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.
[4D1_F1] Crosscutting social indicators; Coordination
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
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
14 February 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
14 February 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
10 June 2026
3.1. Data description
Statistics included in the section Private household expenditure on sport comprise the data which are derived from two various sources: Household Budget Survey (HBS) and Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP).
These statistics complement the set of social and economic indicators on sport, provide the key for analysis of the consumption patterns of private households on sporting goods and services and enable to assess the weight of private expenditure on sporting goods in total household expenditure.
The statistics on household spending on sport articles and services are extracted from the 2010, 2015 and 2020 waves of Household budget surveys (HBS).
As private expenditure is influenced, among the others, by the price level, data on private expenditure on sporting goods and services can be completed by the statistical information on price evolution from the Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP).
The HICP allow the monitoring of the price change of consumer articles including some sport related items. HICP are among others the source of comparable measures of inflation. For further information on methodology of HICP, please consult the HICP metadata.
COICOP was developed by the United Nations. The UN COICOP is built up to four digit codes divided into services (S), non-durables (ND), semi-durables (SD) and durables (D).
For the purpose of EU HBS surveys, a special version of the classification – COICOP-HBS – was created with additional fifth digit to better disaggregate the information. The fifth digit has been implemented since the 2000 wave of surveys. It was further revised in 2003 for the 2005 and 2010 waves. From the 2015 wave the European classification of individual consumption according to purpose (ECOICOP) was recommended and applied by almost all the countries. ECOICOP relies on the structure and content of COICOP-HBS for the fifth digit but there are several differences. In ECOICOP, more disaggregation is available allowing the distinction of more specific expenditure categories. Additionally, the revision of numerous 5-digit codes was carried out to and resulted in the modification of content and coverage of part of codes.
The HICP components are classified according to the ECOICOP. From 2026 onwards, HICP data are compiled and disseminated according to the ECOICOP version 2 (ECOICOP 2), which is aligned with the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose 2018 (COICOP 2018). HICP data disseminated according to ECOICOP 2 cover the period from 1996 onwards.
Data for selected ECOICOP 2 categories within the scope are available in two Eurostat HICP datasets: prc_hicp_ainr, providing annual data, and prc_hicp_minr, providing monthly data. In addition, two datasets provide historical HICP data for the topic: prc_hicp_aind for annual data and prc_hicp_midx for monthly data. These data are based on the ECOICOP-HICP classification.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Households' expenditure in sporting goods and services and EU harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP) for main sporting goods and services.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The statistics on households' expenditure on sporting goods and services are retrieved from the Household Budget Surveys (HBS) that aim at measuring the private household expenditure on consumer goods. Sporting items are classified under the COICOP heading 09 "Recreation and culture". The list of sport related goods and services identified in the classification is limited to the articles and services that are considered as fully sport or are related to sport activities.
From HBS, the data for the following sport related categories are available according to ECOICOP:
CP0921 Major durables for outdoor recreation
CP09222 Major durables for indoor recreation
CP0923 Maintenance and repair of other major durables for recreation and culture
CP0932 Equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP09321 Equipment for sport
CP09322 Equipment for camping and open-air recreation
CP09323 Repair of equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP0941 Recreational and sporting services
CP09411 Recreational and sporting services - Attendance
CP09412 Recreational and sporting services - Participation
As concerns harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP), they give comparable measures of inflation in the countries. They are economic indicators that assess the change over time of the prices of consumer goods and services acquired by households.
The data for the following goods and services by ECOICOP 2 (datasets prc_hicp_ainr and prc_hicp_minr) are available within the sport scope:
CP0912 Major recreational durables (D)
CP09121 Camper vans, caravans and trailers (D)
CP09122 Aeroplanes, microlight aircraft, gliders, hang gliders and hot-air balloons (D)
CP09123 Boats, yachts, outboard motors and other water-sport equipment (D)
CP09124 Horses, ponies, camels and dromedaries and accessories (D)
CP09129 Other major recreational durables (D)
CP0922 Sporting, camping and open-air recreation equipment (SD)
CP09221 Sporting equipment (SD)
CP09222 Camping and open-air recreation equipment (SD)
CP0942 Hire, maintenance and repair of major recreational durables (S)
CP09421 Hire, maintenance and repair of camper vans and caravans (S)
CP09422 Hire, maintenance and repair of other major recreational durables (S)
CP0944 Hire and repair of sporting, camping and open-air recreational equipment (S)
CP0946 Recreational and sporting services (S)
CP09461 Recreational and leisure services (S)
CP09462 Services associated with the practice of sports (S)
CP09463 Services associated with attendance at sporting events (S)
The data for the following goods and services by ECOICOP 1 (datasets prc_hicp_aind and prc_hicp_midx) are available within the sport scope:
CP0921 Major durables for outdoor recreation
CP09211 Camper vans, caravans and trailers
CP09212 Aeroplanes, microlight aircraft, gliders, hang-gliders and hot-air balloons
CP09213 Boats, outboard motors and fitting out of boats
CP09215 Major items for games and sport
CP09222 Major durables for indoor recreation
CP0932 Equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP09321 Equipment for sport
CP09322 Equipment for camping and open-air recreation
CP09323 Repair of equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP0941 Recreational and sporting services
CP09411 Recreational and sporting services - Attendance
CP09412 Recreational and sporting services - Participation
3.5. Statistical unit
For data from HBS: Individual private households. Please consult the HBS reference metadata for further explanation.
