = Country code + Three-digit sequential number + F
In the case of Italy, the country code is IT.
As far as variable codes are concerned, the first two digits identify the different domains (DE for Demography, SA for Social Aspects, EC for Eonomic activities etc.), while the last digit ‘V’ means ‘Variable’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Data is available for almost every domain. Variables are provided for: 1.1 Demography; 1.2 Nationality; 1.3 Household Structure; 2.1 Housing; 2.2 Health; 2.3 Crime; 3.1 Labour Market; 3.2 Economic Activity; 5.1 Education and Training Provision; 5.2 Educational qualifications; 6.3 Water; 6.4 Waste; 7.1 Travel Patterns; 9.1 Culture and Recreation; 9.2 Tourism.
The only domain that is not covered is 3.3 Income Disparities and Poverty.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
In order to guarantee the harmonization goals, Istat has strictly followed the variables' definitions presented in the City statistics manual available online.
For a small group of variables it was necessary to slightly deviate from the offical definition in order to supply the data. These cases are reported in Excel file "Italy_metadata" that is available in the Annex.
With regards to the spatial levels, Istat identified Cities and Functional Urban Areas on the basis of the EC-OECD definition.
3.5. Statistical unit
Data is collected at municipality level and aggregated at City and FUA level. Following the geographic update of the universe of reference in October 2025, Italian Cities are currently represented by a single local administrative unit/municipality (LAU2 level) or by a group of municipalities (in this last case, the so called "greater citiy" is composed by an aggregation of municipalities sharing the same high density cluster) with a minimum population of 50.000 inhabitants
A Functional Urban Area is composed of a City and its commuting zone, that is based on commuting patterns.
Most data in the City Statistics database refers to the resident population. In some cases it refers to other types of populations (i.e. cars registered, museum visitors, students etc.).
3.7. Reference area
The list of Italian municipalities that are part of the City Statistics universe has undergone regular revisions. The most recent ha been released in October 2025, following the publication of the most recent commuting matrix by Istat, based on the 2021 Census. The list of Italian Cities and FUAs is available on Istat's website, in the section called SITUAS
The spatial units are also presented in the Local administrative units (LAUs) list published by Eurostat at the following webiste: Eurostat - Local administrative units.
The length of time series varies depending on the variable.
Most demographic variables were revised with intercensus population.
For many variables, the time series start around 2007/2008 to the last year available.
Some survey based data (i.e. museum visitors) is availble for specific years only.
Data from sources different from Istat is also available for specific years (i.e. students in higher education) or in time series (i.e. municipal waste).
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The unit of measurement varies from variable to variable. Pease refer to the file "Italy_metadata".
Most variables are updated on an annual basis. Please refer to the file "Italy_metadata".
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The City Statistics data is supplied on a voluntary basis. Terms and conditions are defined in the Grant agreement.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
The deadlines for the data trasmission are fixed in the Grant. The data is disseminated by Eurostat through the online database City statistics database, available at this website: Eurostat databrowser.
The list of variables and their definition is presented in Eurostat's City statistics manual.
Please also refer to the file "Italy_metadata", where deviations from definitions are specified.
The methodology used to define the spatial dimension is treated in the above mentioned Manual and in greater detail in the more recent Methodological manual on territorial typologies 2018 edition.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The procedures for ensuring high data quality are explained in the City statistics manual.
11.1. Quality assurance
The precedures for ensuring high quality data are explained in the City statistics manual.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The precedures for ensuring high quality data are explained in the City statistics manual.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
City Statistics users are researchers, students, policy makers and more in general all those who are interested in city statistics.
The European Commission's "City statistics manual" contains the variables' defintion and other relevant information. The aim is to support users in understanding and interpreting the meaning of the data.
Users may also refer to the file "Italy_metadata" for a correct interpretation of the available data.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Users satisfaction is not assessed yet.
12.3. Completeness
Data availability differs from domain to domain. In the file "Italy_metadata" it is possible to have an overview of the available data and mre specifically on:
variable domain, code and label;
unit of measurement;
spatial units;
source;
deviation from defition;
notes with additional information on the data.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data quality reflects the quality of national official statistics.
13.2. Sampling error
The sampling error for variables based on the Labour Force Survey is reported in a dedicated file (see Annexes).
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Timeliness depends on the specific variables. Please refer to the file "Italy_metadata".
14.2. Punctuality
Data provision follows the deadlines fixed in the Grant agreement.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The aim of the City Statistics database is to enable an assessment of the state of individual EU cities and to provide access to comparative information from other EU cities.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Time series have been revised and integrated in relation to the revised spatial units, with the aim of ensuring their comparability over time.
Where there is an interruption in a time series, there is a specific flag ("B") next to the data.
