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.
This data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the quality of urban life in cities.
Data is collected for administrative units that are classified as cities (as per the Eurostat methodology) at the spatial levels of cities and Functional urban areas (FUAs). In addition, for many variables, data at the national level is collected. Key variables are provided in 14 domains.
The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of life in cities by exchanging statistics, identifying areas where improvements need to be carried out, as well as highlighting the best practices and learning opportunities between member states.
3.2. Classification system
Specific classification and coding systems have been developed for the spatial units and for the variables and indicators. For the description of the coding system and the list of indicators and variables see the City statistics manual. Data have been provided for the following spatial units - core city, functional urban areas (FUA) and national level.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The indicators and variables provided cover several aspects of quality of life in the following domains: Demography, Nationality, Household structure, Housing, Place of residence, Health, Crime, Labour Market, Economic Activity, Education and Training Provision, Educational qualifications, Waste management, Travel and Transport, Culture and Recreation.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
For most variables, the definitions of the City Statistics Manual and existing international standards have been followed. Information on the deviating definitions used in the collection is available in the annex "Deviating_definitions_methodology_2010-2024". The Eurostat definitions were used for the identification of cities and FUAs.
3.5. Statistical unit
Statistical units are mostly individual persons. Few variables are collected on households, enterprises, dwellings, cities, etc. For a complete description of variables, please refer to the City statistics manual.
The statistical units of cities are represented by LAU-level units, with the FUAs being represented by an agglomeration of LAU-level units, as per the Eurostat definition.
3.6. Statistical population
For most variables, the target statistical population is the usual residents of a geographical area (for example, a city). In some cases, it refers to other types of populations (i.e. cars registered, museum visitors, students etc.). For a detailed description of variables, please refer to the City statistics manual.
3.7. Reference area
Spatial Units are listed in the annex of the City Statistics Manual. Data have been provided for the following spatial units:
Core city - 3 cities (Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils);
Functional Urban Area (ex-LUZ) - 3 FUA units (Riga FUA, Liepaja FUA, Daugavpils FUA).
Based on the results of the 2021 Population Census, the territory of Jelgava no longer classifies as a city, and thus is no longer eligible for data collection in the project. Data for Jelgava has been provided until 2022, and, starting with reference year 2023, will no longer be provided for the purposes of the project.
Due to a national administrative unit reform in 2021, the boundaries of Riga FUA and Liepaja FUA have been changed. For this reason, the data provided for the reference year 2021 and following years for Riga FUA and Liepaja FUA are not comparable with the data of earlier periods. The boundaries of Jelgava FUA and Daugavpils FUA remain the same and are therefore comparable with the respective FUAs of previous years.
Changes in the delineation of spatial units of Latvia occurred in 2016. A new Riga FUA was delineated, and the boundaries of Liepaja FUA were changed. For a more accurate FUA of Riga, changes were made in the methodology, using a 30 % threshold to measure the commuting flow to Riga from the administartive units, while for Liepaja FUA the standard 15 % commuting flow threshold was used. The Population and Housing Census 2011 was used as a data source to assess the commuting flows to the cities. For this reason, the data provided for the reference year 2015 and following years for Liepaja FUA are not comparable with data for earlier periods.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data collection is organized in data collection rounds. The time series for variables start up from 1991, depending on the variable. The current data collection round covers the years 2023 to 2025.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The units of measures used for the data set are listed in the Annex of the City statistics manual. For most indicators the unit of measures is number of persons or percentage.
The reference years for current data collection are 2023, 2024 and 2025. The CSB of Latvia compiled partial list of variables (i.e. both mandatory and additional indicators) for the current data collection. The same was done for the reference years 2021-2022, 2019-2020, 2016-2018, 2011, 2008, 2004 and 2001 for the main data collection. 1996 and 1991 were the reference years for the "historical" data collection. Less variables were collected on annual bases for the period 2005-2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
All data supply of sub-national statistics is based on a voluntary agreement, as there is no Community legislation on this topic.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable.
Data are sent to Eurostat annually.
