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.
Business Statistics Data Analysis and Dissemination Section.
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
1, Lāčplēša Str., Riga, LV-1301, Latvia.
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
24 October 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
24 November 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
24 October 2025
3.1. Data description
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
In country-level business statisticsoutward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities outward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on country-level business activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Net turnover of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Variables on the international activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Employee benefits expense in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Net turnover of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
3.2. Classification system
Classification systems used in the FATS are as follows:
Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community, Rev. 2 (NACE Rev. 2);
List of 2-digit country codes (ISO 3166-1);
Currency codes (ISO 4217).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Covers NACE Rev. 2 classification section B-S with the exception of O and S94.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
In country-level business statisticsOutward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities Outward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in the compiling country over which an institutional unit resident in the compiling country has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical units which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community.
3.6. Statistical population
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 15) and market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S abroad (should cover the foreign affiliates of all ultimate controlling institutional units of the reporting country) (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 33).
3.7. Reference area
Latvia
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data are available from 2008 till 2023.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands in euro.
Data refers to the calendar year, which in some cases corresponds to the fiscal year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Confidentiality of individual data is protected by Statistics Law:
Section 7. Competence of the Statistical Institution in Production of Official Statistics
(2) The statistical institution shall:
8) ensure statistical confidentiality in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law;
Section 17. Data Processing and Statistical Confidentiality
Section 19. Dissemination of Official Statistics
(1) The statistical institution shall disseminate official statistics in a way that does not allow either directly or indirectly identify a private individual or a State institution in cases other than those laid down in Section 25 of this Law.
(2) The statistical institution shall publish the official statistics which have been produced within the framework of the Official Statistics Programme in a publicly available form and by a predetermined deadline on the portal of official statistics. Until the moment of publication of official statistics this statistics shall not be published.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Please see Table 7.2 in the Annex at the bottom.
8.1. Release calendar
National OFATS data are published once a year on 10 September 2025. Release dates are announced in Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia homepage, in release calendar.
All official statistics is published according to the advance dissemination calendar, at 13:00 o’clock. Release calendar can be found at: website of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Enterprise Structural and Finance Statistics Section disseminates national OFATS statistics on Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
News releases are not disseminated, and they are not planned for the next reference year.
Data were published under the subject area "Business/ Entrepreneurship indicators/ Globalization/ Indicators of activity of Latvian affiliates abroad " in the Official statistics portal.
It is possible to use remote access to anonymized individual data in research. Depending on the additional data processing methods applied, the datasets are available for use on the researcher's infrastructure (OffSite) or on the remote access system of the Central Statistical Bureau (OnSite). The data are available if application is filled in and contract is concluded in case of positive decision from the Central Statistical Bureau. Anonymized individual data can be only used for scientific or research purposes, moreover, research result has to assure benefit to all society.
Individual data or microdata are records from surveys, population censuses or registers on individuals, households or enterprises.
Data were published under the subject area "Business/ Entrepreneurship indicators/ Gloabalization/ Indicators of activity of Latvian affiliates abroad " in the Official statistics portal. The data are published in Latvian and English.
CSB has introduced Quality Management System (QMS). The system is directed towards providing high user satisfaction and ensuring compliance with regulatory enactments. Based on the structure of Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), QMS defines and at the level of procedures describes processes of statistical production as well as sets the persons responsible for the monitoring of processes at all stages of the statistical production. QMS defines the sequence how processes are implemented (i.e., activities to be performed (incl. verifications of processes and statistics, sequence and implementation requirements thereof, as well as persons responsible for the implementation)), procedures used in the evaluation of processes and statistics, as well as any improvements needed. Since 2018, QMS of the CSB has been certified by the standard ISO 9001:2015 “Quality Management Systems. Requirements” (certified scope: Production of official statistics – planning, development, data acquisition, processing, analysis and dissemination). The CSB has received the international ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certificate “Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection – Information security management systems – Requirements.” The initial certification was obtained in 2017. Scope of certification: collection, processing and storage of information and data for functions of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Provision of statistical information for inland and foreign users.
CSB has introduced Quality Management System (QMS). The system is directed towards providing high user satisfaction and ensuring compliance with regulatory enactments. Based on the structure of Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM), QMS defines and at the level of procedures describes processes of statistical production as well as sets the persons responsible for the monitoring of processes at all stages of the statistical production. QMS defines the sequence how processes are implemented (i.e., activities to be performed (incl. verifications of processes and statistics, sequence and implementation requirements thereof, as well as persons responsible for the implementation)), procedures used in the evaluation of processes and statistics, as well as any improvements needed.
