The concepts described on these pages are words and expressions used in statistics with a specific, limited meaning. In everyday speech the word may have a different meaning. In connection with each definition you can find information about which sets of statistics use the concept.

If you are looking for statistical figures, go from the definition to the statistics page.

Enterprise

An enterprise is a unit with decision-making autonomy, which produces goods and/or services to be sold on the market.

Enterprise corresponds to legal unit, if the legal unit is not part of an enterprise group. Otherwise, the enterprise is an enterprise group or part of one.

The definition of enterprise is based on the EU regulation concerning statistical units (EEC) 696/93.



Validity of the definition

  • Valid

An enterprise refers to an economic activity carried on by one or more persons for profit-making purposes. These include:
- persons carrying on a business, trade or profession in their own name or in the name of a registered firm.
- Legal persons, such as limited companies, co-operative societies, savings banks, economic associations or limited partnerships
- public financing institutions and state enterprises
- housing corporations.

The definition of an enterprise is based on an EU regulation concerning statistical units (EEC 696/93) and on a regulation concerning Business Registers (EC 177/2008).



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • 5 March 2008 - 21 August 2019

An enterprise refers to an economic activity carried on by one or more persons for profit-making purposes. These include:
- persons carrying on a business, trade or profession in their own name or in the name of a registered firm.
- Legal persons, such as limited companies, co-operative societies, savings banks, economic associations or limited partnerships
- public financing institutions and state enterprises
- housing corporations.

Enterprises whose activity has lasted more than six months in the examined year are included in the statistics. In addition, the enterprise must employ more than one half of a person or generate a turnover of a certain minimum amount. In 2003, the threshold for turnover was EUR 9,134. The threshold is reviewed annually against the price index of GDP at market prices.

The definition of an enterprise is based on an EU regulation concerning statistical units (EEC 1993/696) and on a regulation concerning Business Registers (EEC 1993/2186).



Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 1900 - 4 March 2008

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Jaa