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For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support |
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1.1. Contact organisation | Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union |
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1.2. Contact organisation unit | F2: Population and migration |
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1.5. Contact mail address | 2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG |
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2.1. Metadata last certified | 21/02/2024 | ||
2.2. Metadata last posted | 21/02/2024 | ||
2.3. Metadata last update | 21/02/2024 |
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3.1. Data description | |||
Each year Eurostat collects demographic data at regional level from EU, EFTA and Candidate countries as part of the Population Statistics data collection. POPSTAT is Eurostat’s main annual demographic data collection and aims to gather information on demography and migration at national and regional levels by various breakdowns (for the full overview see the Eurostat dedicated section). More specifically, POPSTAT collects data at regional levels on:
Each country must send the statistics for the reference year (T) to Eurostat by 31 December of the following calendar year (T+1). Eurostat then publishes the data in March of the calendar year after that (T+2). Demographic data at regional level include statistics on the population at the end of the calendar year and on live births and deaths during that year, according to the official classification for statistics at regional level (NUTS - nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) in force in the year. These data are broken down by NUTS 2 and 3 levels for EU countries. For more information on the NUTS classification and its versions please refer to the Eurostat dedicated pages. For EFTA and Candidate countries the data are collected according to the agreed statistical regions that have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS. The breakdown of demographic data collected at regional level varies depending on the NUTS/statistical region level. These breakdowns are summarised below, along with the link to the corresponding online table: NUTS 2 level
NUTS 3 level
This more detailed breakdown (by five-year age group) of the data collected at NUTS 3 level started with the reference year 2013 and is in accordance with the European laws on demographic statistics. In addition to the regional codes set out in the NUTS classification in force, these online tables include few additional codes that are meant to cover data on persons and events that cannot be allocated to any official NUTS region. These codes are denoted as CCX/CCXX/CCXXX (Not regionalised/Unknown level 1/2/3; CC stands for country code) and are available only for France, Hungary, North Macedonia and Albania, reflecting the raw data as transmitted to Eurostat. For the reference years from 1990 to 2012 all countries sent to Eurostat all the data on a voluntary basis, therefore the completeness of the tables and the length of time series reflect the level of data received from the responsible National Statistical Institutes’ (NSIs) data provider. As a general remark, a lower data breakdown is available at NUTS 3 level as detailed:
Demographic indicators are calculated by Eurostat based on the above raw data using a common methodology for all countries and regions. The regional demographic indicators computed by NUTS level and the corresponding online tables are summarised below: NUTS 2 level
NUTS 3 level
Notes: 1) All the indicators are computed for all lower NUTS regions included in the tables (e.g. data included in a table at NUTS 3 level will include also the data for NUTS 2, 1 and country levels). 2) Demographic indicators computed by NUTS 2 and 3 levels are calculated using input data that have different age breakdown. Therefore, minor differences can be noted between the values corresponding to the same indicator of the same region classified as NUTS 2, 1 or country level. 3) Since the reference year 2015, Eurostat has stopped collecting data on area; therefore, the table 'Area by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_d3area)' includes data up to the year 2015 included. 4) Starting with the reference year 2016, the population density indicator is computed using the new data on area 'Area by NUTS 3 region (reg_area3). |
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3.2. Classification system | |||
The current data online correspond to the regional territorial breakdown of the countries in accordance with the latest version of the NUTS classification or of the statistical regions for EFTA and Candidate countries. |
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3.3. Coverage - sector | |||
Not applicable. |
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3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions | |||
1. Population on 1 January should be based on concept of usual resident population, i.e. the number of inhabitants of a given area on 1 January of the year in question (or, in some cases, on 31 December of the previous year). The population figures can be based on data from the most recent census adjusted by the components of population change produced since the last census, or based on population registers.
The following persons alone are considered to be usual residents of the geographical area in question:
2. Live birth means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a result of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached: each result of such a birth is considered live-born, regardless of gestational age. 3. Death means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (postnatal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation).