Further information on the comparability of data over time is specified in the metadata fille (please refer to the Annexes).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
City Statistics data is coherent with the data collected in the context of the European Statistical System.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence (e.g. between spatial levels and between indicators) is ensured through the application of multivariate and univariate validation controls.
The Grant Agreement between Istat and Eurostat supports the data collection of data at city and FUA level. The Grant Agreement also supports the costs for the production of new statistics such as those based on estimation models.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Where nationally collected data is revised, the City Staitsitcs data for Italy is revised accordingly.
In some specific cases the last year published is provisional. The definitive data is uploaded when available.
18.1. Source data
Data delivered in the ambit of the Grant agreement is collected by ISTAT - the National Statistics Institute of Italy. Most of the data delivered derives from: administrative sources, the population census, surveys.
Some variables are the result of estimates and the data is followed by the "e" flag.
All sources used to deliver the variables agreed in the Grant are presented in the file "Italy_metadata".
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The City Statistics data is being collected and released annually.
18.3. Data collection
Most of the data is collected by Istat. The data is transmitted to Eurostat by the National Urban Audit coordinator of Italy.
The data used for the City Statistics is collected at LAU2 level (i.e. municipality level). Data is therefore aggregated at Functional Urban Area and at Greater City level. In some cases, data is avaliable only for those municipalities that are NUTS3 capitals and, as a consequence, the data can be delivered only for those Cities that are NUTS3 capitals. The calculations always take into consideration the impact of the administrative variations on the overall universe. The data collection is done in close collaboration with the different Services of ISTAT in order to guarantee timeliness, data quality and to explore ways to produce new data.
The main data source is ISTAT but a limited number of variables are based on other sources. The complete list of sources is available in the metadata file. Centrally collected variables are managed by Eurostat.
18.4. Data validation
The validation procedures are listed in the City statistics manual.
18.5. Data compilation
The City Statistics data delivered in the ambit of the Grant agreement is based on census data, administrative sources and surveys. Please refer to the metadata file.
The data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the quality of life in cities.
Data is collected for the following spatial levels:
City;
Functional Urban Area;
National level.
The most updated list of Italian Cities and FUAs can be found in the SITUAS section of Istat's website as well as in the Local Administrative Units (LAU) list publsihed annually by Eurostat.
Data availability and the relevant metadata are presented in the file "Italy_metadata" in the Annex.
19 December 2025
In order to guarantee the harmonization goals, Istat has strictly followed the variables' definitions presented in the City statistics manual available online.
For a small group of variables it was necessary to slightly deviate from the offical definition in order to supply the data. These cases are reported in Excel file "Italy_metadata" that is available in the Annex.
With regards to the spatial levels, Istat identified Cities and Functional Urban Areas on the basis of the EC-OECD definition.
Data is collected at municipality level and aggregated at City and FUA level. Following the geographic update of the universe of reference in October 2025, Italian Cities are currently represented by a single local administrative unit/municipality (LAU2 level) or by a group of municipalities (in this last case, the so called "greater citiy" is composed by an aggregation of municipalities sharing the same high density cluster) with a minimum population of 50.000 inhabitants
A Functional Urban Area is composed of a City and its commuting zone, that is based on commuting patterns.
Most data in the City Statistics database refers to the resident population. In some cases it refers to other types of populations (i.e. cars registered, museum visitors, students etc.).
The list of Italian municipalities that are part of the City Statistics universe has undergone regular revisions. The most recent ha been released in October 2025, following the publication of the most recent commuting matrix by Istat, based on the 2021 Census. The list of Italian Cities and FUAs is available on Istat's website, in the section called SITUAS
The spatial units are also presented in the Local administrative units (LAUs) list published by Eurostat at the following webiste: Eurostat - Local administrative units.
Most variables are updated on an annual basis. Please refer to the file "Italy_metadata".
Data quality reflects the quality of national official statistics.
The unit of measurement varies from variable to variable. Pease refer to the file "Italy_metadata".
The City Statistics data delivered in the ambit of the Grant agreement is based on census data, administrative sources and surveys. Please refer to the metadata file.
Data delivered in the ambit of the Grant agreement is collected by ISTAT - the National Statistics Institute of Italy. Most of the data delivered derives from: administrative sources, the population census, surveys.
Some variables are the result of estimates and the data is followed by the "e" flag.
All sources used to deliver the variables agreed in the Grant are presented in the file "Italy_metadata".
Most data is collected and released annually.
Timeliness depends on the specific variables. Please refer to the file "Italy_metadata".
The aim of the City Statistics database is to enable an assessment of the state of individual EU cities and to provide access to comparative information from other EU cities.
Time series have been revised and integrated in relation to the revised spatial units, with the aim of ensuring their comparability over time.
Where there is an interruption in a time series, there is a specific flag ("B") next to the data.
Further information on the comparability of data over time is specified in the metadata fille (please refer to the Annexes).
