woman looking at a photo on the computer screen during a photographic session.

In 2022, there were 2.03 million cultural enterprises in the EU, representing 6.3% of all businesses within the business economy (industry, construction and market services). These generated €199 billion in value added, which was 2.0% of the total value added in the business economy.

The highest share of cultural enterprises in the national business economies was registered in the Netherlands (11.0%) and Sweden (10.8%), followed by Slovenia and Lithuania (both 8.9%) and Austria (8.1%). In contrast, cultural enterprises accounted for less than 5% of all businesses in 6 EU countries: Bulgaria and Slovakia (both 3.1%), Poland (4.3%), Greece (4.7%) and Denmark and Romania (both 4.8%). 

Share of cultural enterprises in total enterprises in industry, construction and market services in the EU, 2022 (%). Bar chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: sbs_ovw_act

Over one-quarter of the cultural enterprises in the EU were engaged in creative, arts and entertainment activities (27.4%). Meanwhile, publishing (14.9%) and architecture (14.6%) accounted for the largest shares of the total value added generated by the EU’s cultural sector. 

A breakdown analysis by size class, shows the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sector. In 2022 in the EU, 78% of people working in creative, arts and entertainment enterprises, were employed in micro enterprises, 11.6% in small enterprises, and 6.5% in medium enterprises. Only 3.9% of these professionals were employed in large enterprises. 

People employed in creative, arts and entertainment enterprises in the EU, by size class, 2022 (% share of people employed; NACE division 90). Infographic. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: sbs_sc_ovw

For more information

Methodological notes

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employing 1 to 249 people, composed of:
    • micro enterprises with fewer than 10 people employed;
    • small enterprises with 10 to 49 people employed;
    • medium-sized enterprises with 50 to 249 people employed.
    • They should also have an annual turnover of up to €50 million, or a balance sheet total of no more than €43 million.
  • Large enterprises with 250 or more people employed.
  • The total cultural aggregate – ’enterprises in the cultural sector’ or ’cultural enterprises’ – include 21 economic activities, grouped into the following broad headings:
    • ’printing and reproduction of recorded media; manufacture of musical instruments and jewellery’ (manufacturing-related cultural activities) – NACE division 18, NACE class 32.12 and NACE group 32.2;
    • ’retail sale in specialised stores’ (books; newspapers and stationery; music and video recordings) – NACE classes 47.61, 47.62 and 47.63;
    • 'publishing’ (books; newspapers; journals and periodicals; computer games) – NACE classes 58.11, 58.13, 58.14 and 58.21;
    • ’motion picture and television, music; renting of video tapes and discs’ – NACE division 59 and NACE class 77.22;
    • ’programming and broadcasting; news agency activities’ – NACE division 60 and NACE class 63.91;
    • ’architectural activities’ – NACE class 71.11;
    • ’specialised design activities’ – NACE group 74.1;
    • ’photographic activities’ – NACE group 74.2;
    • ’translation and interpretation activities’ – NACE group 74.3;
    • ‘cultural education’ – NACE class 85.52;
    • ‘creative, arts and entertainment activities’ – NACE division 90;
    • ‘libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities’ – NACE division 91.

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