Restructuring of debts: 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: Restructuring of debts
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on restructuring of debts describe cases involving private persons that have been filed and concluded at district courts. The data are obtained from the Ministry of Justice. Data on filed cases are released quarterly and data on concluded cases once a year.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics cover applications for debt restructuring and individuals who have applied for debt restructuring.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The key observation units of the statistics (debt restructuring petitions filed and debt restructuring cases concluded) are legal cases. It is a question of cases brought before district courts and cases decided there.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The population of the statistics is debt restructuring petitions filed at district courts and debt restructuring cases concluded by district courts.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The reference area of the statistics is Finland.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
As regards debt restructuring petitions filed at district courts, the statistics start from the beginning of 1993. This applies to both annual, quarterly and monthly data.
Regarding petitions filed at district courts the statistic is preliminary. As regards debt restructuring petitions filed, the data become revised as a result of reviews and corrections. As a rule, the figures are corrected already during the next quarter. The changes caused by the corrections are small in terms of total numbers and they are not significant in forming the overall image of the occurrence.
The statistics on debt restructuring cases concluded start from 2009. These are annual statistics and the published data are final.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The measurement unit of the data published in the statistics is number.
For debt restructuring petitions filed, the number of petitions filed at district courts is recorded.
In the statistics on debt restructuring cases concluded, the number of debt restructuring cases concluded at district courts is recorded.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The reference period of the statistics on debt restructuring petitions filed at district courts is a quarter. The statistics describe the number of debt restructuring petitions filed by the end of a quarter (before the release) in the statistical reference year in question. For example, the data for the January to March period (1st quarter) of the year in question are released in April.
For debt restructuring cases concluded, the reference period is the statistical reference year. The data are usually released in early June and they describe the data for the previous year. For example, data concerning 2018 were published in 2019.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
As regards debt restructuring petitions, the most detailed regional level presented is region.
For debt restructuring cases concluded, the most detailed level presented is district court (classification of the statistical reference year).
Persons who have applied for debt adjustment are classified by sex, age group, main type of activity and family type.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Restructuring of private debts
A district court can admit a person with severe debt problems into a debt restructuring scheme. The provisions on the restructuring of private debts are included in the Act on the Adjustment of the Debts of a Private Individual, which entered into force on 8 February 1993. The purpose of the Act is to ameliorate the situation of private persons in financial difficulties. Before petitioning for debt restructuring, the debtor shall determine whether there is a possibility to a negotiated settlement with the creditors. If a settlement cannot be negotiated, a petition for debt restructuring can be filed in a court of justice. If the preconditions of debt restructuring are in place, the court of justice may confirm a payment schedule. When the payment schedule ends the debtor is released from the remainder of his/her debts.
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 are not shared between other statistical offices or units. There are thus no established procedures or arrangements for the sharing of data.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The statistics on restructuring of debts are based on register data derived from the district courts; case management system (Tuomas). The basic data are received monthly from the Legal Register Centre.
The background information on the persons used in the compilation of the statistics derives from the data of population statistics.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The basic data are collected once a month.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data are received once a month from 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 data received from the Legal Register Centre are processed monthly according to the same process. Data from Statistics Finland's population statistics system are combined with the data.
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 statistics.
User satisfaction (SIMS 12.2)
No user satisfaction measurements have been made from the statistics.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The statistics on restructuring of debts, including both petitions filed and cases concluded, are statistics based on the (register) data produced from the district courts’ case management system. 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 quarterly or annual data relative to previous quarters or years.
Processing error (SIMS 13.3.4)
Examples of possible errors in statistical releases include erroneous numbers and concepts in the texts, figures or tables. Such error situations are unexpected deviations from the normal production of statistics.
Any possible errors are corrected and information is given about them as quickly as possible. Statistics Finland informs about significant errors to the same extent and through the same channels as in the releasing of the original data.
Typographical and other form errors in statistics are corrected as fast and flexibly as possible and no separate notifications are made of them on the web pages.
Deviations from timetables are also regarded as errors. If the release of statistical data is significantly delayed from the announced point of time, information about the delay is posted on Statistics Finland’s website.
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
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF) are a comprehensive collection of statistics describing the development and state of society. They comprise nearly 300 sets of statistics on 26 different topics. The producers of Official Statistics of Finland have approved a common quality assurance in which they commit to common quality criteria and quality assurance measures. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice. The good practices followed in the statistics are presented in Statistics Finland's Quality Guidelines for Official Statistics handbook.
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.
Data revision - practice (SIMS 17.2)
The data on petitions filed at district courts become revised due to revisions in the source data. The data always become revised in connection with the next statistical release if changes have taken place in the source data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The statistics on debt restructuring petitions filed are published quarterly approximately two to three weeks from the end of the quarter.
The statistics on concluded cases are released yearly approximately six months from the end of the statistical reference year.
The release dates can be found in Statistics Finland's release calendar.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
There is no delay between the release calendar and the release date for the statistics on debt restructuring petitions filed.
In 2019, the statistics on debt restructuring cases concluded were delayed by around one month, on account of the extra time required for the processing of the data.
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 mostly comparable from one year to the next.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
Monthly data (debt restructuring petitions filed) and annual data (debt restructuring cases concluded) released in the statistics are produced from the same statistical data in different processes. The above-mentioned statistics describe the same topic from different perspectives and are thus not coherent with each other.
Coherence - sub-annual and annual statistics (SIMS 15.3.1)
Monthly data (debt restructuring petitions filed) and annual data (debt restructuring cases concluded) released in the statistics are produced from the same statistical data in different processes. The statistics describe the same topic from different perspectives and are thus not coherent with each other.
Coherence - internal (SIMS 15.4)
Quarterly (petitions filed) and annual (cases concluded) statistics on restructuring of debts are not fully coherent internally. The above-mentioned statistics describe the same occurrence from different viewpoints. The statistics on petitions filed at district courts show the number of debt restructuring petitions filed during the year. The statistics on debt restructuring cases concluded present the number of cases concluded by district courts during the year.
Thus, the population of the two sets of statistics mentioned above is different, one describing the number of petitions filed and the other the number of cases concluded during the year.
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)
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
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 on debt restructuring petitions filed are disseminated quarterly.
The statistics on debt restructuring cases concluded are disseminated yearly.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published 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.
Micro-data access (SIMS 10.4)
Data collected for statistical purposes must be kept confidential under Section 24 of the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999). The research data are protected in accordance with the data protection regulations of Statistics Finland.
Under Section 13 of the Statistics Act (280/2004), Statistics Finland may, on the basis of a separate licence, disclose data for scientific research and statistical reviews without data permitting direct identification. Under the Statistics Act, data collected for statistical purposes may not be used in an investigation, surveillance, legal proceedings, administrative decision-making or other similar handling of a matter concerning the enterprise.
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)
According to the Statistics Act (280/2004), the data of the statistics are public.
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.