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.
The annual Business demography data collection covers variables which explain the characteristics and demography of the business population. The methodology allows for the production of data on enterprise births (and deaths), that is, enterprise creations (cessations) that amount to the creation (dissolution) of a combination of production factors and where no other enterprises are involved (enterprises created or closed solely as a result of e.g. restructuring, merger or break-up are not considered).
A summary of the available indicators is listed below. The data is available at EU, country and regional level, with breakdowns for type of activity, legal form and size class.
For the population of active enterprises:
Number of active enterprises
Number of enterprise births
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years
Number of enterprise deaths
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons)
For the population of active employer enterprises:
Number of enterprises having at least one employee
Number of enterprises having the first employee
Number of enterprises having no employees anymore
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons)
For high-growth enterprises, the following indicators are available at EU and country level:
Number of high-growth enterprises (growth by 10% or more)
Number of employees of high-growth enterprises
Number of young high-growth enterprises (up to five years old high-growth enterprises)
Number of employees of young high-growth enterprise
3.2. Classification system
From 2008 onwards NACE Rev.2 classification (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) is used for all indicators.
Starting with reference year 2021, BD data cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96. The total economy is presented as Industry, construction and services (code BTSXO_S94).
For the reference years 2008-2020, data for the Sections P, Q, R and S were provided on a voluntary basis and K64.2 was not covered.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation). The criteria used to identify active enterprise is in accordance with the requlation. We count all enterprises with positive balance sheet as active enterprises though we do not have information from all enterprises whether they have positive balance sheet or not (but for most we have the information).
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is an enterprise.
3.6. Statistical population
The target population is the private sector economy, including all active enterprises.
3.7. Reference area
All of Finland while classification goes to NUTS3-level.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series begin at 1999 while there are break points in the years 2013 and 2021.
3.9. Base period
[Not applicable]
The number of active, birth, death and survival enterprises, as well as high-growth enterprises is expressed in units.
The number of employees is counted as head counts and is expressed in units.
The number of persons employed is the sum of number of employees and self-employed persons.
The number of self-employed persons is the average number of persons who were at some time during the reference period the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work, measured in annual average headcounts, expressed in units.
Derived indicators are expressed in units or percentages
Reference year is 2023.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Starting with reference year 2021, two new regulations form the legal basis of BD statistics:
Before reference year 2021, EU Regulation 2008/295 on structural business statistics, Annex IX, was providing a legal basis for the BD data collection. The Commission implementing EU Regulation 2014/439 ensured data collection on employer enterprises (with at least one employee), high-growth enterprises (more than 10% annual growth over three years) and their employment.
Up to reference year 2006 data have been collected under gentlemen's agreement within the context of the development of Structural Business Statistics.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
[Not applicable]
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Employment information at enterprise level is not considered confidential, and thus no confidentiality rules applied to BD data. However confidentiality is in line with the one in SBS, thus confidentiality flagging is the same when data is overlapping.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidentiality flagging is the same than in SBS when data is overlapping. BD itself do not have confidentiality rules.
7.2.1. Confidentiality rules (primary and secondary)
Data treatment
Remarks
Confidentiality rules applied
no
Approximately 0.1 % of cells are confidential in order to be in line with SBS.
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
Dominance criteria applied
If dominance criteria is applied, specify the threshold (in %) and the method of applying the dominance rules
Secondary confidentiality applied
If secondary confidentiality is applied, explain the rules and the methods used
7.2.2. Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
Remarks
Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
no
If measures have been taken, describe them briefly
Impact of these measures
8.1. Release calendar
Data are only transmitted to Eurostat but not disseminated nationally. The data is published according to the Eurostat publication timetable.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
[Not requested]
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata can be obtained for research purposes from Statistics Finland's research data catalogue Taika.
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are also compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Data quality is good and follows guidelines given. There are two breakpoints in data: 2013 and 2021.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Business demography microdata is used internally within Statistics Finland and for project work with Eurostat. It is also available for researchers. Data transmission is made yearly to Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Users opinions and needs are taken into account, however we do not measure user satisfaction on regular basis.
12.3. Completeness
All requested charateristics and breakdowns are available.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
All requested charateristics and breakdowns are available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
[Not requested]
13.2. Sampling error
[Not applicable]
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
[Not applicable]
13.3. Non-sampling error
We count all enterprises with positive balance sheet as active enterprises. We estimate that under-reporting is 5 per cent.