For data from HICP: household final monetary consumption expenditure within the economic territories of the countries compiling the HICP. Please consult HICP reference metadata for further explanation.
3.6. Statistical population
For data from HBS: Individual private households. Please consult the HBS reference metadata for further explanation.
For data from HICP: The target statistical universe is the 'household final monetary consumption expenditure' (HFMCE) within the economic territories of the countries compiling the HICP. Please consult HICP reference metadata for further explanation.
3.7. Reference area
For data from HBS 2010: EU Member States (except the Netherlands for data on sporting goods), the United Kingdom, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Türkiye.
For data from HBS 2015: EU Member States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye.
For data from HBS 2020: EU Member States (excepting Portugal, Romania and Sweden; France, Cyprus, Malta - estimated data), Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye.
For data from HICP (ECOICOP 2): EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99).
3.8. Coverage - Time
For data from HBS: 2010, 2015 and 2020.
For data from HICP: since 2002 for most countries.
3.9. Base period
For data from HBS: not applicable.
For data from HICP (ECOICOP 2):from 2026, the HICP index reference period is 2025=100. Please consult HICP reference metadata for further explanation.
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see point 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
For data from HBS: every 5 years approximately. Next reference year is 2026.
For data from HICP: Monthly indices are disseminated around the middle of the month that follows the reference month. Yearly indices are disseminated in the first months of the year that follows the reference year.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
For data from HBS: on an ad-hoc basis, depending on context and the availability of information on households expenditure on sporting goods and services.
For data from HICP: a news release on-line is usually published for the annual update of the ‘Statistics explained’ article on consumer prices of recreational and sporting goods and services.
Data are accessible online through the Eurostat website at Sport database.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
For data from HBS: the Household Budget Survey is included in Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics, concerning access to confidential data for scientific purposes. Universities and certified research centres can apply for access to HBS microdata for scientific purposes. An algorithm has been used in a Computer Application, to anonymise HBS data. For more information, please refer to access to microdata.
For data from HICP: not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
None.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Eurostat's sport statistics have been designed according to the following documents:
The "Vilnius definition of sport", designed by the Expert Group of Sport statistics in 2007. This definition proposes a three-stage approach in order to identify, starting from the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA), those activities, goods and services that are related to sport:
Statistical definition: it corresponds to NACE code 93.1 "Sport activities". This is the only economic sector of sport which has its own, specific, NACE code
Narrow definition: it comprises all activities which are inputs to sport; this level of the classification encompasses all industries which produce goods that are necessary to perform sport. Besides sport facilities, this classification includes, for example, manufacturing of sport shoes and tennis rackets. This definition also includes the Statistical definition
Broad definition: it encompasses all activities which require sport as an input for their production processes (television broadcasting, hotels accommodating guests doing sport, gambling etc.). This definition also includes the Narrow definition.
The study on the Contribution of Sport to Economic Growth and Employment in the EU (SPEA Report) .The study carried out in the context of the Expert Group on Sport aimed at developing a common approach and harmonising the efforts in order to assess the economic impact of sport. The methodology proposed in the study elaborated by SpEA concentrates on the economic dimension of sport through the setting up of Sport Satellite Accounts.
The requirements, methodologies and compilation guidelines for the HICP are dealt with by the regulations and implementing acts available in the following sub-section of the HICP dedicated section:
Data on sport expenditure in sporting goods and services allow measuring the share of the households' budget devoted to the purchasing of such items.
At the European level, the several policy initiatives in the field of sport aim at developing the European dimension of sport and at raising awareness about the social and economic benefits of sport and physical activity.
