Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

800-Business statistics section

Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, Lamacska cesta 3/C, 840 05 Bratislava

Quarterly survey contains basic data on dwellings according to their phase of construction, structure of dwellings, their floor area by number of rooms and building permits.

The variables collected for the purposes of building permits variables are:

• number of building permits
• square metres of usefull floor area

 in breakdown by:

• one-dwelling new residential buildings;
• number of dwellings in one-dwelling new residential buildings;
• new residential buildings with two and more dwellings;
• number of dwellings in new residential buildings with two and more dwellings

Odvetvová klasifikácia ekonomických cinností (SK NACE Rev. 2) - Branch classification of economic activities – NACE rev.2

Klasifikácia štatistických územných jednotiek- Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics– NUTS 2010

Štatistická klasifikácia produktov podľa činností (CPA) - Classification of Products by Activity (CPA)

Municipalities

6-digit level of CPA

Building permits: number of dwellings

A building permit is an authorisation to start work on a building project. Variable is compiled on the base of issued permits for new one-dwelling residential buildings and residential buildings with two and more dwellings. Dwelling is a room or a suite of rooms with internal accessories arranged into functional unit with own closing, intended for habitation.                                                                          

Building permits: square metres of useful floor area

Variable is compiled  from square meters of useful floor area of buildings for which permits have been issued. Useful floor area of the building is measured within its external walls, excluding: construction areas (e.g. areas of demarcation components – support columns, pillars, shafts, chimneys), functional areas for ancillary use (e.g. areas of installation centres,rooms, of air-conditioning, of energy distribution points) and thoroughfares (e.g. areas of stairwells, lifts, escalators).

Municipalities are responding units. They provide the regional statistical offices with local aggregated data on building permits on quarterly basis.

Approximately 3 300 municipalities are covered.

1. Business register is the frame for identifying units for the population
2. Business register is updated in daily frequency from: the business register, the trades register, the professional chambers, and from other ministries.

Yearly frequency of updating from the tax register, the social Security Insurance company register and from statistical surveys. 

All regions of the Slovak Republic are covered by the survey. The reporting units are residents at the territory of the Slovak Republic and provide data on their domestic activities and activities outside, if the activities carried out are of a subject of the tax and other duties in relation to Slovak legislation.  

Building permits 2004 onwards

Not applicable as absolute figures are reported.

Absolute figures are transmitted to Eurostat.

Refrence period is quarter.

The reporting obligation to submit statistical questionnaires is laid down in Act no. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics as amended (§ 18, paragraph 3) and cannot be refused (§ 18, paragraph 8). The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. The statistical surveys are part of the Program of State Statistical Surveys issued for a three-year period in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic.

Statistical information from SOSR's surveys is a source for fulfilling the obligations of the Slovak Republic resulting from the requirements of the European statistical system, the requirements of international institutions, to ensure the needs of the information system of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Statistical information are regularly provided to international and national organizations (Eurostat, National Bank of SR) or irregularly to other users.

The required variables are transmitted in SDMX format to Eurostat since 2018.

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. In accordance with the Act on State Statistics No. 540/2001 Coll. §2g and §30, the SOSR may not publish confidential statistical data, but only information resulting from the aggregation of confidential statistical data, which does not allow direct or indirect identification of the reporting unit.

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic has introduced principles and procedures for the protection of confidential data in internal directives and instructions. The directive on the protection of confidential statistical data regulates the method of management and implementation of activities related to ensuring the protection of confidential statistical data in the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The internal methodological instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic regulates specific methods and parameter values ​​used in the protection of confidential statistical data of individual statistical surveys and data sets.

In case of Building permits we apply the rule of primary confidentiality: data cell for less than 3 enterprises is protected. Secondary confidentiality is applied as well.

The First Release Calendar contains the timetable for the first publication of selected indicators in the next 4 months. The calendar is updated monthly. The Catalogue of Publications contains basic information about published publications, publication dates and language versions. All publications are available on the Internet portal of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The edition program is available on the website of the SOSR.

First Release Calendar

The First Release Calendar is available on the website of the SOSR here:

First Release Calendar

The SOSR's web portal and the online database Datacube of the SOSR are updated in accordance with the Principles of the policy of publication and provision of statistical information.

The First release Calendar contains timetable of the first release of selected indicators. Data will be published in the given day at 9 o´clock on the Internet website of the SOSR (www.statistics.sk) in the part Information reports Catalogue of the SOSR and there will be also at the disposal at the spokesperson of the SO SR (phone number: +421 2 5023 6553). You will also find notice for amendments of dates on the Internet website of the SOSR.

Revision Policy of the SO SR

Calendar of the Revisions of the SO SR

Statistical Questionnaires

Statistical Yearbook of the SR 2020

Regional Statistical Yearbook of Slovakia 2020

DATACUBE

Catalogue of publications

(1)  Data on Building permits are transmitted to Eurostat quarterly.

(2)  Data on Building permits are disseminated quarterly as well as to national users.