4. Age represents the elapsed time since birth. The age concept includes two definitions:
5. Open-ended age class concept: Y_OPEN code This concept is meant to be a solution for presenting different open-ended (or terminal) age classes for data on population and deaths reported by the countries. The open-ended age classes for data on population are the following: 85 and over (+), 90+, 95+, 99+ and 100+ with the exceptions:
Open-ended age class contains all the people aged more than the last single age for which a country can report. For example, if a country can provide data on its population by single year of age up to 94 years old, the 'open-ended age class' includes population aged 95 and over. |
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3.5. Statistical unit | |||
The statistical unit varies depending on the regional demography tables, as follows:
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3.6. Statistical population | |||
Total population of a region at a given NUTS level. Total number of vital events in a region at a given NUTS level. |
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3.7. Reference area | |||
The population statistics are published by single country, by region and by aggregates of countries, as follows: a) The Member States of the European Union and their regional structure as defined in the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics. The Member States of the European Union are Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. b) The EU candidate countries and their agreed statistical regions following the same rules as the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics. c) The EFTA countries and their agreed statistical regions following the same rules as the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics. The EFTA countries are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. d) The geographical aggregates European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). For details on geographical changes over time, see the notes by country under 15.2 Comparability over time. National refers to the territory of a Member State within the meaning of the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics applicable at the reference time. Regional refers to NUTS level 1, NUTS level 2 or NUTS level 3 as defined in the Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 and available according to the classification in force at the reference time. Where 'NUTS' is used in connection with countries that are not members of the European Union, 'regional' means the statistical regions at level 1, 2 or 3 as agreed between those countries and the European Commission (Eurostat), at the reference time. Statistics from the UK are available only until the withdrawal of the country from the EU. |
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3.8. Coverage - Time | |||
The available time series collected and published in Eurostat's database varies depending on the data collected and their breakdown. The longest time series starts with the year 1990 and continues to the latest available reference year. The completeness of the time series of the demography statistics collected depends on the availability of data transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes, as follows:
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3.9. Base period | |||
Not applicable. |
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All countries with agreed regional breakdown send to Eurostat the data on population on 31 December in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics. Eurostat publishes the population data as 1 January of the following year (reference year + 1). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. |
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6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements | |||
Starting with the reference year 2013 the demographic data at regional level are collected by Eurostat in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics and the NUTS classification in force during the reference year. The current online regional data are in accordance with the:
Before the reference year 2013 all data collected were sent by National Statistical Institutes on voluntary basis according to the NUTS classification in force at the time. |
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6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing | |||
Not applicable. |
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7.1. Confidentiality - policy | |||
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 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. The Regulation (EU) No 2015/759 of 29 April 2015 amends the Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 as regards the violation of statistical confidentiality. |
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7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment | |||
For Germany, for the data on vital events, disclosure of cells with less than 3 persons is not allowed and primary and secondary protection rules are applied. |
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8.1. Release calendar | |||
Data are released via Eurobase during March-April of each year, after Eurostat has received and validated the data sent by each country included in the POPSTAT data collection. During the calendar year are validated and published any revised data sent by countries. |
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8.2. Release calendar access | |||
Not applicable. |
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8.3. Release policy - user access | |||
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users. |
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Data are published annually and whenever revised data are sent to Eurostat. |
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10.1. Dissemination format - News release | |||
News releases online. |
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10.2. Dissemination format - Publications | |||
See the chapter on 'Population' in the annual Eurostat Regional Yearbook. |
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10.3. Dissemination format - online database | |||
Please consult free online data available in Eurostat dissemination tree. |
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10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access | |||
Not applicable. |
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10.5. Dissemination format - other | |||
See Statistics Explained on Population statistics at regional level. |
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10.6. Documentation on methodology | |||
Please see information available in dedicated section and in the publication 'Demographic statistics: a review of definitions and methods of collection in 44 European countries'. |
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10.7. Quality management - documentation | |||
Please see information available in the dedicated section. |
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11.1. Quality assurance | |||
Regional demographic data are checked before being uploaded into the database and published. The validation rules ensure that the data are consistent and the indicators are comparable from year to year. |
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11.2. Quality management - assessment | |||
Under Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics, the Commission shall also submit reports on the implementation of the Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council as follows:
These reports must evaluate the quality of the data transmitted by Member States and EFTA countries and the data collection methods used. If appropriate, the reports should be accompanied by proposals for improving the legal framework for population and vital events statistics under this Regulation. |
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12.1. Relevance - User Needs | |||
