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151 004 multinational enterprise groups in EU and EFTA
EU affiliates contribute notably to economies outside EU
In 2021, 52.6% of active enterprises of market producers classified as EU’s foreign affiliates were located outside the EU (extra-EU).
The highest share in extra-EU of active enterprises for all foreign affiliates were reported by Ireland (66.9%), Croatia (64.9%) and France (58.0%). The lowest shares were for Slovakia (20.4%), Czechia (22.7%) and Latvia (24.8%).
Source dataset: fats_out_activ
In terms of employment, 62.2% of employees and self-employed persons of foreign enterprises controlled by EU are in extra-EU. Ireland had the highest share with 81.6%, followed by Cyprus (76.2%) and Spain (76.1%). The lowest shares were seen in Malta (20.0%), Latvia and Czechia (both 24.9%).
When it comes to the net turnover in 2021, for the EU foreign-controlled affiliates, the figure for extra-EU stood at 59.2%. The highest shares were for Ireland (74.0%), the Netherlands (71.3%) and Cyprus (69.7%). The lowest shares were for Slovakia (14.5%), Czechia (16.0%) and Hungary (17.1%).
For more information
- Statistics explained on foreign-controlled enterprises statistics - outward FATS
- Thematic section on globalisation of business
- Database on globalisation of business
- Globalisation dashboard
Methodological notes
For statistical purposes, foreign affiliates are considered to be enterprises resident in one country and controlled by an institutional unit resident in another. There are two distinct sources of information: so-called inward FATS, which cover the activities of enterprises within the EU that are under foreign control and outward FATS, which cover the activities of EU affiliates abroad.
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