Business demography by industry (SIC2007), area and year

Variable filters

You will be able to change the filter selections once you've chosen how to view the data.
Data description

This indicates what a data value represents

3 of 3 selected
No values match your search
Year
17 of 17 selected
No values match your search
Area
24 of 24 selected
No values match your search
Industry
16 of 16 selected
No values match your search

Choose how to view the data

You'll be asked to choose 2 variables to show on a table
The data will be shown with columns for each of the variables in the dataset, with a data value for all combinations of variables

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