Previously the periodicity of the main (exhaustive) data collection was 3-years. Less indicators were collected annually. Starting from the reference year 2015, the CSB of Latvia provides all available data according to the full list of variables (both mandatory and voluntary).
The database is updated continually the first day of every month, depending on the data availability of new and revised data.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
There are no press releases for the Latvian Urban Audit. Information, including press releases, are published for the various data collections the variables are part of, which are available on the website of the CSB.
The results of the "Quality of Life in Cities" survey for Latvian cities are available on the CSB statistics portal. A publication regarding the main conclusions of the results of the survey is due to be published soon.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
The results of the 2017-2018 Sub-national statistics project, the updated CSB webpage and Eurostat sub-national data were presented to stakehoders (Municipal planning specialists, Experts from relevant Ministries etc.) during a workshop on availability of sub-national data in September 2020.
The results of the 2022 perception survey on quality of life were presented to stakeholders (Municipal planning specialists, Experts from relevant Ministries etc.) during a seminar on quality of life in cities and territorial statistics in March 2023.
An interactive web-based tool about migration in Latvia was designed during a previous project "Data collection for sub-national statistics (mainly cities)": . It allows the user to visualize migration flows using either flow map or point diagram map modes. The user can select direction of migration (emigration or immigration), in up to 8 territories (being able to choose between territorial units, administrative territories and statistical regions) and the time period (2000–2023, 2011–2023 or 2018–2023). Additional data, including international migration, is displayed aside using charts and tables. The tool is available in Latvian as well as in English.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodology for most of the data fully complies with the methodology outlined in the City Statistics Manual, as well as in existing international standards. In case a definition is not given in the methodological manual, definitions from the UA glossary of previous data collection have been used. Information on the deviating definitions used in the collection is available in the annex "Deviating_definitions_methodology 2010-2024". Also, short metadata in form of flags as well as footnotes have been provided to Eurostat together with data via eDAMIS.
The methodology used to define the spatial dimension is treated in the above mentioned Manual and in greater detail in the more recent Methodological manual on territorial typologies 2018 edition.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The quality assurance procedures detailed in the City Statistics Manual have been applied. Information on quality documentation and additional quality measures is available in the annexes "Data sources" (see links in the data file). Information on standard error and coefficient of variation for variables from Labour Force Survey is available in the annexes “LFS standard error 2015-2024”.
11.1. Quality assurance
The collection of data is executed in cooperation with the data suppliers (different thematic units of NSI, municipal authorities and other state institutions) in order to evaluate the availability of data and fulfilment of the methodologies defined. All the meta information available in the City Statistics Manual, as well as the details of the variables are transmitted to the data providers. After collecting the data, all information is fully checked and compared with previous years data, using additional data sources as well as cross spatial level comparison (FUA>city, national>FUA). The quality of information is fully assured in one hand using internal procedures and in the other hand through Eurostat validation methods using EDIT tool.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Recommendations for improvements have been sent to Eurostat at the end of the project. They have been included in the final technical implementation report.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
User needs and stakeholder requirements are collected at several forums organised by Eurostat and DG REGIO. The CSB also organises meetings with the main data users to compile feedback on the need of sub-national data. Comments and contributions are welcome to be sent to the contact.
Workshop on availability of sub-national data was organised where results of the project, definition and geometry for new small densely populated areas of Latvia, methodology for new economic development indicator(s) for cities of Latvia, the updated CSB webpage and Eurostat sub-national data were presented to the stakeholders (Municipal planning specialists, Experts from relevant Ministries etc.).
A seminar was organised informing data users about the results of the survey on quality of life in nine State cities – Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jēkabpils, Jūrmala, Liepāja, Ogre, Rēzekne, Valmiera and Ventspils – conducted in 2022. The seminar also covered comparison of the quality of life in Riga with situation in Vilnius, Tallinn, and other European cities, climate statistics for the regions of Latvia, territorial statistics available on the official statistics portal and other topical issues.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Please see section 12.1.
12.3. Completeness
For an overview of data availability see the annex.
For detailed information on data source used and quality documentation as well as on additional quality measures please see annexes "Data sources".
