Culture: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Culture
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
Cultural statistics describe production, supply, finances, public support, labour force, education, interest in and consumption regarding various fields of arts and culture. The data are collected from various sources and published two times a year.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The Standard Industrial Classification (TOL 2008) and the Classification of Occupations 2010 for cultural labour force, enterprises and establishments can be found on the home page of the statistics.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The statistical units of cultural statistics are kind-of-activity unit and occupational and educational category. Enterprise, establishment, person, field of education and study, municipality and region. The Register of Enterprises and Establishments, data produced from the register data of education statistics as well as register-based data from employment statistics are used.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The population of enterprises in cultural statistics is formed of enterprises engaged in business activities in Finland, of which those enterprises classified in the Business Register as belonging to the published industries are included in the calculation.
The population of employed persons in the field of culture is formed of the employed persons in the Labour Force Survey during the year and, on the other hand, of the employed persons in the Labour Force Survey at the end of each year. Of these, those classified in the source statistics as belonging to the field of culture are included.
The population of students in the field of culture consists of the students in education statistics. Of these, those classified in the source statistics as belonging to the field of culture are included. The population of basic arts education comprises pupils who have received basic arts education either in basic arts education institutions or liberal adult education institutions, where the basic arts education provided is financed with central government transfers to liberal adult education.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
Of the cultural statistics data, basic publications and most of the data in the cultural table service and database tables are produced on the level of the whole country.
However, the database tables contain one entity containing data for one regional level and the table service contains six regional sets of statistics.
Section 14 of the cultural table service also contains international data.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Cultural statistics have been published since the 1930s. The basic cultural statistics publication Cultural Employment in Finland covers the period starting from 2010.
The basic publication Cultural education covers the period starting from year 2010.
The basic publication on basic arts education covers the periods from 2024 onwards.
The periods covered by the cultural table services vary, as do those of the cultural statistics database table by region.
Base period (SIMS 3.9)
The base period for the data of the Consumer Price Index in Table 19 of the cultural statistics table service is 2015.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
In cultural statistics, the measurement units are the number of persons and enterprises (establishments), students, EUR, EUR per staff-year, EUR per capita, % and students and lessons in basic arts education.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The reference period concerning cultural employment is one year for the Labour Force Survey, the last week of the year for employment statistics.
The reference period for the statistics on cultural education is the situation on 20 September of the statistical reference year concerning students in education leading to a qualification or degree. Completers of qualifications and degrees refer to completers of a vocational qualification, a university of applied sciences degree or a university degree during the statistical reference year from 1 January to 31 December.
The reference periods of the statistics on basic arts education are the situation on 20 September and the accumulation of the full year for basic arts education provided at liberal adult education institutions.
For business statistics the reference period is one year.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
Several classifications, such as form of art, Standard Industrial Classification TOL2008, Classification of Occupations 2020, age, gemder, National Classificaion od Education 2016, municipality and region. The classification of education in the field of culture complies with the National Classification of Education and can be found on the home page of the statistics (documentation).
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Activity supporting basic arts education
Basic arts educational institutions can arrange other activity related to art education, which is basic arts education not based on an educational plan. For example, course-based open education, which is basic arts education not based on an educational plan and on which participation fees can be collected, is activity supporting basic arts education. This activity may include Clubs – Such as after-school art clubs, where children and young people can practise art without a formal educational plan Camps – Summer and winter camps which focus on different art forms, but not according to an educational plan Short courses – Open art courses for participants of different ages, such as painting, drama and music courses Workshops – Individual events where art is experimented with in a practical way Exhibitions and performances – Displaying the art works of pupils or communities without being directly connected to an educational plan
Basic art education
Education outside comprehensive school in various fields of art, primarily intended for children and young people, not leading to a qualification or degree. Basic art education is provided, for example, at music schools and colleges, art schools, dance institutions and handicrafts schools. Basic art education provided as liberal adult education refers to basic art education organised at liberal adult education institutions, funded with central government transfers for liberal adult education.
Basic arts education institution
Basic arts education can be organised by private registered associations, municipalities, joint municipal authorities or state educational institutions. Municipalities can arrange basic arts education by their own decision or acquire services from a public or private body. Other bodies require a licence from the Ministry of Education and Culture to organise education. Basic arts education is provided, for example, at music schools and colleges, art schools, dance institutions and handicrafts schools.
Book
Book is a non-periodical printed publication that is available to the public. There is no page limit, but publications having 4-48 pages form a group of their own, ephemera. In addition to books distributed commercially, also studies, reports and other publications by authorities, municipalities, clubs, associations, educational establishments etc. are considered books. Material for temporary use, such as commercial prints, brochures, price lists, annual reports and programmes are not books.