Therefore, high quality data on sport are crucial to better underpin the actions taken under the various initiatives targeting the sport sector empowerment.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Generally users have been satisfied with overall quality of the service delivered by Eurostat, which encompasses data quality and the supporting service provided to them but no particular information is gathered from them.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain countries.
European aggregates are updated for consistency with new country data.
New data are only used to update disseminated data if provided according to the provision schedule set by Eurostat, or in the case of reported errors.
18.1. Source data
For data from HBS: data on households' expenditure on sporting goods and services are extracted from Household Budget Survey which is a sample survey (HBS, 2010, 2015 and 2020).
For data from HICP: all HICPs are based on the continuous measurement of a sample of prices of specified goods and services. The HICPs must be based on samples sufficient to yield reliable and comparable results, taking into account the national diversity of products and prices. Furthermore, as products or retail outlets disappear from the market, they need to be replaced with new ones. HICPs are required to be based on up-to-date samples, in particular by banning the practice whereby 'missing' prices are simply assumed to be equal to the last observed prices. The HICP will incorporate a new product when it achieves a sales volume of over one part per thousand of total consumers' expenditure covered by the HICP in a Member State.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
For data from HBS: every five years (1988, 1994, 1999, 2010, 2015, 2020). Next reference year is 2026.
For data from HICP: price collection takes place across at least once per month around one working week in mid-month. When products are known to be volatile, e.g. to show sharp and irregular price changes within the same month, prices are collected over a period of more than once per month as defined in Article 8 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1148.
Primary data are checked and validated according to HBS and HICP validation procedures (please consult the HBS Metadata and the HICP Metadata).
Apart from the validation made on the primary data, the sport data are as well validated and checked in terms of comparability and consistency between countries and over time before being uploaded.
18.5. Data compilation
For data from HBS: Disaggregated data by COICOP 5-digit (from HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020) covering item 09 "Recreation and culture" are subject to statistical processing (estimation of missing values and aggregation of sport related items in broader categories).
It must be noted that HBS round 2010 used the COICOP-HBS classification, while the HBS round 2015 and 2020 used the ECOICOP classification. The consequences on the sport data collection in terms of data representation and continuity of time series are explained in the Annex I : Mapping of sport related codes in HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020.
For data from HICP: data are mirrored tables (bookmarks) of the source datasets in the HICP domain. No data processing is applied for sport statistics purpose.
For the content and coverage of sport items in COICOP-HBS and ECOICOP, please refer to Annex I: Mapping of sport related codes in HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020.
18.6. Adjustment
For data from HBS: Some adjustments (allocation of ECOICOP codes) are applied for France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Norway for the results from the 2015 round of surveys to fit the ECOICOP structure as these countries followed COICOP-HBS in their 2015 wave. For more details please refer to the Annex I: Mapping of sport related codes in HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020.
For data from HICP: data are not seasonally adjusted.
Statistics included in the section Private household expenditure on sport comprise the data which are derived from two various sources: Household Budget Survey (HBS) and Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP).
These statistics complement the set of social and economic indicators on sport, provide the key for analysis of the consumption patterns of private households on sporting goods and services and enable to assess the weight of private expenditure on sporting goods in total household expenditure.
The statistics on household spending on sport articles and services are extracted from the 2010, 2015 and 2020 waves of Household budget surveys (HBS).
As private expenditure is influenced, among the others, by the price level, data on private expenditure on sporting goods and services can be completed by the statistical information on price evolution from the Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP).
The HICP allow the monitoring of the price change of consumer articles including some sport related items. HICP are among others the source of comparable measures of inflation. For further information on methodology of HICP, please consult the HICP metadata.
10 June 2026
The statistics on households' expenditure on sporting goods and services are retrieved from the Household Budget Surveys (HBS) that aim at measuring the private household expenditure on consumer goods. Sporting items are classified under the COICOP heading 09 "Recreation and culture". The list of sport related goods and services identified in the classification is limited to the articles and services that are considered as fully sport or are related to sport activities.
From HBS, the data for the following sport related categories are available according to ECOICOP:
CP0921 Major durables for outdoor recreation
CP09222 Major durables for indoor recreation
CP0923 Maintenance and repair of other major durables for recreation and culture
CP0932 Equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP09321 Equipment for sport
CP09322 Equipment for camping and open-air recreation
CP09323 Repair of equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP0941 Recreational and sporting services
CP09411 Recreational and sporting services - Attendance
CP09412 Recreational and sporting services - Participation
As concerns harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP), they give comparable measures of inflation in the countries. They are economic indicators that assess the change over time of the prices of consumer goods and services acquired by households.
