Debtors in enforcement: 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: Debtors in enforcement
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on debtors in enforcement include data on debtors in enforcement and the numbers of their enforcement matters, as well as the euro-denominated value of enforcement debts. The data are obtained from the Ministry of Justice and published once a year.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The data materials cover the data included in the national enforcement data. Data by enforcement district were published until 2019, until the enforcement district system was dissolved. Data on type of enforcement matters were published in 2008 to 2022. In 2008 to 2023, the name of the statistics was enforcement matters, and on 26 April 2024 the name changed into debtors in enforcement.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The key observation units of the statistics are the debtor in enforcement and the enforcement matter. Debtors in enforcement are debtors who have enforcement matters pending on the last day of the statistical reference year or whose pendency of enforcement matters has ended during the statistical reference year. The debtor in enforcement can be a natural or legal person.
Enforcement matters refer to enforcement proceedings pending and concluded during the calendar year. Enforcement cases are classified as open or closed according to whether they are still pending after the end of the calendar year.
The debtors in enforcement are classified by pendency of the matter, type of person, age, sex and certain socio-economic variables.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The statistics are formed from enforcement cases recorded in the Ministry of Justice's Enforcement Information System. The population of the statistics comprises natural and juridical persons subjected to a measure by the enforcement authority.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The statistics cover the data recorded by the enforcement authority operating in Finland.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
The statistics start from 2008. These are annual statistics and the published data are final. Data by enforcement district were published for 2008 to 2019 and data on types of enforcement matters for 2008 to 2022.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The measurement units of the data published in the statistics are number and euro.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The reference period of the statistics is a statistical reference year. The data are usually published three to four months from the end of the statistical period.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
The following classifications are used in the statistics:
- Pendency
- Debtors age
- Debtors gender
- Debtors main type of activity
- Debtors level of education
- Debtors occupation
- Debtors income decile
- Family type
- Number of children
- Type of debtor
- Area
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Applicant for enforcement
Applicant refers to a person who has applied for enforcement in order to recover a receivable. A receivable refers to the capital established in the grounds for enforcement, the interest to be calculated on the capital and the costs with interest judged in the grounds for enforcement. The applicant for enforcement can be a natural or legal person.
Debtor in enforcement
Debtor in enforcement refers to the respondent in the enforcement of a payment obligation. The debtor in enforcement can be a natural or legal person.
Pendency of an enforcement matter
An enforcement matter becomes pending when the enforcement application arrives at the local enforcement authority or in the Enforcement Information System. When the enforcement has arrived at the enforcement authority the authority must notify the debtor of the pendency without delay. The pendency of an enforcement matter relating to a payment liability ends when the bailiff remits the collected funds (closing remittance). If full payment has not been collected for the receivable (impediment for lack of means) or if the whereabouts of the debtor are unknown (impediment of lack of means and unknown whereabouts), a certificate to this effect must be issued to the applicant. The pendency of the enforcement matter ends on the date of issue of the impediment certificate. When bankruptcy proceedings are initiated, an enforcement matter relating to a payment liability that cannot be enforced because of the bankruptcy remains pending at most for six months following the initiation of the bankruptcy proceedings.
Private receivables in enforcement matters
Private receivables are receivables based on agreements, commitments or other liabilities under private law. Examples of these include bank loans, other credits, purchase money claims, fees or payments for services and work performances, insurance premiums, guarantee liabilities and indemnity liabilities.
Public receivables in enforcement matters
Public receivables are receivables of municipalities and other public corporations. Examples of these include charges for health care, children's day care and fees for the performances of municipal authorities, such as permits, registrations, inspections and control.
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
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The data are not shared between other statistical offices or units. There are thus no established procedures or arrangements for the sharing of data.
Cost and burden (SIMS 16)
In 2025, a total of 13 working days were used for the production of the statistics.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The Enforcement Unit of the Department of Judicial Administration of the Ministry of Justice annually sends to Statistics Finland statistical data on numbers of cases and euro amounts. The data represent total data.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The basic data are collected once a year.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data are received once a year as a line transfer coordinated by the Legal Register Centre. The delivery of the data and the practices of the following year are agreed on once a year (towards the end of the year).
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The data are validated in connection with the compilation of the statistics by means of established review routines.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The received data are processed yearly in accordance with the same process. Data from Statistics Finland's population statistics are combined with the data. Possible shortcomings in the basic data are examined with the Legal Register Centre.
User needs (SIMS 12.1)
Based on user monitoring, the main user groups of the statistics are other authorities, regional and municipal actors, interest groups, financial and insurance actors, and the media. The changing information needs of users are actively monitored and considered in the development of the data content of the
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The statistics describe the examined phenomenon as it is stored in the system on which the statistics are based. The main sources of error in the statistics are possible errors in the basic data or errors caused in the processing of the data.
A key means of assessing the accuracy of the data is to examine statistical data relative to the source data. Another way is to examine the data relative to data from earlier years.
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
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The statistics are released yearly approximately four months from the end of the statistical reference year.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
There is no delay between the release calendar and the release date for the statistics.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The statistics are comparable regionally for the entire time series.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
The time series of the statistics are comparable from one year to the next.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
The statistics on enforcement matters do not have direct contact areas with other data of Statistics Finland's justice statistics. The Enforcement Unit of the judicial administration produces an annual publication on enforcement matters. The statistics in the publication are not fully congruent with Statistics Finland's statistics on enforcement matters. However, the differences between the statistics are assumed to be minor.
Coherence - internal (SIMS 15.4)
The number of enforcement matters directed to debtors may be slightly higher than the total number of enforcement matters, because one enforcement matter may involve more than one debtor in enforcement In the data on debtors the enforcement matter directed at the debtor is always counted as one regardless of the number of debtors involved in the enforcement matter.
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: Future publications of the statistics
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 statistics are published annually.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published annually 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.
Older time series can be found in the archive 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)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
The data of the statistics are not released in identifiable form outside Statistics Finland. The use of the data for scientific research and statistical surveys is possible only on the basis of a separate decision on user licence and in unidentifiable form.