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.
All construction of new dwellings and non-residential buildings are covered.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
New dwellings (number).
New dwellings (useful floor area of dwellings).
New non-residential buildings (useful floor area).
Residential buildings are buildings at least half (in terms of gross floor area) of which are used for living purpose. If less than half of the overall useful floor area is used for residential purpose, the building is classified under non-residential buildings in accordance with its purpose-oriented design.
Dwelling is a one-family house, section of a two-family or a terraced house, or a flat, which consists of one or more rooms, meets sanitary engineering requirements and is suitable for permanent residence.
Non-residential buildings are constructions, which are mainly used or intended for non-residential purpose. If at least half of the overall useful floor area is used for residential purpose, the building is classified as a residential building.
The building permit is an authorisation to start work on a building project.
3.5. Statistical unit
Building permit.
3.6. Statistical population
Granted building permits entered in the Construction Work Register.
3.7. Reference area
The whole country is covered.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Dwellings - since 1992 Non-residential buildings - since 1993
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of dwellings
Useful floor area, m2.
Quarter
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (Text with EEA relevance)
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are transmitted, in addition to Eurostat, directly to United Nations Organisation (UNO).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 34 and § 35 of the Official Statistics Act.
Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. On 1 October each year, the release times of the Statistical Database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications are announced in the release calendar (in case of publications – the release month).
8.2. Release calendar access
The publication calendar of news releases and the statistical publications are available on the web site of Statistics Estonia.
8.3. Release policy - user access
All users have been granted an equal access to official statistics: this means that the dissemination dates of official statistics have to be announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and mass media) can have access to the official statistics (results of official statistical surveys) before other users. Statistical information is first published in the Statistical Database. In case a news release is published based on the same data, the information provided in the relevant news release is simultaneously published in the Statistical Database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8.00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calender.
Quarter
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The news release „Construction” once a quarter. The news release can be viewed on the website of Statistics Estonia.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not published.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data are published under the heading „Economy/ Construction” in the Statistical Database.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Data are available in the State Register of Construction Works.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are sent to Eurostat both to be used in European aggregates as well as to be released as national data.
The Quality Report sent to Eurostat is available at the Eurostat Website.
11.1. Quality assurance
To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, EU Statistics Code of Practice and the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements provided for in § 7. „Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The survey is evaluated with very high degree due to the completeness and good quality of the information received from the register.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
Bank of Estonia
Eurostat
Researchers and students
Media
Enterprises / businesses
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Users‘ suggestions and information about taking them into account are available on the website of Statistics Estonia.
12.3. Completeness
In compliance with the rules (regulations).
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The data are final one year after first release (the revisions of I, II and III quarters are done after the end of the reporting year). In general the survey results have to be corrected downwards/upwards mainly due to the revoked and/or missing permits.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
There are negligible non-sampling errors concerning coverage due to the late recording of building permits.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are released 20 days upon the end of reference quarter (T+20) and annual data – two months upon the end of reference year (T+60).
14.2. Punctuality
The data have been published at the time announced in the release calender.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Comparable within EU countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data are comparable across time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Only the tendency between the PVC and the data of building permits granted are compared. Building permits granted is good leader indicator for future construction activity, the effect of which is appeared in the PVC with a slight delay. The data on building permits granted are strongly correlated with a data of building completed. The information about buildings completed are obtained in the same frequency as information about building permits granted.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The higher aggregates i.e. types of construction according to CPA are consistent with their main sub-aggregates.
Annual cost: 1828 person-hours per year (2024). Number includes both Eurostat requirements and national requirements.
Administrative data are used; there is no administrative burden for respondents.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The data revision policy and notification of correctionsis are described on the website of Statistics Estonia.
The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The data may be revised until the final annual data are completed. Revisions due to the revoked and/or missing permits. If the data are adjusted or revised, then this is marked in footnotes in the published tables.
The quality indicators used in the data revision practice are: MAR (Mean Absolute Revision) and MR (Mean Revision). The calculated values for the last 20 quarters (IQ 2020 to IVQ 2024) building permits indicators are:
New dwellings (number): Annual growth rates for original data series (YoY) MR = 0,01% , MAR = 0,1%
New dwellings (useful floor area of dwellings): Annual growth rates for original data series (YoY) MR = 0,01% , MAR = 0,1%
New non-residential buildings (useful floor area): Annual growth rates for original data series (YoY) MR = 0,01% , MAR = 0,2%
18.1. Source data
Administrative source: State Register of Construction Works.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly.
18.3. Data collection
Data are gained from Construction Works Register through direct access to the FTP server and database.
18.4. Data validation
Before data dissemination, several checks on the internal coherence of the data are carried out.
Before transmission to Eurostat, the structure of the data file and format is checked in detail.
18.5. Data compilation
Aggregate indicators were computed on the basis of received data.
18.6. Adjustment
Currently all the data is provided in absolute figures.
The time series are calendar and seasonally adjusted, using the TRAMO/SEATS method in JDemetra+ version 2.2.2. These are produced for Eurostat only and are not published as part of the national official statistics
Calendar adjusted data: Data in which the influence of varying number of working days has been eliminated.The calendar effect in building permits data is not detected.
Direct method is used for the seasonal adjustment. Model is fixed for the current year. The model is chosen after detailed analysis: 1 regressor (Trading days) are used, outliers are detected and corrected, national holidays calendar is used.
Diagnostic statistics are used to control the quality of seasonal adjustment. The significance levels, the number of outliers and statistics on residuals (residual normality, residual asymmetry, etc.) in data series are controlled.
More information about the adjustment is found in added template.
New non-residential buildings (useful floor area).
Residential buildings are buildings at least half (in terms of gross floor area) of which are used for living purpose. If less than half of the overall useful floor area is used for residential purpose, the building is classified under non-residential buildings in accordance with its purpose-oriented design.
Dwelling is a one-family house, section of a two-family or a terraced house, or a flat, which consists of one or more rooms, meets sanitary engineering requirements and is suitable for permanent residence.
Non-residential buildings are constructions, which are mainly used or intended for non-residential purpose. If at least half of the overall useful floor area is used for residential purpose, the building is classified as a residential building.
The building permit is an authorisation to start work on a building project.
Building permit.
Granted building permits entered in the Construction Work Register.
The whole country is covered.
Quarter
The data are final one year after first release (the revisions of I, II and III quarters are done after the end of the reporting year). In general the survey results have to be corrected downwards/upwards mainly due to the revoked and/or missing permits.
Number of dwellings
Useful floor area, m2.
Aggregate indicators were computed on the basis of received data.
Administrative source: State Register of Construction Works.
Quarter
Data are released 20 days upon the end of reference quarter (T+20) and annual data – two months upon the end of reference year (T+60).
