Statistics Portugal

Mrs. Adelina Andrade - National Accounts Department / Short Term Statistics Unit

Mrs. Cristina Neves – Economic Statistics Department 

Mrs. Julia Cravo -  Economic Statistics Department /Sectoral Business Statistics

Mrs. Fatima Moreira -  Economic Statistics Department /Sectoral Business Statistics

Mrs. Adelina Andrade.  

Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)

Avenida António José de Almeida, 5

1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal

Mrs. Julia Cravo

Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)

Avenida António José de Almeida, 1

1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal

Mrs. Fatima Moreira

Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE)

Avenida António José de Almeida, 1

1000-043 Lisboa, Portugal

Building permits , divided into "number of dwellings" and "useful floor area".

Statistics Portugal metadata system includes all the internal classifications defined for the different types of permits characteristics collected from the Municipalities.

Activity coverage:

Not applicable. The statistical unit is the permit, and all the permits are sent by the Municipalities to Statistics Portugal.

Size coverage:

 Not applicable (all the permits, including new buildings, are sent to Statistics Portugal, whatever the activity of the investing entity).

List and definition of variables:

Definitions correspond to the Commission Regulation Nr. 1503/2006 (Variable No. 110).

All the definitions are according to the Commission Regulation no. 588/2001.

All the building permits that are licensed every month by the Municipalities are sent to Statistics Portugal, including all the characterization variables, as defined by the national Ministerial Orders.

Planned changes in information collected :

There are no changes planned in the collection of the previous variables.

Accounting conventions:

 Calendar month.

Reporting unit : Municipality

Observation unit(s): Permit (license)

308 municipalities report

Portugal

Date of first use as a source: January 2002

Not applicable

Number of dwellings and useful floor area (m²).

Month

Legal basis:

Ministerial Order 235/2013, of 24 July 2013, which applies Decree-Law 555/99 of 16 December 1999 amended by the Decree-Law 26/2010 of 30 March 2010. Law 60/2007 of 4 September 2007.

Obligation on units to provide data:

The survey is mandatory but based on administrative data already available in all the Municipalities.

Planned changes in legal basis, obligation to respond and frame used

 No changes are planned

Data are transmitted to other international organizations (Eurostat).

The National Statistical Law (”Lei 22/2008” from May 13th) establishes the main principles as well as the working methods and composition of the Statistical System.

Monthly dissemination on the Statistics Portugal website, and a quarterly press release (including building permits and completed buildings). Building permits data is based on public information (administrative data from Municipalities), so there is no confidentiality treatment.

Not applicable

Statistics Portugal offers an advanced release calendar on its website http://www.ine.pt, providing users with one-quarter advance notice of precise release dates. Moreover, a two-month advanced release calendar is published in Informação Estatística (in Portuguese). Free copies can be ordered from the contact person listed on the dissemination formats page.

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_calendarios&xlang=en

Simultaneous release to all interested parties

The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by issuing the press release to the media and by simultaneously placing the data on the INE Internet website [http://www.ine.pt].

Identification of internal government access to data before release

In accordance with provision 15, Chapter B of the Statistics Portugal Dissemination Policy, prior access, under embargo, to official statistical data is granted (at around 9 am of the release day) to the following: the President of the Republic and the Directors of Madeira and Azores Regional Statistics Offices, when data allow for NUTS 2 breakdown.

For more detailed information see the document dissemination policy at https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_inst_pdifusao&xlang=en

Transmission to Eurostat and further use of the statistics

Data are transmitted to Eurostat by STADIUM using GESMES version 3.1 40 days (calendar days) after the end of the reference month at the same time as data is released.

Monthly and quarterly (more detailed data)

Frequency: quarterly, press release available at http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&xlang=en and monthly statistical indicators available at https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_base_dados

Activity Coverage: Not applicable

Length of time series: from 01/2002. In 2002 a new Indicators System of Urban Operations was settled, with a large set of variables for building and dwellings characterization. However, it is possible, for main variables (such as number of dwellings), to have a series since 01/1994.

