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.
Avenida António José de Almeida, 1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal
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 October 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
31 October 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
31 October 2024
3.1. Data description
The data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the qualityof urban life in European cities and regions in support of EU policy initiatives on urban and rural development.
3.2. Classification system
Specific classification and coding systems have been developed for the spatial units and for the variables and indicators. For the description of the coding system and the list of indicators and variables see the City statistics manual.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The indicators and variables cover several aspects of quality of life, for e.g. demography, housing, health,crime, labour market, educational qualifications, environment and travel patterns.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The definitons of the City statistics manual have been followed for most variables. Additional information onthe deviating definitions used in the PT collection is provided in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
3.5. Statistical unit
Statistical units are mostly persons. Few variables are collected on households, enterprises, dwellings, cities,etc. For the complete description of variables see the City statistics manual.
3.6. Statistical population
For most variables the target statistical universe is the usual residents of a geographical area (city or region). Forthe detailed description of variables see the City statistics manual.
3.7. Reference area
Spatial Units are listed in 'Annex_SpatialUnits_PT_2023'. For information concerning the spatial dimensionsee the City statistics manual.
The data collection is organized in data collection rounds. The current data collection covers the reference years 2023-2025.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The units of measures used for the data set are listed in the Annex of the City statistics manual.
2023, 2024 and 2025 are the reference years for themain data collection. 2021 was the the reference year for the "historical" data collection (e.g. Census 2021).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
All data supply of urban statistics is based on a voluntary agreement, as there is no Community legislation onthis topic.
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 dataused for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account fortechnical developments and the requirements of users 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.
The periodicity of the data is 3-years. Few indicators are collected annually. The database is updatedoccasionally (on average quarterly) depending on the data availability of new and revised data.
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
Data collected in such terms is being transmitted to the national authority on urban policy.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The definitons of the City statistics manual have been followed for most variables. Additional information onthe deviating methodology used in the collection is provided in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
The quality assurance procedures detailed in the City statistics manual have been applied.
11.1. Quality assurance
The collection of data is preceded by contacts with the national suppliers (different thematic units of NSI or other data providers) in order to evaluate the fulfillment of the methodologies defined. All the metainformationavailable in the City statistics manual, as well as the details of the variables are transmitted to the dataproviders. After collecting the data, all information is fully checked and compared with other disseminationformats of each thematic area, namely cross-domain coherence and internal coherence validations are carriedout.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of information is fully assessed in one hand using internal procedures and in the other hand throughEurostat validation methods.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
User needs and stakeholder requirements are collected at several forums.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User needs and stakeholder requirements are collected at several forums. Comments and contributions arewelcome to be sent to the contact.
12.3. Completeness
For the variables of Labour Market the main source should be the Labour Force Survey, but these data are notsufficiently detailed to cover the spatial units of cities and FUA.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Metainformation and quality aspects of the variables collected is provided in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Depends on the domain and individual variable.
14.2. Punctuality
Timetable of the project: Start: May 2024.
Report indicating the extent of harmonisation with European definitions and information on data definitionswhere harmonisation is not feasible: Completed on October 2024;
Validated dataset for the reference year 2023: Completed on October and November 2024;
Validated dataset for the reference year 2024: to be completed on October 2025;
Validate dataset for the reference year 2025: to be completed on April 2026;
Metadata file according to ESS standards: Completed on November 2024;
Updated (if necessary) Metadata file according to ESS standards: to be completed in 2024 and 2025;
Interim technical report: to be completed on Jun 2025;
Preliminary report on Housing market Statistics: to be completed on Jun 2025;
Final report on Housing market Statistics: to be completed on April 2026.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Due to some deviating definitions and different data sources used, the international comparability of data maybe limited to some extent. Deviations form defintions have been identified accordingly (see metadata). Detailed information on data sources and deviating definitions is available in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'. The implementation of a fully comparable definition of cities and FUA at European level has improved the comparability.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Breaks in the time series are flagged accordingly (Flag B = break in time series).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data collected in "Data collection for City and Subnational Statistics" is coherent with the data collected inthe context of the European Statistical System. Detailed information on deviating sources and definitions isavailable in the annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence (e.g. between spatial levels, between indicators like total, male, female population) isensured through the application of multivariable and univariable validation controls.