Statistics on population change and on population structure are increasingly used to support policy-making and to monitor demographic behaviour within political, economic, social and cultural contexts. The NUTS classification (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) is a hierarchical system for dividing up the economic territory of the EU for the purpose of:
- NUTS 1 level - the major socio-economic regions - NUTS 2 level - the basic regions for the application of regional policies - NUTS 3 level - smaller regions for specific diagnoses
- Regions eligible for support under the cohesion policy have been defined at NUTS 2 level - The Cohesion report that has so far mainly been prepared at NUTS 2 level The NUTS classification is defined only for the EU Member States. For EFTA and Candidate countries the data are collected according to the agreed statistical regions that have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS. |
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12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction | |||
No user satisfaction surveys are carried out. |
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12.3. Completeness | |||
Data completeness depends on the data availability as sent by the National Statistical Institutes. |
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13.1. Accuracy - overall | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.2. Sampling error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3. Non-sampling error | |||
Not applicable. |
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14.1. Timeliness | |||
The regional demographic data are usually disseminated within 15 months after the end of the reference year, for both NUTS 2 and 3 levels. The reference year is the calendar year for which data on vital events (live births and deaths) are transmitted to Eurostat. The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). |
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14.2. Punctuality | |||
Starting with 2013 reference year, the regional demographic data are mandatory and part of the main annual demographic data collection (POPSTAT) that has the deadline on 31 December (Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 205/2014). Until 2012 reference year, the deadline for sending regional demographic data was 15 December of the calendar year T. Most of the countries transmitted data to Eurostat by the deadline, although the data were sent to Eurostat on voluntary basis. |
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15.1. Comparability - geographical | ||||||||||
The recommended definition of the 'population' for the statistics on population reported under Article 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 and under Article 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 is the 'usually resident population' meaning all the persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time. Where the circumstances described above cannot be established, 'usual residence' can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence. The table below presents a summary with the reported reference populations based on which statistics on population, births and deaths are transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes to Eurostat. Several countries place themselves in two categories, with justification in the national metadata files found at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/demo_gind_esms.htm
[1]'Usually Resident Population' as stated in Article 2 of Regulation 1260/2013. [2]'Legal Residence Population' is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities. [3]'Registered Residence Population' is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once. [4]for non-nationals. [5]permanent residence. |
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15.2. Comparability - over time | ||||||||||
Comparability over time could be affected by breaks in data series due to methodological changes, data processing changes or revisions in data figures reported by the countries. These breaks in series are documented in Eurostat’s database with the flag b (break in series). The population data for the year 2021 and onwards take into account the results of the latest population census (held in 2021). For more information about data revision see also 17. Data revision. Over time, there have been geographical changes for certain countries, as seen in notes by country:
Whenever a NUTS classification changes, the countries concerned are invited to transmit the historical time series for the new regional breakdown. For more information please see the NUTS dedicated pages. |
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15.3. Coherence - cross domain | ||||||||||
Since the reference year 2013, demographic data at regional level have been included in the new main annual demographic data collection (POPSTAT) in line with Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Regulation (EU) No 205/2014. For the reference years 1990 until 2012 included, the data available in the Eurostat online tables corresponding to national level only were collected as part of the 'JOINT' data collection carried out in close cooperation with the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD). 'JOINT' was the main and the reference demographic data collection at national level, and was thus used to check data consistency for any country included in the regional demographic data collection. The data provided at national level in the two different data collections was not always fully consistent because the NSIs used different methods to produce demographic statistics at national and regional levels. Data revisions at regional level following the 2011 census results were transmitted to Eurostat by 15 December 2014 by the following EU Member States, as detailed:
Data revisions at regional level following the 2021 census results will be transmitted to Eurostat in the first semester of 2024 by the countries who decided to carry out this exercise. |
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15.4. Coherence - internal | ||||||||||
The internal coherence of the regional demographic data is checked during the validation process for each region at any NUTS level, including the consistency at the upper NUTS level. If inconsistencies are found, the national data provider is contacted and revised data are requested. These revised data are subject to the same validation process. |
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Not available. |
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17.1. Data revision - policy | |||
Revised demographic data at regional level can be provided any time during the year. However, the official data provider must ensure the complete consistency of the dataset for the year under revision. For example, if population data provided at NUTS 2 level are revised then the population figures at NUTS 3 level must also be revised because they must be consistent at upper NUTS level. If data at national level are revised then the regional data at NUTS 2 and 3 levels must also be revised. Demographic indicators are updated accordingly. To further specify the general Eurostat revision policy, the following revision policy has been established for demographic and migration statistics (as available in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, art 5): 1. Member States shall inform the Eurostat of any planned revision of the data already supplied no later than one week before the release of the revised data in the Member State concerned. 2. Member States shall provide any revised data to the Eurostat no later than one week after the release of these data. 3. Member States shall ensure that any revised data provided to the Eurostat is consistent with the whole set of data already provided. For more information please see also in the Eurostat dedicated section on demography, population stocks and balance. The policy of Eurostat is to make updates as soon as data is received and at any time during the year. For the usually resident population for the purpose of the Qualified Majority Voting see the specific metadata. |