Presentation: Statistical indicators with number of dwellings and floor area, by type of buildings and geographical breakdown (parish and municipality).  

Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases: No ministerial commentary is attached to the release of data by the statistical office.

Data related to building permits is published in the "Boletim Mensal de Estatística" (Monthly Statistical Bulletin), which is available in Portuguese language for viewing or download in PDF/XLS format on the Statistics Portugal website:

https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes&PUBLICACOESpub_boui=611511990&PUBLICACOEStema=00&PUBLICACOESmodo=2

The "Anuário Estatístico de Portugal" (Statistical Yearbook of Portugal) is a bilingual publication (Portuguese/English) that can be purchased by ordering from Customer Support or directly from the Online Catalogue on the Statistics Portugal website:

http://www.ine.pt/ > On Line Catalogue > General Statistics

It is also available for free viewing and/or download in PDF/XLS format on the same website under "Publications," then navigate to "Theme: Multithemes" and select the "Statistical Yearbook of Portugal."

Furthermore, data is published on www.ine.pt, including press releases, statistical indicators in Excel/CSV format files, and access to historical data through the online database.

http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_base_dados&contexto=bd&selTab=tab2

Building and Housing Statistics (annual): Construction and Housing 2021

There is no public dissemination of micro data. Micro data are available for researchers, after statistical confidentiality treatment, based in a Protocol established with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, with a view to making it easier for researchers to access the statistics they need to carry out their activity.

Data are sent to Eurostat to be used in European aggregates and/or to be released as national data.

Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics

A detailed methodological note in Portuguese only ( “Projects of building constructions and demolitions survey”) for base year 2010 is available free at www.ine.pt document nº 165 at: http://smi.ine.pt/DocumentacaoMetodologica/Detalhes/466?modal=1

Description of standard tables produced

Statistical data/Main indicators: http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_princ_quadros

Building and Housing Statistics (annual):  Construction and Housing 2021

Not available.

Since this data is based on administrative data from Municipalities, Statistics Portugal made some coherence analysis, in order to guarantee the completeness of data from all the Municipalities every month (and a response rate of 100% every month).

All these procedures respect the quality policy defined in Statistics Portugal Quality Charter (only available in Portuguese language): https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_cont_inst&INST=53866&ine_smenu.boui=13710675&ine_smenu.selected=13710702&xlang=pt

Data collection is based exclusively on webforms (using, in some cases XML files extracted directly from the Municipalities databases), which already includes some validation and coherence rules and controls.

The permits data for dwellings and useful floor area are derived from reliable data obtained through the Municipalities' control of licensed permits. However, Statistics Portugal conducts monthly quality control and checks to ensure data accuracy. This includes regular communication with technicians from the Municipalities to address any doubts or clarifications. The publication of results is consistently punctual. 

Further methodological details and additional information can be found in section 14. As part of the quality control process, multiple plausibility checks are conducted using diverse sources.

Short-term statistics serve various national users, including the Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, researchers, international institutions like Eurostat, and non-institutional users. Users express their needs through the Statistics Portugal Dissemination Unit, the Statistics Portugal website, and the Statistics Portugal libraries. There are no additional user requests beyond the existing available data.

Statistics Portugal conducts a continuous Satisfaction Survey for its users, which can be accessed at http://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_opiniao&xlang=en.

The production of permits data fully complies with the STS-Regulation. There are no requests for additional information.

Not available. It can be stated that statistical error and bias are small.

Not applicable.

Response Rate

A response rate of 100% is consistently achieved every month.

Actions to Improve Response Rate:

Currently, the indicator is disseminated within 40 days after the reference month. In cases of non-response, Municipalities are contacted through telephone or email to ensure data collection.

All new buildings are required to have a permit.

The indicators are disseminated 40 days after the end of the reference month.

Timetable of data collection

Municipalities are expected to send data to Statistics Portugal within 15 days after the reference month.

STS deadlines have been respected.

Due to harmonized Short-Term Statistics (STS) indices in the European Union, it is possible to compare calculated aggregates for Portugal with those of other European countries. At the national level, data is disseminated with regional disaggregation by Parish and Municipality, covering the entire national territory, including the Autonomous Regions of Azores and Madeira.