13.3.1. Coverage error
[Not requested]
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
[Not requested]
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
[Not requested]
13.3.2. Measurement error
[Not applicable]
13.3.3. Non response error
[Not applicable]
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
[Not applicable]
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
[Not applicable]
13.3.4. Processing error
There are no significant processing errors.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
[Not requested]
14.1. Timeliness
Source data is not subject to time lags. Under the agreed timetable, number of preliminary enterprise deaths and employment in preliminary deaths may be incorrect as some may reactivate after data transmission.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
[Not requested]
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
[Not requested]
14.2. Punctuality
No delays in transmission have occured.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
[Not requested]
15.1. Comparability - geographical
[Not requested]
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
[Not applicable]
15.2. Comparability - over time
a) First reference year available (calendar year): 2008
b) Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks: 2013 and 2021
The NACE 2.0 data is comparable until 2012 and from 2013 onwards. Prior NACE versions are not and cannot be updated anymore. The break(s) in 2012 and 2013 are due to migration to new business microdata production system. The breaks concern the smallest enterprises.
Another breakpoint at 2021 following the changes according to the new EBS Regulation. Employee estimates were also changed: now estimates are derived from Finnish Income Register.
c) Outliers in time series: no
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
3
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
In BD we count all enterprises with positive balance sheet as active enterprises. However in IFATS the enterprises with positive balance sheet are not counted as active enterprises.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
[Not applicable]
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
[Not requested]
15.4. Coherence - internal
[Not requested]
[Not requested]
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data is based on the most recent data available. Whenever a mistake, error or other problem is found, the data will be revised as soon as possible, or in more complex cases by the next transmission.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Statistical business register is updated (especially monthly turnover) after the BD data transmission and this will cause change between preliminary and final death data.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
The estimation of entrepreneurs' labour input is carried out after the BD data transmission and may cause reactivations of preliminary deaths. Also, data on turnover may be updated after transmission, as the annual data for the statistical year is frozen in November of the next calendar year. This may cause additional changes in turnover and employment variables, which affect preliminary deaths.
18.1. Source data
a) Type of data source:
Tax Administration's customer database, annual business tax data, annual income tax database and PAYE data. Also data from Patents and Registration Office is used, and some commercial data sources for address data. Also direct surveys are used.
b) Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
All legal forms and NACE classes are covered. There are no VAT or turnover thresholds that affect SBR. All units are included.
c) Matching, profiling or imputation:
No imputations are carried out. Business register contains administrative birth- and death variables. Business demography is based on separate birth and death date variables, which are based on annual turnover and employment variables.
18.1.1. Concepts and sources
We use solely SBR so it's a census data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Business demography variables are compiled from the national statistical business register.
18.3.1. Data matching
a) Data matching process and tools:
Births and deaths are matched using address, NACE and enterprise name. Administrative data on reorganizations are also used.
Treatment of the multiple matches was changed in 2008 data delivery. Matching by location and activity produced several false matches and this time too-common (same address for more that 8 enteprise) multiple matches were not accepted if the location-activity match was not supported by other matching procedures.
Treatment of multiple matches was changed in 2015 data delivery for statistical year 2013 and onwards. Matching by location and activity produced several false matches and this time too-common (same address for more that 3 enteprise) multiple matches were not accepted if the location-activity match was not supported by other matching procedures.
Recommended pair-wise matching methods (name, activity, location) are used. Street address of largest local unit is used as location. If enterprise names match closely enough, company is not regarded as a real birth or death. Reactivations for largest units are verified clerically which amounts to about 100 enterprises annually.
b) Matching:
National methods used from reference year 2013 on: administrative data on legal unit reorganizations (mergers, split-offs, etc.), removal of certain types legal unit births and deaths (from administrative data), removeal of births within enterprise groups (from enterprise group register).
In case of a multi-site unit, location of the largest site is used. Often enterprise-level addresses are P.O. boxes, which is why the use of address of largest site is used.
No special treatment for units moving in/out of NACE scope. Manual verification used for large enterpises.
18.3.2. Manual checks
Usually roughly 200 cases are checked manually. They cover those births and deaths that have at least 20 employees.