Data in Press releases are published in the terms of the First Release Calendar on the web portal of the SOSR.

Released monthly and quarterly in specific publications indicated in 
The Catalogue of Publications

Released yearly in database DataCube

DATACUBE

Micro-data are not disseminated.

International and national organizations have also defined their own specific data requirements, which are provided mainly for the National Bank of Slovakia under the annually Framework agreement on mutual cooperation in the provision of statistical data and statistical information between the SOSR and the National Bank of Slovakia, ministries, associations and others.

Statistical questionnaires including methodological guidelines and explanations of variables and methodological explanations within the Glossary of the statistical terms are published on the web portal of the SOSR. Each publication contains methodical explanations and a contact for the information service of the SOSR.

Following internal project documentation exists for the compilation of statistical outputs:

• technical projects within the Integrated Statistical Information System called ISIS

• methodological guidelines for applying mathematical-statistical methods for statistical surveys

• methodological guidelines for quality indicators of statistical outputs and statistical processes.

The Quality policy is defined and publicly accessible in the Quality Declaration and Quality Policy documents. The Quality Declaration expresses the basic ideas and commitments of the President and top management of the SOSR for the Quality Policy as well as increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the integrated management system of the SOSR.

Quality Declaration

Quality policy is based on the mission of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic: to provide high quality and objective statistical products and services by keeping confidentiality of statistical data and by minimising burden on interested parties using effectively existing resources with the aim to support improvement of the information and intellectual capital of our customers. In this way we want to contribute to reduce risks and improve effectiveness in their decision making processes and so to support the sustainable development of the Slovak Republic as the part of EU.

Quality policy

The Quality manual describes the documented procedures of the quality system that are used for implementation and continuous improvement of the quality management system in SOSR. It contains a description of the quality management system and the fulfillment of requirements ISO 9001 standards. Application of the manual in practice ensures that all activities that have an impact on the quality of the products created are planned, managed, reviewed, evaluated and meet requirements.

Please mention that the “Quality manual” is only available in Slovak version.

Quality manual

The European Statistics Code of Practice is the basis of the common quality framework of the European Statistical System. It is a self-regulatory tool and it is based on 16 Principles covering the institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical outputs. A set of indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles provides guidelines and benchmarks for reviewing the implementation of the Code of Practice, thus increasing transparency within the European Statistical System.

European Statistics Code of Practise

Coverage, reference period, data collection, control and data processing are in line with the Eurostat methodological guidelines. The data collection process is conducted in the Integrated statistical information system called ISIS. SOSR creates technical projects of the statistical surveys describing data collection and its evaluation, including a description of statistical controls and algorithms within the integrated ISIS. The data collection process is ensured by the regional offices of the SOSR during the phase of electronic data collection, ensure using statistical controls and algorithms the data collection process itself. Data validation is done during the data collection, processing and validation of relevant data by the SOSR experts. A data comparison is done with previous periods. Statistics are available in the system to evaluate the quality of the completed questionnaires, the number of questionnaires with errors or outliers, the number of reminders etc. SOSR also performs internal methodical audits. Evaluation of statistical surveys and methodological audits including the analysis of the results are integrated into the existing quality management system.

STS compliance assessment is carried out by Eurostat. Concerning the results of particular data production processes, the overall quality of the indicators is considered to be as good.

The requirement to conduct consultations with users of statistical information is stipulated in the Act on State Statistics itself. Consultations during the preparation of state statistical surveys take place within the framework of the preparation of the Program of State Statistical Surveys (PSSZ). PSSZ is a generally binding legal regulation compiled by the SOSR in collaboration with ministries, other central authorities and state organizations and contains statistical surveys organized and carried out by the SOSR, ministries, other central authorities and state organizations. SOSR publishes the Program of state statistical surveys by decree in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic. The Coordinating Council for State Statistics ensures the fulfilment of the tasks of the SOSR. Key users of specific statistical products are listed in the Marketing Plan, e.g. international organizations - Eurostat, OECD, UN and national institutions, e.g. National Bank of Slovakia, etc.

Since the 2009, SOSR carries out satisfaction surveys of customers with their products and services at two-year intervals. The goal of surveys is to determine customer satisfaction with the products and services of the SOSR, to obtain information about users, their interest and opinion on provision and quality of statistical products and services. The facts obtained are a valuable resource for the direction of other activities of the SOSR. One of the main goals defined in the Development Strategy. The goal of the SOSR until 2022 is to systematically increase the value of the institution and its recognition

at the national and international level. The office also monitors the fulfilment of the stated goal with the help of indicators of the credibility of the SOSR and the rate of use of the information provided by the public.

SOSR conducts credibility surveys through an external independent organization once every 2 years, with the intention of ensuring the objectivity and indisputability of the results from public view.

Please mention that the credibility survey and the satisfaction survey is only available in Slovak version.

Credibility survey

Satisfaction survey

100%

Quarterly time series for Building permits are available since 1Q2004.