Since 2018, QMS of the CSB has been certified by the standard ISO 9001:2015 “Quality Management Systems. Requirements” (scope of certification: development, production and dissemination of official statistics). Recertification was carried out in 2024.
The CSB has received the international ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certificate “Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection – Information security management systems – Requirements.” The initial certification was obtained in 2017. Scope of certification: collection, processing and storage of information and data for functions of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Provision of statistical information for inland and foreign users. Recertification was carried out in 2024.
Quality of statistics is assessed in accordance with the existing requirements of external and internal regulatory enactments and in accordance with the established quality criteria.
Regulation (EC) no 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics states that European Statistics shall be developed, produced and disseminated on the basis of uniform standards and of harmonised methods. In this respect, the following quality criteria shall apply: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility, clarity, comparability and coherence.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of outward FATS are: European Commission services, international organisations, ministries, chambers of commerce, trade unions, journalists, researchers etc. User needs go beyond what data compilers can provide.
Internal users: Business register section_UCI information
External users: Bank of Latvia_UCI information
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The mission of the CSB is to ensure the provision of independent and high-quality official statistics that serve the needs of users for evidence-based decision-making, research, and informed public dialogue.
Users may submit their opinions and comments on data quality by contacting the CSB via email at pasts@csp.gov.lv. This feedback mechanism is publicly accessible and is included in the metadata documentation for each statistical indicator.
A user satisfaction survey concerning the accessibility and quality of the data has not been conducted.
12.3. Completeness
The survey covers all the variables required by Eurostat regulations.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Please see Table 12.3.1 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
All the data is correct.
13.1.1. Use of residual geographic codes (Extra EU-27 not allocated, etc.)
Please see Table 13.1.in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.2. Use of residual activity codes (NACE activity “not allocated”)
Please see Table 13.1.in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.3. Comments on the Extra EU-27 not allocated and on the Activity “not allocated”
Not applicable.
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
Data on the Internet, in the media, in annual bookkeeping reports is used. In case of contradictory information about UCI of different sources the unit is studied in detail (demographic events, websites and annual bookkeeping reports are investigated etc).
Bilateral UCI information exchange with Estonia and Lithuania.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
Data on indicators of activity of Latvian affiliates abroad are obtained conducting a full-scope survey. For the survey data from the following source are used:
CSB survey "Report on activities of a foreign affiliate";
Information from the European Groups Register database.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors
Not applicable.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Unit non-response occurs when not all the reporting units in the sample participate in the survey.
Item non-response occurs when a respondent provides some, but not all, of the information requested or if the information reported is unusable (note that entirely unusable questionnaires are already counted in the unit non-response).
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
See Table 13.3.3 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+17 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+21 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Final data dissemination at national level takes place at t+21 months.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are published on time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Data are disseminated and published on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable
15.2. Comparability - over time
Length of time series: 2005-2023
Length of comparable time series: 2005-2009/2008-2023
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of time series: 2005-2023
Length of comparable time series: 2005-2009/2008-2023
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
Due to the transition to the NACE rev.2.
UCI approach applied from 2003
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There is no contradiction.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable
15.3.3. Coherence – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
There is no contradiction.
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
There is no contradiction.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The outputs of the statistical activity are coherent.
In line with the strategic directions of the European Statistics System and latest trends in statistical production, continuous use of information acquired in regular CSB surveys and proportionate reduction of the response burden are among the key CSB priorities.
In cooperation with holders of administrative data and in line with the competences provided for in the Statistics Law, CSB is striving to solve the issues related to the use of administrative data sources, thus aiming to acquire as comprehensive and high-quality administrative data allowing to reduce response burden on enterprises and households as possible.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Policy of no revisions (only if serious errors after sending final data appear they are corrected).
Data on indicators of activity of Latvian affiliates abroad are obtained conducting a full-scope survey. For the survey data from the following source are used:
CSB survey "Report on activities of a foreign affiliate";
Information from the European Groups Register database.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
Target population is composed by all affiliates located in extra-EU and in intra-EU countries that are controlled by an institutional unit resident in Latvia.
Outward FATS survey (the survey on foreign controlled enterprise activity) are used.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
No thresholds are used.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Source to define your population:
100 % Statistical Business Register (SBR)
Economic data obtained using:
100% Structural Business Statistics (SBS) table 15
100 % Other data sources (indication of the sources: CSB survey "Report on activities of a foreign affiliate"), table 33.