18.4. Data validation
Before sending to Eurostat, the following checks are performed: hierarchical, inter-variable plausibility, confidentiality and completeness.
18.5. Data compilation
Premilinary death is situation where enterprise has been inactive for a year. Therefore figures between premilinary and final deaths differs since enterprise may reactivate before two years have passed.
Annual average of employees is estimated based on the information from incomes register. Alongside the data about income, register have information for example about payment dates, hours worked per week and employment start and end dates. If such variables are not available, the hours worked are estimated based on the income. Yearly headcount are counted as sum of monthly headcounts (estimated as described earlier) divided by 12.
Self-employed persons are identified and connected to their respective enterprises. Average of self-employed persons is calculated by substracting the average of employees from all employed persons.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
[Not requested]
18.6. Adjustment
[Not applicable]
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
[Not applicable]
The annual Business demography data collection covers variables which explain the characteristics and demography of the business population. The methodology allows for the production of data on enterprise births (and deaths), that is, enterprise creations (cessations) that amount to the creation (dissolution) of a combination of production factors and where no other enterprises are involved (enterprises created or closed solely as a result of e.g. restructuring, merger or break-up are not considered).
A summary of the available indicators is listed below. The data is available at EU, country and regional level, with breakdowns for type of activity, legal form and size class.
For the population of active enterprises:
Number of active enterprises
Number of enterprise births
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years
Number of enterprise deaths
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons)
For the population of active employer enterprises:
Number of enterprises having at least one employee
Number of enterprises having the first employee
Number of enterprises having no employees anymore
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons)
For high-growth enterprises, the following indicators are available at EU and country level:
Number of high-growth enterprises (growth by 10% or more)
Number of employees of high-growth enterprises
Number of young high-growth enterprises (up to five years old high-growth enterprises)
Number of employees of young high-growth enterprise
4 July 2025
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation). The criteria used to identify active enterprise is in accordance with the requlation. We count all enterprises with positive balance sheet as active enterprises though we do not have information from all enterprises whether they have positive balance sheet or not (but for most we have the information).
The statistical unit is an enterprise.
The target population is the private sector economy, including all active enterprises.
All of Finland while classification goes to NUTS3-level.
Reference year is 2023.
[Not requested]
The number of active, birth, death and survival enterprises, as well as high-growth enterprises is expressed in units.
The number of employees is counted as head counts and is expressed in units.
The number of persons employed is the sum of number of employees and self-employed persons.
The number of self-employed persons is the average number of persons who were at some time during the reference period the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work, measured in annual average headcounts, expressed in units.
Derived indicators are expressed in units or percentages
Premilinary death is situation where enterprise has been inactive for a year. Therefore figures between premilinary and final deaths differs since enterprise may reactivate before two years have passed.
Annual average of employees is estimated based on the information from incomes register. Alongside the data about income, register have information for example about payment dates, hours worked per week and employment start and end dates. If such variables are not available, the hours worked are estimated based on the income. Yearly headcount are counted as sum of monthly headcounts (estimated as described earlier) divided by 12.
Self-employed persons are identified and connected to their respective enterprises. Average of self-employed persons is calculated by substracting the average of employees from all employed persons.
a) Type of data source:
Tax Administration's customer database, annual business tax data, annual income tax database and PAYE data. Also data from Patents and Registration Office is used, and some commercial data sources for address data. Also direct surveys are used.
b) Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
All legal forms and NACE classes are covered. There are no VAT or turnover thresholds that affect SBR. All units are included.
c) Matching, profiling or imputation:
No imputations are carried out. Business register contains administrative birth- and death variables. Business demography is based on separate birth and death date variables, which are based on annual turnover and employment variables.
Annual
Source data is not subject to time lags. Under the agreed timetable, number of preliminary enterprise deaths and employment in preliminary deaths may be incorrect as some may reactivate after data transmission.
[Not requested]
a) First reference year available (calendar year): 2008
b) Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks: 2013 and 2021
The NACE 2.0 data is comparable until 2012 and from 2013 onwards. Prior NACE versions are not and cannot be updated anymore. The break(s) in 2012 and 2013 are due to migration to new business microdata production system. The breaks concern the smallest enterprises.
Another breakpoint at 2021 following the changes according to the new EBS Regulation. Employee estimates were also changed: now estimates are derived from Finnish Income Register.