The data for the following goods and services by ECOICOP 2 (datasets prc_hicp_ainr and prc_hicp_minr) are available within the sport scope:
CP0912 Major recreational durables (D)
CP09121 Camper vans, caravans and trailers (D)
CP09122 Aeroplanes, microlight aircraft, gliders, hang gliders and hot-air balloons (D)
CP09123 Boats, yachts, outboard motors and other water-sport equipment (D)
CP09124 Horses, ponies, camels and dromedaries and accessories (D)
CP09129 Other major recreational durables (D)
CP0922 Sporting, camping and open-air recreation equipment (SD)
CP09221 Sporting equipment (SD)
CP09222 Camping and open-air recreation equipment (SD)
CP0942 Hire, maintenance and repair of major recreational durables (S)
CP09421 Hire, maintenance and repair of camper vans and caravans (S)
CP09422 Hire, maintenance and repair of other major recreational durables (S)
CP0944 Hire and repair of sporting, camping and open-air recreational equipment (S)
CP0946 Recreational and sporting services (S)
CP09461 Recreational and leisure services (S)
CP09462 Services associated with the practice of sports (S)
CP09463 Services associated with attendance at sporting events (S)
The data for the following goods and services by ECOICOP 1 (datasets prc_hicp_aind and prc_hicp_midx) are available within the sport scope:
CP0921 Major durables for outdoor recreation
CP09211 Camper vans, caravans and trailers
CP09212 Aeroplanes, microlight aircraft, gliders, hang-gliders and hot-air balloons
CP09213 Boats, outboard motors and fitting out of boats
CP09215 Major items for games and sport
CP09222 Major durables for indoor recreation
CP0932 Equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP09321 Equipment for sport
CP09322 Equipment for camping and open-air recreation
CP09323 Repair of equipment for sport, camping and open-air recreation
CP0941 Recreational and sporting services
CP09411 Recreational and sporting services - Attendance
CP09412 Recreational and sporting services - Participation
For data from HBS: Individual private households. Please consult the HBS reference metadata for further explanation.
For data from HICP: household final monetary consumption expenditure within the economic territories of the countries compiling the HICP. Please consult HICP reference metadata for further explanation.
For data from HBS: Individual private households. Please consult the HBS reference metadata for further explanation.
For data from HICP: The target statistical universe is the 'household final monetary consumption expenditure' (HFMCE) within the economic territories of the countries compiling the HICP. Please consult HICP reference metadata for further explanation.
For data from HBS 2010: EU Member States (except the Netherlands for data on sporting goods), the United Kingdom, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Türkiye.
For data from HBS 2015: EU Member States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye.
For data from HBS 2020: EU Member States (excepting Portugal, Romania and Sweden; France, Cyprus, Malta - estimated data), Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye.
For data from HICP (ECOICOP 2): EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99).
For data from HBS: reference year (2010, 2015, 2020).
For data from HICP (ECOICOP 2): monthly/annual data (indices and rates).
For data from HBS: Disaggregated data by COICOP 5-digit (from HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020) covering item 09 "Recreation and culture" are subject to statistical processing (estimation of missing values and aggregation of sport related items in broader categories).
It must be noted that HBS round 2010 used the COICOP-HBS classification, while the HBS round 2015 and 2020 used the ECOICOP classification. The consequences on the sport data collection in terms of data representation and continuity of time series are explained in the Annex I : Mapping of sport related codes in HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020.
For data from HICP: data are mirrored tables (bookmarks) of the source datasets in the HICP domain. No data processing is applied for sport statistics purpose.
For the content and coverage of sport items in COICOP-HBS and ECOICOP, please refer to Annex I: Mapping of sport related codes in HBS 2010, 2015 and 2020.
For data from HBS: data on households' expenditure on sporting goods and services are extracted from Household Budget Survey which is a sample survey (HBS, 2010, 2015 and 2020).
For data from HICP: all HICPs are based on the continuous measurement of a sample of prices of specified goods and services. The HICPs must be based on samples sufficient to yield reliable and comparable results, taking into account the national diversity of products and prices. Furthermore, as products or retail outlets disappear from the market, they need to be replaced with new ones. HICPs are required to be based on up-to-date samples, in particular by banning the practice whereby 'missing' prices are simply assumed to be equal to the last observed prices. The HICP will incorporate a new product when it achieves a sales volume of over one part per thousand of total consumers' expenditure covered by the HICP in a Member State.
For data from HBS: every 5 years approximately. Next reference year is 2026.
For data from HICP: Monthly indices are disseminated around the middle of the month that follows the reference month. Yearly indices are disseminated in the first months of the year that follows the reference year.