The data collection is mostly based on data available in the National Statistical System. Some data is based onadministrative registers or other data providers. Therefore, the main burden is on the Statistical Institute.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Basic information on data sources is included in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
This is a multiannual data collection. The reference period of the current data collection is 2023-2024-2025.
18.3. Data collection
The compilation of these urban and regional statistics has been coordinated by Statistics Portugal, where theNational Urban Audit Coordinator (NUAC) is located. The main sources of data are the official thematicstatistics and, therefore, the data collection involves several departments in Statistics Portugal. An effort ismade to validate information in order to maintain temporal and territorial data coherence. The main tasks concern:
Exploring national methodologies and data sources and their coherence with manuals and ESS guidelines.
Verifying the consistency between the data collected in the frame of this project and the data available at theupper NUTS levels and country level collected by Eurostat on a regular basis. Improving, if needed, themethodologies and guidelines to compute subnational variables compatible with the current legal frameworksand ESS guidelines.
Compiling the variables required for City and Functional Urban Area levels.
Estimating missing data, if possible, and provide documentation on the methods applied.
Checking and validating the compiled data, preferably by using the EDIT tool provided by Eurostat.
Transmitting the data via eDAMIS to Eurostat in a standardised format (csv comma delimited) and with thestructure as provided by Eurostat. Data will be transmitted with the appropriate flags if compliance withdefinitions is not fully ensured.
Checking the list of potentially erroneous data (elaborated by Eurostat) and clarify and correct the issuestowards Eurostat if necessary.
Providing metadata, a description of the data collected (e.g., data source, methodology used to estimate thevariables, etc.), according to the web-application for metadata production and dissemination provided byEurostat (ESS Metadata Handler), a ESS fully SDMX compliant tool to create and exchange metadata files.
The main steps of the project. Data collection for City and Subnational Statistics are:
Report indicating the extent of harmonisation with European definitions and information on data definitionswhere harmonisation is not feasible;
Validated datasets for the reference years 2021 and 2022;
Metadata file according to ESS standards;
Interim technical report.
18.4. Data validation
All the information requests sent to the different thematic units in NSI and to other data providers include theunderlying definitions of the variables. After collecting the data, every information is fully checked andcompared with other dissemination formats of each thematic area. After the transmission of data to Eurostat, the participation in the quality control of variables and indicatorstakes place following Eurostat's data feedback.
18.5. Data compilation
All data is officially published in the National Statistical System or is based on administrative registers.
The data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the qualityof urban life in European cities and regions in support of EU policy initiatives on urban and rural development.
31 October 2024
The definitons of the City statistics manual have been followed for most variables. Additional information onthe deviating definitions used in the PT collection is provided in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
Statistical units are mostly persons. Few variables are collected on households, enterprises, dwellings, cities,etc. For the complete description of variables see the City statistics manual.
For most variables the target statistical universe is the usual residents of a geographical area (city or region). Forthe detailed description of variables see the City statistics manual.
Spatial Units are listed in 'Annex_SpatialUnits_PT_2023'. For information concerning the spatial dimensionsee the City statistics manual.
2023, 2024 and 2025 are the reference years for themain data collection. 2021 was the the reference year for the "historical" data collection (e.g. Census 2021).
Metainformation and quality aspects of the variables collected is provided in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
The units of measures used for the data set are listed in the Annex of the City statistics manual.
All data is officially published in the National Statistical System or is based on administrative registers.
Basic information on data sources is included in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'.
The periodicity of the data is 3-years. Few indicators are collected annually. The database is updatedoccasionally (on average quarterly) depending on the data availability of new and revised data.
Depends on the domain and individual variable.
Due to some deviating definitions and different data sources used, the international comparability of data maybe limited to some extent. Deviations form defintions have been identified accordingly (see metadata). Detailed information on data sources and deviating definitions is available in Annex 'Metadata by variable_PT_2023'. The implementation of a fully comparable definition of cities and FUA at European level has improved the comparability.
Breaks in the time series are flagged accordingly (Flag B = break in time series).