The data series has been available since 2002 and is comparable over time. However, for the variable "total number of dwellings," it is possible to obtain a series dating back to 1994.

Cross-checks are performed using absolute STS values, comparing them with the values from the previous month and year. The data since 2002 is comparable over time, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the statistical series.

All variables related to buildings and dwelling characteristics undergo cross-checking processes. Specifically, the variables V411 and V412 are coherent for the different types of buildings.

The cost associated  is 848 hours per year. There is no additional burden as it is derived from an administrative source.

 The document "Política de Revisões" (revision policy) provides the necessary guidelines to follow. This document can be found by following the link: https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_inst_politrevisao

A specific Revisions Policy for building permits was established in 2014, and it was available for the first time in the publication "Building and Housing Statistics - 2013." This publication includes the final chapter titled "Methodology, concepts, and definitions" (in Portuguese, "Nota Metodológica, Conceitos e Definições"). The publication can be accessed through the following link: https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes&PUBLICACOESpub_boui=218940960&PUBLICACOEStema=5414344&PUBLICACOESmodo=2

The same revision policy is applied to both nationally released STS data and the data transmitted to Eurostat.

Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology

The data series undergoes regular revisions until the annual data is disseminated, which takes place in July of Year N+1. An explanatory note detailing the Revisions Policy for this indicator can be found in the publication "Building and Housing Statistics - 2020" on pages 87 and 88. This document is only available in Portuguese. Statistics Portugal's Revisions Policy provides the necessary guidelines to follow. The document can be accessed through the following link: https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_publicacoes&PUBLICACOESpub_boui=437127876&PUBLICACOESmodo=2.

Typically, the revisions, whether MR or MAR, do not exceed 3%.

Type of source:

The data source is administrative data obtained from Municipalities through the "Projects of building constructions and demolitions survey." This survey collects data on variables mandated by Portuguese legislation, which all municipalities are required to send to Statistics Portugal on a monthly basis, within 15 days after the end of the reference month. The variables are defined based on the administrative data already available in the Municipalities for permit control purposes.

Frame on which the source is based:

The data elements used in the source are defined by the relevant legislation, primarily Governmental Law 235/2013.

Sample or census: Census

The data collection is based on a census, meaning that it covers the entire population of the target group.

Criteria for stratification:

Not applicable

308 municipalities report

Threshold values and percentages:

Not applicable

Frequency of updating the sample:

Not applicable

Data are collected on a monthly basis from the Municipalities.

Questionnaires used in the survey:

The survey utilizes questionnaires that incorporate the variables specified in the Ministerial Order, which are based on administrative data already present in the Municipalities for permit control purposes.

Planned changes in national questionnaires:

There are planned changes in the national questionnaires to incorporate the construction starts date as a new variable.

Data collection media:

The survey is conducted using an electronic questionnaire, typically in the form of a webform. In some cases, the data is directly extracted from the Municipalities' databases using XML format. The collected data is submitted to Statistics Portugal electronically through webforms, with a 100% submission rate.

Planned changes in data collection methodology:.

The planned changes in the data collection methodology include the addition of a new variable, construction starts date, to the questionnaire.

Each permit undergoes validation for all variables to ensure data coherence.

Data validation is carried out through coherence rules implemented in the webforms and during the data submission process. For Municipalities using XML, their IT tools have been adjusted to incorporate the same validation rules as those present in the webforms. Additionally, validations are applied in the Data Warehouse for macro-data analysis.

Every month, all Municipalities promptly submit the data to Statistics Portugal, eliminating the need for estimating non-responses or late responses.

Estimates for non-response:

Not applicable

Estimates for grossing-up to population levels:

Not applicable

Type of index:

Not applicable (data is expressed in total number of dwelling/ floor area).

Method of weighting and chaining:

Not applicable

Planned changes in production methods:

No changes expected in the near future.

Frequency of weight update:

Not applicable

Not applicable

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