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.
Department for Economic Statistics, Division for Financial account.
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Statistics Norway Postboks 2633 St. Hanshaugen 0131 Oslo
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 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
31 October 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
31 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 (NACE Rev.2)
List of 2-digit country codes (ISO 3166-1);
Currency codes (ISO 4217).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Market producers of NACE Sections B to N and P to S.
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
Norway
3.8. Coverage - Time
2008-2023
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 NOK currency.
Annual frequence (last refrence year 2023)
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, disseminates national OFATS statistics on Statistics Norway's website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The release is announced at ssb.no
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Release of the data is publised in the online database and ad hoc press release.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The data is released at Statistics Norway's webpage.
According to Section 14 (1) of the Statistics Act Statistics Norway may grant access to information (microdata) for the compilation of statistical results and analyses, including research purposes. Public authorities may access data for use in statistical results and analyses. Approved research institutions may apply for access for research purposes. The use of microdata for administrative, legal, and fiscal purposes or for the control of statistical units is not permitted.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
The OFATS data is disseminated to Eurostat. The statistical population is disseminated internal for several purposes.
We plan to incorporate quality indicators in the OFATS production systems for have a better management in the data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Figures for the Norwegian OFATS are used in economic research to measure the degree of globalization, and in international trade negotiations. Users are authorities, businesses, embassies, the media, and educational and research institutions, among others. There is also extensive international reporting on data for foreign affiliates abroad to Eurostat. Internal users are interested in our population, cross-checking with other statistics for UCI information etc.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
We have not measured user satisfaction. However the figures are of interest for our external users, but the confidensiality rules flags most of the detailed data on activity and geografical level.
12.3. Completeness
Statistics Norway conduct a survey for the OFATS statistics. We have no other sources and no grossing up methdods. The missing data points are therefore quite high when looking at nace and geo.level.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Please see Table 12.3.1 in the Annex at the bottom.
13.1.4. UCI Approach applied to identify the relevant population of reporting units
OFATS collaborate with the FDI statistics and IFATS statistic for identification of UCI. The ultimate investor country is the country where the “last” enterprise or person in the ownership chain is registered or has registered address. That is, the enterprise that is not controlled by another enterprise or the last person in the ownership chain.
13.1.5. Update date (or frequency of updates) of the information regarding the country of the UCI by the “source administration”
The OFATS and outward FDI survey is sent to our sample survey T+5. The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. Finding UCI is a manual job. We use annual reports, companies webpage, other web-pages, EGR, and media. We try to link the ultimate owner to the spesific reference year.
13.2. Sampling error
The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. We have not established any methods to inflate the number of enterprises, turnover, gross investments, employee benefits expense and employment abroad to population level.
The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. We have not established any methods to inflate the number of enterprises, turnover, gross investments, employee benefits expense and employment abroad to population level. The total population of enterprises abroad controlled from Norway is unknown, but we are sure that the most important enterprises are covered by the survey. To ensure highest degree of relevance at the lowest cost, we attach great importance to make sure the largest enterprises in the population are included in the sample, measured by the size of the variables to be reported.
The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. We have not established any methods to inflate the number of enterprises, turnover and employment abroad to population level. The total population of enterprises abroad controlled from Norway is unknown, but we are sure that the most important enterprises are covered by the survey. To ensure highest degree of relevance at the lowest cost, we attach great importance to make sure the largest enterprises in the population are included in the sample, measured by the size of the variables to be reported.
Wrong or not stated NACE codes. Some companies do not report on indirectly controlled units, resulting in under-coverage if not detected. It is difficult to estimate the extent, but when discovered we usually contact the company and try to split the data. The main method to detect misclassification errors is by manual revisions of the data, including comparing reported data with the year before.
13.3.1.4. Under- and over-coverage problems
Since we have a sample we know that there is under-coverage problems. But we do not have administrative source to estimated the unknown OFATS data.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Some companies do not report on indirectly controlled units, some report negative values on employee benefits expense and gross investment in tangible non-current assets.
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).
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+5 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+12 months.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
T+12 months
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
We publish the statistics T+12 months after reference year T. We also publish the reference year T-2 which includes edited figures (most often the final result).
