Finnish road statistics: documentation of statistics

The Finnish Road Statistics cover the state of the Finnish highways well because the data on the highway network are comprehensively obtained from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s data system Tievelho. The highway traffic calculations of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency describe the traffic volumes of highways accurately.

Data in the Finnish road statistics are examined regionally by Employment and Economic Development Centre. Part of the data is also presented by municipality and region. Highways are divided into class I main roads, class II main roads, regional roads, collector roads and connecting roads.

The oldest data on roads start from 1940. Traffic performance has been presented beginning from 1975.

The unit of road lengths is kilometre, the traffic performance is measured in million car-kilometres and the passenger traffic performance in billions of passenger-kilometres. Average daily traffic is measured with the number of motor vehicles.

The data on the road network are from 31 December and the performance data describe the whole statistical reference year.

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

The data of the Finnish road statistics are available on the home page of the statistics on the day of their release. The data of the statistics are also available in Statistics Finland's StatFin database service.

No costs or response burden.

Statistical data are based on data in the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s data system Tievelho. Performance data for highways in the road statistics are based on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s highway traffic calculations. The total performance of road traffic is based on data on odometer readings saved in the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom’s transport register at the time of inspection and the performance data further processed from them by Statistics Finland.

The data for the statistics are collected annually.

The road network data are retrieved from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's Tievelho.

The source data are checked in the production process with respect to the most important data variables and the results are compared with earlier data. If differences are detected, the reasons for them are determined with the help of the data or by contacting the controller of the register.

In the production process, the source data describing the road network are homogenised into uniform data from which the statistical data are produced. Homogenising refers to dividing separate characteristics describing the road network into the longest common part of the road, which enables tabulation of data relative to several variables. The traffic performance figures are derived from vehicle stock data.

Eurostat, the media and other users monitor the development of the road network.

The total performance of road traffic calculated by Statistics Finland describes the level of traffic performance for the mainland Finland well. The road network data are based on the data of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's Tievelho, which describe the road network accurately and are updated regularly.

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

The total performance of road traffic calculated by Statistics Finland describes the level of traffic performance for the mainland Finland well.

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. 

The road network data are retrieved from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's Tievelho after the turn of the year.

As a rule, there is no delay between the release calendar and the actual release date.

The statistics are internationally comparable.

Due to changes in the calculation methods of streets and private roads and cars and vans, the figures for traffic performance and passenger traffic performance from 2016 onwards are not entirely comparable with previous years.

Starting from the statistical reference year 2022, road width is calculated only as the width of the paved section of the road, including the width of the roadway track and the width of the paved verge of the road. Before 2022, the width of the gravel section of the verge was also included in the width of the road, so the data are not fully comparable with newer data.

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

Statistics Finland's release calendar Future publications

Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics

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.

The data are published annually in April.

The release is published annually on the home page of the statistics.

The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.

Special compilations of the statistical data can also be made on assignment.

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)

The data of the statistics are protected with careful table design.