18.4. Data validation
Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with other data. Before data dissemination, several checks on the internal coherence of the data and the SBSvalid validation tool are carried out.
18.5. Data compilation
Calculation methods:
The main published indicators are turnover, number of persons employed, number of enterprises.
The number of enterprises includes the number of enterprises controlled by Latvia abroad.
Turnover item of Profit or Loss Statement "net turnover" minus operating subsidies.
Number of employed persons is expressed as an average annual indicators.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.5.2. Use of a method to deal with non-response (both unit and item non-response)
Foreign Affiliates Statistics (FATS) measure the commercial presence through affiliates in foreign markets.
In country-level business statisticsoutward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities outward foreign affiliates statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Variables on country-level business activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Number of employees and self-employed persons in foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Net turnover of foreign-controlling enterprises (UCI concept) and domestic affiliates
Variables on the international activities in the OFATS data category:
Number of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Number of employees and self-employed persons in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Employee benefits expense in enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
Net turnover of enterprises abroad ultimately controlled by institutional units of the reporting country
24 October 2025
In country-level business statisticsOutward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of domestic affiliates of every resident ultimate controlling institutional unit which has at least one foreign affiliate and the activity of foreign-controlling enterprises resident in the compiling country (Table 15 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
In statistics on international activities Outward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (OFATS) describe the activity of foreign affiliates abroad ultimately controlled by an institutional unit resident in the compiling country (Table 33 of the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197).
Foreign affiliate in the framework of outward FATS is an enterprise or branch not resident in the compiling country over which an institutional unit resident in the compiling country has ultimate (direct or indirect) control.
Domestic affiliate shall mean an enterprise resident in the compiling country over which a UCI resident in the same compiling country has control.
Ultimate Controlling Institutional of a foreign affiliate (UCI) shall mean the institutional unit, proceeding up a foreign affiliate’s chain of control, which is not controlled by another institutional unit.
Control is the ability to determine the general policy of the affiliate by choosing appropriate directors, if necessary. In this context, enterprise A is deemed to be controlled by an institutional unit B when B controls, whether directly or indirectly, more than half of the shareholders' voting power or more than half of the shares.
Indirect control means that an institutional unit may have control through another affiliate which has control over enterprise A.
Active enterprise is a statistical units which at any time during the reference period was ‘enterprise’, as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 696/93, and also active during the same reference period. A statistical unit is considered to have been active during the reference period if, in said period, it either realized positive net turnover or produced outputs or had employees or performed investments.
Employees and self-employed persons are persons who work for an observation unit on the basis of a contract of employment and receives compensation in the form of wages, salaries, fees, gratuities, piecework pay or remuneration in kind; and persons who are the sole owners or joint owners of the statistical unit in which they work. Family workers and outworkers, whose income is a function of the value of the outputs of the statistical unit, are also included.
Employee benefits expense contains all expenses arising in relation with employee benefits, recognized by the statistical unit during the reference period. Those are are all forms of consideration given by the statistical unit in exchange for service rendered by employees or for the termination of employment.
Gross investment in tangible non-current assets includes all additions to tangible non-current assets, recognized as such by the statistical unit during the reference period, except any increases from revaluations or reversals of previously recognized impairment losses and from reclassifications (transfers) of other tangible non-current assets.
Net turnover consists of all income arising during the reference period in the course of ordinary activities of the statistical unit, and is presented net of all price reductions, discounts and rebates granted by it.
The statistical unit of FATS is the enterprise as defined in line with the Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community.
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 15) and market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S abroad (should cover the foreign affiliates of all ultimate controlling institutional units of the reporting country) (for the EBS Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 table 33).
Latvia
Data refers to the calendar year, which in some cases corresponds to the fiscal year.
All the data is correct.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands in euro.
Calculation methods:
The main published indicators are turnover, number of persons employed, number of enterprises.
The number of enterprises includes the number of enterprises controlled by Latvia abroad.
Turnover item of Profit or Loss Statement "net turnover" minus operating subsidies.
Number of employed persons is expressed as an average annual indicators.
Data on indicators of activity of Latvian affiliates abroad are obtained conducting a full-scope survey. For the survey data from the following source are used:
CSB survey "Report on activities of a foreign affiliate";
Information from the European Groups Register database.
Annual
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+17 months after the end of the reference period.
Data transmission to Eurostat takes place at t+20 months.
Data dissemination at national level takes place at t+21 months.
Not applicable
Length of time series: 2005-2023
Length of comparable time series: 2005-2009/2008-2023
