Business demography by industry (SIC2007), area and year

Variable filters

Data description

This indicates what a data value represents

3 of 3 selected
Deselect all values for Data descriptionSelect all values for Data description
No values match your search
Year
17 of 17 selected
Deselect all values for YearSelect all values for Year
No values match your search
Area
24 of 24 selected
Deselect all values for AreaSelect all values for Area
Deselect all values at this level for AreaSelect all values at this level for Area
No values match your search
Industry
16 of 16 selected
Deselect all values for IndustrySelect all values for Industry
Deselect all values at this level for IndustrySelect all values at this level for Industry
No values match your search
See what variables and values are shown in your table
VariableVisibilitySelected valuesAction
Data descriptionShown in tableAll 3 valuesChange values
YearShown in tableAll 17 valuesChange values
AreaShown in tableAll 24 valuesChange values
IndustryShown in tableAll 16 valuesChange values
Change the variables shown in the table

Table

Download this table

Standard shorthand is used in this table: [p] = provisional, [t] = total.

Data valuesData descriptionYearAreaIndustry
317,435 [t]Births2024United KingdomTotal
12,175Births2024United KingdomProduction
44,955Births2024United KingdomConstruction
8,190Births2024United KingdomMotor Trades
9,685Births2024United KingdomWholesale
27,380Births2024United KingdomRetail
21,510Births2024United KingdomTransport & storage (inc. postal)
30,355Births2024United KingdomAccommodation & food services
22,575Births2024United KingdomInformation & communication
2,525Births2024United KingdomFinance & insurance
13,385Births2024United KingdomProperty
48,975Births2024United KingdomProfessional; scientific & technical
38,615Births2024United KingdomBusiness administration and support services
5,200Births2024United KingdomEducation
11,750Births2024United KingdomHealth
20,160Births2024United KingdomArts; entertainment; recreation and other services
10,105 [t]Births2024WalesTotal
420 [t]Births2024WalesProduction
1,585 [t]Births2024WalesConstruction
295 [t]Births2024WalesMotor Trades
270 [t]Births2024WalesWholesale
750 [t]Births2024WalesRetail
760 [t]Births2024WalesTransport & storage (inc. postal)
1,410 [t]Births2024WalesAccommodation & food services
450 [t]Births2024WalesInformation & communication
Showing 1 to 25 of 19,584 rows
Page 1 of 784

Select what to download

Select download format

Select number formatting

This includes rounding to decimal places and commas to separate thousands

Select whether to include reference codes and hierarchies

  • Reference codes are unique identifiers for specific variable values, such as geographic areas
  • Hierarchies show how variable values are grouped together, such as which geographic areas are in which larger geographic areas
  • If the current table has hidden variables, you cannot download it with reference codes and hierarchies
These will be included as additional columns in the downloaded table

Select language

Metadata

The metadata for this dataset is not included when you download the data. You can download this separately. This contains all the information from the 'About this dataset' tab.

Download metadata

Next update expected:January 2027

Updates

22nd January 2026

Update to add historical data

22nd January 2026

Routine update to add new data and amend existing data where needed.

24th October 2025
24th September 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Accredited official statistics
Data provider
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source
Business demography
Time period covered
January 2008 to December 2024

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset details business births, deaths and active enterprises by broad industry group (SIC2007) and year.

Active enterprises are businesses that had either turnover or employment at any time during the reference period (December to December).

A birth is defined as a business that was present in year t, but did not exist in year t-1 or t-2. Births are identified by making a comparison of annual active population files and identifying those present in the latest one, but not the two previous ones.

A death is defined as a business that was on the active file in year t but no longer present on the active file for year t+1 or t+2. To produce more timely statistics, the UK business demography statistics contain a preliminary death indicator, which includes an adjustment for estimated reactivations. Reactivations occur where a business becomes dormant for a period of less than 2 years, then recommences activity in a manner which complies with a definition of continuity. If the definition of continuity is not met (e.g. if a business recommences activity but at a different location and with a different activity), this would be considered a death followed by a birth. Reactivations can also occur due to lags in the administrative data source (VAT/PAYE) so that a business that continues to trade can appear to die. The deaths data exclude losses to the population as a result of mergers, break-ups, split-offs or other re-structuring.

Data collection or calculation

ONS use data from the IDBR to produce business demography statistics, using guidelines found in the Eurostat/OECD manual on Business Demography. The starting point for demography is the concept of a population of active businesses in a reference year. These are defined as businesses that had either turnover or employment at any time during the reference period. Births and deaths are then identified by comparing active populations for different years.

Statistical quality

Totals may differ slightly between the area and industry breakdowns due to the disclosure control methods used.

The latest two years' estimates on deaths are subject to revision, which would normally be made in the following year's publication.

Rounding applied

Business births, deaths and active enterprises have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
economic.stats@gov.wales