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17.2. Data revision - practice | |||
Population statistics are revised on a continuous base according to the most recent data released and transmitted to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are accordingly revised. The status of the data is indicated by using flags (flag p = provisional data; flag e = estimated; flag b = break in time series; flag f = forecast). The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision policy of the domain listed under sub‑concept 17.1 (data revision – policy). All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data. Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated. Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or estimated for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates and demographic indicators are updated for consistency with new country data. Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated and European aggregates and demographic indicators are accordingly revised. Data are usually revised for the last period. Countries however may choose the length of the revisions depending on the need. The impact of major revisions is analysed in working documents produced for experts' meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes. Major revisions are pre-announced and documented in the metadata files available in dissemination. |
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18.1. Source data | |||
Data are provided by the National Statistical Institutes. Most of the data are administrative data and registered data. Some countries might provide estimated data based on population census or national population projections, depending on the national calendar of data availability. |
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18.2. Frequency of data collection | |||
Regional demographic data are collected by Eurostat annually. |
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18.3. Data collection | |||
The annual regional demographic data are collected by Eurostat from the National Statistical Institutes (see 3.1. Data description). |
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18.4. Data validation | |||
Absolute figures received from the NSIs are validated by Eurostat before being sent to the online database. Data consistency checks are performed at several levels of data processing. This involves checking rules, data imputation and data validation. 1) Checking rules means checking whether data fulfil the restrictions impose on the value that data item so it can be considered correct. If the figures are not integers (for population, live births and deaths) or are negative numbers (any figure in the dataset) no checks are carried out; the data provider is contacted for clarifications. 2) Data imputation is carried out when figures were not provided and they can be 'rebuilt'. This concerns cases like: the figure for the next lower NUTS level is not provided while all the higher NUTS components have data, or a 'zero' figure is missing between available age groups, or a line dash is used instead of a 'zero' figure. 3) Data validation means checking whether the specific logical conditions are fulfilled. The validation rules start from the highest NUTS level included in table, followed by the next lower level of aggregation. Cross validations are carried out to check data consistency between the different tables included in the collection (e.g. for the same region at NUTS 2 level population the distribution by broad age groups based on detailed figures included in the tables dedicated to regions at NUTS 2 level equals the figures provided in the tables dedicated to regions at NUTS 3 level). The next step of data validation involves checking the consistency of data and demographic indicators over time. Possible data errors detected at this stage are communicated to the countries to be checked and correct data are requested. The re-supplied data are validated in the same way. |
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18.5. Data compilation | |||
Eurostat calculates various demographic statistics and indicators for all regions of the countries and all aggregates using a common methodology.
DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS and INDICATORS Population change is the difference between the size of the total population at the end and the beginning of a period. Natural change is the difference between the number of live births and the number of deaths during the year. The natural change (or natural decrease) is negative when the number of deaths exceeds the number of births. The natural change (or natural increase) is positive when the number of births exceeds the number of deaths. Net migration and Net migration including statistical adjustments
Demographic balance is the equation that describes the change in the size of the population due to the flows of live births, deaths, immigration and emigration occured in the reference year T. Population[T+1] = Population[T] + Births[T, T+1] - Deaths[T, T+1] + Net Migration*[T, T+1] where: Population[T+1] = total population on 1 January of the year T+1; Population[T] = total population on 1 January of the year T; Births[T, T+1] = total number of live births occurred in the time interval T to T+1; Deaths[T, T+1] = total number of deaths occurred in the time interval T to T+1; Net Migration*[T, T+1] = net migration including statistical adjustment over the time interval T to T+1. Crude rates
Fertility indicators
Eurostat uses the concept of 'age completed' when calculating fertility indicators. Mortality indicators
Life table is one of the most important and most widely used devices in demography, summarizing various aspects of the variation of mortality with age and showing, for each age, the probability that a person of that age will die before his next birthday. Functions pertaining to mortality are available in distinct tables: age specific death rates, probabilities of dying between exact ages, probability of surviving between exact ages, number left alive at a given exact age, number dying between exact ages, person-years lived between exact ages, total person-years lived above given exact age and life expectancy at given exact age. Eurostat uses the concept of 'age completed' when calculating mortality indicators by age. Age dependency ratios
Median age of population is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups, meaning half the people are younger than the median age and half are older. Population density is the ratio of the (annual average) population of a region to the (land) area of the region; total area (including inland waters) is used when land area is not available. |
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18.6. Adjustment | |||
Regional data are not adjusted. Data disseminated at national level in all tables of 'Regional demography' are the same as those in the 'National demography' tables. Because the data are not adjusted, any discrepancies between data provided at regional level and those provided at national level are due either to:
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Whenever a NUTS classification changes, the countries concerned are invited to transmit the historical time series for the new regional breakdown. However, historical data for the new regions might not be available immediately, so the codes of these new regions will not be displayed untill data become available. |
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demo_gind_esms - Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level (demo_gind) demo_pop_esms - Population (national level) (demo_pop) |
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Eurostat Annual Regional Yearbook |
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