13.2. Sampling error
Detailed information about variables, standard error and coefficient of variation from the Labour Force Survey data is available in the annex “LFS Standard error (2015-2024)”.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Depends on the domain and individual variable. As a general rule, timeliness is about 24 months.
14.2. Punctuality
Data for the reference year is submitted within 9 months of the next year, however for some variables partial indicators are submitted within 12 months of the next year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Due to the sometimes deviating definitions and different data sources used, the comparability of data is a little bit limited. Detailed information on data sources and deviating definitions is available in the annexes "Data sources" and "Deviating definitions (2010-2024)". Flag "D" has been used in case of deviating definition.
Based on the results of the 2021 Population Census, the territory of Jelgava no longer classifies as a city, and thus is no longer eligible for data collection in the project. Data for Jelgava has been provided until 2022, and, starting with reference year 2023, will no longer be provided for the purposes of the project. This does not affect the comparability of the other cities and FUAs for which data have been collected.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Due to Administrative-Territorial Reform (ATR) in 2021, the boundaries of Riga FUA and Liepaja FUA have been changed and therefore are not comparable to those FUAs of previous years. Despite the ATR, the boundaries of Jelgava FUA and Daugavpils FUA remain the same and are therefore comparable to FUA of previous years.
Breaks in the time series are flagged accordingly (Flag B) if applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data collected for sub-national statistics are coherent with the data collected in the context of the European Statistical System. For details please see annex "Data sources".
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence (e.g. between spatial levels, between indicators like total, male, female population) is ensured through the application of multivariable and univariable validation controls.
The data collection is mostly based on data available in the National Statistical System. A limited amount of data is received from other state institutions or local municipalities. For some of the data, official requests are made to the respective institutions holding the data, while for some the data is pulled from the data portals or available information of the respective institutions. Therefore, the main burden is on the CSB of Latvia.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Where nationally collected data is revised, the City Staitstics data for Latvia is revised accordingly.
In some specific cases the last year published is provisional. The definitive data is uploaded when available.
18.1. Source data
Data is based on various sources - administrative sources, surveys, census data, databases and reports prepared by institutions and enterprises. For a few variables, information is gathered by pulling it from internet sources such as municipality or service provider websites. Information about data sources are given in the annexes "Data source".
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data collection "Sub-national statistics" (previously - Urban Audit) is a multiannual data collection. The reference years of the current annual data collection are 2023, 2024, 2025.
18.3. Data collection
The data used for the Sub-national statistics project is collected by the National Urban Audit Coordinator (NUAC) - The CSB of Latvia - on behalf of Eurostat. The NUAC collects data from available sources in the national statistical office, other state agencies or ministries, from the cities concerned or from publicly available sources if necessary. It follows the guidelines of the Eurostat Methodological manual on city statistics.
18.4. Data validation
The data validation process in the CSB consists of arithmetic and logical checks, incl. comparison with previous years. Depending on domain or data source additional validation methods have been used for data validation. For example, Demography and Nationality data are checked also by doing growth or decrease analysis and graphical analysis of data by age groups, gender and state administrative units. Data validation on Household Structure (DE3001V, DE3017V) and Health consists of logic control of database’s data by making additional queries directly at the database of the Population register.
Eurostat validates the provided data using the EDIT tool.
This data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the quality of urban life in cities.
Data is collected for administrative units that are classified as cities (as per the Eurostat methodology) at the spatial levels of cities and Functional urban areas (FUAs). In addition, for many variables, data at the national level is collected. Key variables are provided in 14 domains.
The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of life in cities by exchanging statistics, identifying areas where improvements need to be carried out, as well as highlighting the best practices and learning opportunities between member states.
24 November 2025
For most variables, the definitions of the City Statistics Manual and existing international standards have been followed. Information on the deviating definitions used in the collection is available in the annex "Deviating_definitions_methodology_2010-2024". The Eurostat definitions were used for the identification of cities and FUAs.
Statistical units are mostly individual persons. Few variables are collected on households, enterprises, dwellings, cities, etc. For a complete description of variables, please refer to the City statistics manual.