14.2. Punctuality
On time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
On time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not available
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not available
15.2. Comparability - over time
The size of the sampling survey has increased since the first year (2008), but all the largest units have been included the whole time. From reference year 2021 two extra variables has been published, which also affects the possibility to make comparisons over time.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Length of comparable time series 2008 - 2020, 2021 - 2023
15.2.2. Reasons and differences in concepts and measurement methods for breaks in time series
NACE standards are updated. NACE rev.2.0 is implemented in the national time series from 2008-2023.
In reference year 2021 a new Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 (EBS Regulation) replaced the old FATS regulation introducing some changes such as:
extension in coverage (NACE)
changes in definition of characteristics
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Coherence with internal users
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)
Coherent with FDI. We collect OFATS in the same survey as outward FDI, and we use the same UCI information.
15.3.4. Coherence – EuroGroups Register (EGR)
We are not in coherence with the EGR. 1) We collect data from our respondent T+5 months, and the EGR is not available at the same time. We publish national data T+12 months. 2) For some companies we have a different UCI than EGR. 3) We collect data on enterprise level, and some times EGR only gives information on enterprise group level.
15.4. Coherence - internal
OFATS collaborats with FDI and IFATS collegues for UCI information. OFATS also gets data from SBS collegues for the production of Table 15.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Editing is defined here as checking, examining, and amending data. The data collected is to a large extent compared to information with figures for the previous year and the annual accounts submitted to the Register of Company Accounts in Brønnøysund. Regarding the Norwegian subsidiaries that are included in the survey, we check the ownership structure by reviewing the data with information from annual reports and the enterprises’ websites etc. Only enterprises with Norway as Ultimate investor country (Norwegian-controlled enterprises) are included in this statistic.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See Table 17.2. in the Annex at the bottom for referance year 2023.
A coding inconsistency was identified in the production of table 15, and this has now been corrected. Updated data have been transmitted for reference years 2021 and 2022.
The statistics are based on Statistics Norway’s own collection of survey on investment abroad. The survey provides information about the foreign enterprises, including what the enterprise owns, accounting information on investment and revenue, and information on turnover, employee benefits expense and employment.
18.1.1. Methodological approach
The statistics are based on Statistics Norway’s own collection of survey on investment abroad. The survey provides information about the foreign enterprises, including what the enterprise owns, accounting information on investment and revenue, and information on turnover, employee benefits expense and employment. In addition, we use information from a various range of sources, like the media and annual reports submitted to the Register of Company Accounts in Brønnøysund, to find changes in investment abroad. The sample is based on a cut-off sampling survey. The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. In addition, a sample of smaller enterprises is drawn. The size of the sampling survey has increased since the first year (2008), but all the largest enterprises have been included the whole time.
18.1.2. Use of cut-off thresholds
The sample is based on a cut-off sampling survey. The sampling survey covers the largest Norwegian enterprises with activity abroad. In addition, a sample of smaller enterprises is drawn. The size of the sampling survey has increased since the first year (2008), but all the largest enterprises have been included the whole time.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
Source to define your population:
90 % sample survey.
10 % publicly available sources.
Economic data obtained using:
100 % sample survey.
18.4. Data validation
The data collected is to a large extent compared to information with figures for the previous year. We plan to build more validation checks with quality indicators in our production system.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable
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
31 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).
Norway
Annual frequence (last refrence year 2023)
The geographic code extra EU-27 not allocated (D09) exist for the missing data points, but for all other the code is not in use.
Number of enterprises and employment variables are recorded in absolute figures.
Monetary data of enterprises are recorded in thousands in NOK currency.
Not applicable
The statistics are based on Statistics Norway’s own collection of survey on investment abroad. The survey provides information about the foreign enterprises, including what the enterprise owns, accounting information on investment and revenue, and information on turnover, employee benefits expense and employment.
Annual
OFATS statistics are calculated annually for reference year T.
Data collection takes place at t+5 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+12 months.
Not available
The size of the sampling survey has increased since the first year (2008), but all the largest units have been included the whole time. From reference year 2021 two extra variables has been published, which also affects the possibility to make comparisons over time.