Overall accuracy is considered very good. SOSR makes great efforts to prevent the occurrence of errors in the data and performs data verification to detect the errors. Most errors are directly consulted at regional offices with the reporting units.

Exhaustive survey of 3 330 municipalities.

ICV is not relevant.

Response rates for one surveyed period for 3Q2022 is 100%

According to the Specific STS guidelines there was reported response rate:

1. At the time data are provided to Eurostat:                  100%
2. At the time data are first published nationally:            100% 
3. Development during one data collection exercise:     Not available
4. Over the course of a year

Unweighted unit response rates is 1. It was counted for the reference month September 2022.

Data are released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat approx. 65 days after the reference quarter. See details in next point 14.2.

All deadlines have been respected.

The same statistical concepts are applied for the entire area of Slovak Republic.

Comparable time series for Building permits are available since 1Q2004.

At present, numeric information on the size of revisions of data is not available

There are no problems with internal consistency in case of building permits variables

The cost and burden measurement at the level of European Statistical Products is in competence of the Resources Directors Group within Eurostat.

The Revision policy regulates the general rules and procedures applied in revisions at the SOSR. The same revision policy applies to national and international users. In accordance with the Revision policy, the reason of the revision is always indicated.

The Revisions policy as well as the Revisions calendar is available to users on the web portal of the SOSR.

• Policy and calendar of revisions of the SOSR

SOSR distinguishes the following revisions:

from the content point of view

-incorporation of better quality data based on a more complete source, including replacing imputations with collected data,

-correction of data as a result of updating seasonal factors and changing the base period,

- data modification based on more accurate methodology (in concepts, definitions and classifications) and changes in statistical methods,

- performing corrections in source data and calculations.

In terms of time, SOSR divides the revisions into

- ordinary revisions are revisions without significant modifications of the methodologies. These are usually more significant data corrections, including large values ​​obtained from new sources. They are carried out periodically on precisely set up dates, to update monthly and quarterly data, until the next publication of the data.

-annual revisions are revisions that are made when all monthly and quarterly data are available and more detailed results from annual surveys are already available.

- extraordinary and major revisions are revisions of definitive data due to significant methodological changes resulting from revision of methodologies, changes in procedures and statistical-mathematical calculation methods or data corrections. An extraordinary revision may result (e.g. by changing the definition) in break in time series data comparability.

The policy on vintage database is laid down in the Revision Policy of SOSR.

Vintage database of raw data exists in source database and is not publicly accessible. Data and documents regarding the revision is kept. General information about revision and methodological explanation is published, if relevant.

Coherence of the revision policy is respected for the data released nationally and disseminated to Eurostat.

MAR=MR=0  

The main source of information for routine revisions are new or revised data from reporting units.

Municipalities  provide the regional statistical offices with local aggregated data on building permits on quarterly basis.

Region, district, village

Kind of ownership

Quarterly data collection

Data collection is organized by specialised regional office of the SO SR in Košice. Data should be submitted on the 12th calendar day following the end of the reference period. Data collection is normally closed 45 calendar days after the end of the reference period.

The electronic data collection of monthly/quarterly data is compulsory since the 1^st January 2016 in line with the obligation laid down in the Slovak National Council law No 326/2014 (Digest) amending the Slovak National Council law No 540/2001 on the state statistics. 

Formal and logical checks are realised in the process of data entry automatically; (compatible with Validation level 0 and 1), informal checks aim of which is to control the complexity and relations among the variables (compatible with Validation level from 2 to 5). Most of the errors are directly consulted with the reporting units by our regional offices.

The data entry, data completeness and statistical control are organised by specialised regional offices of the SO SR. 

It has been distinguished between two levels of checking:

1. formal checks, which are realised in the process of data entry automatically; (compatible with Validation level 0 and 1)
2. informal checks aim of which is to control the complexity and relations among the variables (compatible with Validation level from 2 to 5)

According to the importance there are classified 2 basic types of informal checks:

I –  informative check- this check gives the additional information, which is important for the following process of corrections. It informs also about some inconsistencies in the state of fulfilment of the questionnaire, about item non-response, exceeding stated limits etc. 

Z – check of great importance - it is mostly check indicating the exact error and it must  be always corrected or explained.

Most of the errors are directly consulted with the reporting units by our regional offices.

Variables Building permits: number of dwellings and Building permits: square metres of useful floor area are compiled on the base of issued permits. Basic data is available at 6-digit level of CPA  and consequently aggregated to the required  levels of CPA. For national purposes the aggregated data in the breakdown by ownership and region district are accessible.

SOSR uses JDemetra+, version 2.2, using TRAMO-SEATS method. As refresh from period to period we use partial concurrent adjustment + Last outliers. Concurrent adjustment is done once a year.

SOSR usually uses predefined models, but this can be changed if we can not find seasonality correctly. In this case we communicate with our colleague responsible for seasonal adjustment at our NSI.

For details on adjustments of the particular variables please see the annexes.

None.