The statistical units of cities are represented by LAU-level units, with the FUAs being represented by an agglomeration of LAU-level units, as per the Eurostat definition.
For most variables, the target statistical population is the usual residents of a geographical area (for example, a city). In some cases, it refers to other types of populations (i.e. cars registered, museum visitors, students etc.). For a detailed description of variables, please refer to the City statistics manual.
Spatial Units are listed in the annex of the City Statistics Manual. Data have been provided for the following spatial units:
Core city - 3 cities (Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils);
Functional Urban Area (ex-LUZ) - 3 FUA units (Riga FUA, Liepaja FUA, Daugavpils FUA).
Based on the results of the 2021 Population Census, the territory of Jelgava no longer classifies as a city, and thus is no longer eligible for data collection in the project. Data for Jelgava has been provided until 2022, and, starting with reference year 2023, will no longer be provided for the purposes of the project.
Due to a national administrative unit reform in 2021, the boundaries of Riga FUA and Liepaja FUA have been changed. For this reason, the data provided for the reference year 2021 and following years for Riga FUA and Liepaja FUA are not comparable with the data of earlier periods. The boundaries of Jelgava FUA and Daugavpils FUA remain the same and are therefore comparable with the respective FUAs of previous years.
Changes in the delineation of spatial units of Latvia occurred in 2016. A new Riga FUA was delineated, and the boundaries of Liepaja FUA were changed. For a more accurate FUA of Riga, changes were made in the methodology, using a 30 % threshold to measure the commuting flow to Riga from the administartive units, while for Liepaja FUA the standard 15 % commuting flow threshold was used. The Population and Housing Census 2011 was used as a data source to assess the commuting flows to the cities. For this reason, the data provided for the reference year 2015 and following years for Liepaja FUA are not comparable with data for earlier periods.
The reference years for current data collection are 2023, 2024 and 2025. The CSB of Latvia compiled partial list of variables (i.e. both mandatory and additional indicators) for the current data collection. The same was done for the reference years 2021-2022, 2019-2020, 2016-2018, 2011, 2008, 2004 and 2001 for the main data collection. 1996 and 1991 were the reference years for the "historical" data collection. Less variables were collected on annual bases for the period 2005-2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014.
For detailed information on data source used and quality documentation as well as on additional quality measures please see annexes "Data sources".
The units of measures used for the data set are listed in the Annex of the City statistics manual. For most indicators the unit of measures is number of persons or percentage.
The CSB of Latvia compiles the data.
Data is based on various sources - administrative sources, surveys, census data, databases and reports prepared by institutions and enterprises. For a few variables, information is gathered by pulling it from internet sources such as municipality or service provider websites. Information about data sources are given in the annexes "Data source".
Data are sent to Eurostat annually.
Previously the periodicity of the main (exhaustive) data collection was 3-years. Less indicators were collected annually. Starting from the reference year 2015, the CSB of Latvia provides all available data according to the full list of variables (both mandatory and voluntary).
The database is updated continually the first day of every month, depending on the data availability of new and revised data.
Depends on the domain and individual variable. As a general rule, timeliness is about 24 months.
Due to the sometimes deviating definitions and different data sources used, the comparability of data is a little bit limited. Detailed information on data sources and deviating definitions is available in the annexes "Data sources" and "Deviating definitions (2010-2024)". Flag "D" has been used in case of deviating definition.
Based on the results of the 2021 Population Census, the territory of Jelgava no longer classifies as a city, and thus is no longer eligible for data collection in the project. Data for Jelgava has been provided until 2022, and, starting with reference year 2023, will no longer be provided for the purposes of the project. This does not affect the comparability of the other cities and FUAs for which data have been collected.
Due to Administrative-Territorial Reform (ATR) in 2021, the boundaries of Riga FUA and Liepaja FUA have been changed and therefore are not comparable to those FUAs of previous years. Despite the ATR, the boundaries of Jelgava FUA and Daugavpils FUA remain the same and are therefore comparable to FUA of previous years.
Breaks in the time series are flagged accordingly (Flag B) if applicable.