Domestic film
Statistics compiled on domestic films include films made as wholly Finnish productions, as well as international co-productions having a Finnish majority producer. International co-productions having a foreign majority producer and a Finnish minority producer are not considered domestic films.
Free pupil place
A free pupil place means that a pupil has the possibility to attend basic arts education free of charge.
Heritage ship
A heritage ship is a vessel of cultural historical value included in the Finnish Heritage Agency register of heritage ships.
Individualised educational plan
An individualised educational plan refers to the procedures described in the educational plan by means of which the educational plan in basic arts education can be individualised, if necessary, to correspond to the pupil's study and learning potential. In such cases, a personal educational plan is prepared for the pupil in cooperation with the pupil and guardian. Individualisation is made so that pupils can develop their skills from their own points of departure.
Other payment relief
Other payment relief refers to a reduction for a sibling or family, for example.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The data of the statistics are submitted to the Statistical Yearbook of Finland. The data of the statistics are submitted to Eurostat, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and for the statistics of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The data of the statistics are supplied to the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Agency for Education in accordance with the H9098-OKM-OPH information service agreement.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
Employment statistics, Labour Force Survey, Business Register, structure of earnings statistics, Culture Satellite Accounts, statistics on education, Consumer Price Index, Time Use Survey and Leisure Survey, Use of information and communications technology by individuals, Household Budget Survey, unemployment figures of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, data collection on liberal adult education and basic arts education, population statistics, external source data, e.g. the Ministry of Education and Culture, Art Promotions Centre Finland, Tinfo, Finnish Film Foundation, Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras, Finland Festivals, Finnish National Agency for Education, Finnish Heritage Agency, FRAME – Contemporary Art Finland, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, the National Archives, Finnish Publishers Association, foundations, cultural trade unions.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
Mainly annually. The table service is updated twice a year, accessibility examinations every two years.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
Limited Internet, email or telephone inquiries from key unions, foundations, etc.
The data on basic arts education are collected from providers of education that organise the data collection at their educational institutions. The data collection is implemented as a web inquiry.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
As regards Statistics Finland's data on other than basic arts education, data validation is done in the source statistics. The data of basic arts education are validated in several stages during the statistical process. During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured through various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data providers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources. As regards the source data of external producers, the data are checked and their correctness is ensured in cooperation with the data suppliers.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The data are filtered from the source data with the definitions of cultural statistics. The tabulation follows the practices of cultural statistics.
As concerns basic arts education, the data are checked by preparing verification lists and tables from the unit-level data (educational institution), which are reviewed. If necessary, the organisers of education are contacted to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The Labour Force Survey, which is a sample survey, is used as key source statistics of the basic publication Cultural employment. The Labour Force Survey contains bias caused by sampling. The Labour Force Survey is the only sample survey used to produce regular basic publications. The data of the statistics on basic arts education are total data, for which reminders are sent for missing data. In other respects, the data used regularly in Statistics Finland's cultural statistics are based on register data.
Other sample-based source data for the statistics are Use of information and communications technology by individuals, the Leisure Survey, as well as the Time Use Survey and the Household Budget Survey. Their reliability is indicated in the methodological releases of the source data.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
As concerns cultural statistics, there are no delays between the release calendar and the actual release dates.
The data on basic arts education are released 11 to 12 months after the reference period. There are no delays between the release calendar and the actual release date.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The table service is updated twice a year and the database tables every year.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
Regional statistics are mutually comparable.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
Comparability over time is mostly good. Breaks in time series are mainly due to changes in official classifications (Classification of Occupations, Standard Industrial Classification and classification of education).
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
See quality descriptions of the basic publications on Cultural employment and Cultural education.
Coherence - internal (SIMS 15.4)
As regards employment, the results of the Labour Force Survey and those of the employment statistics are not coherent because the definition of employed persons in the Labour Force Survey complies with the definition of the ILO and the EU while the employment statistics are based on a combination of several register data sets and describe the cross-section of the last week of the year from the whole register data. In the Business Register, employed persons have been estimated as full working years, as in Culture Satellite Accounts. Because of this, the level of employed is considerably lower than in the Labour Force Survey, because according to the ILO definition, those having worked for at least one hour during the survey week are regarded as employed that week. In other respects, the data are separate and there are no coherence problems between the sources.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics
Statistics Finland's release calendar Future publication
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The basic publications of cultural statistics concerning cultural employment, cultural education and basic arts education are published yearly. The statistical entity of the cultural statistics' table service is updated twice a year. The database table by area is updated annually.
Tables in the table service concerning the regional accessibility of culture are updated every two years in odd years.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published monthly/annually/quarterly on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)