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.
Reference person
In the income distribution statistics and in the statistics of household's assets the person with the highest personal income is chosen as the household's reference person. Personal income is defined according to register data and interview data.
Although income is the main criterion determining the reference person, in some cases (e.g. entrepreneur households) the activity of the whole household is taken into account. Households of pensioner parents with children (including those over the age of consent) are also special cases where the parent with the higher income is selected as the reference person if the combined incomes of the parents clearly exceed those of a child.
Statistics using the definition
Validity of the definition
- Valid
Source organisation
- Tilastokeskus
Related concepts
The household member with the highest gross income is selected as the reference person in total statistics on income distribution. Income is determined from register data.
Statistics using the definition
Validity of the definition
- Valid
Source organisation
- Tilastokeskus
Related concepts
None
Statistics using the definition
Validity of the definition
- Valid
Source organisation
- Tilastokeskus
Related concepts
Jaa