Business demography by area and year

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Standard shorthand is used in this table: [p] = provisional, [t] = total, [x] = not available.

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Data valuesData descriptionYearArea
14.4 [t]Birth Rate2016United Kingdom
10.6 [t]Death Rate2012United Kingdom
2,939,675 [t]Active enterprises2021United Kingdom
14.3 [t]Birth Rate2015United Kingdom
10.9Death Rate2003United Kingdom
9.8 [t]Death Rate2011United Kingdom
2,448,530 [t]Active enterprises2013United Kingdom
2,897,115 [t]Active enterprises2020United Kingdom
11.6 [t]Birth Rate2006United Kingdom
13.7 [t]Birth Rate2014United Kingdom
12.4 [t]Birth Rate2021United Kingdom
10.1Death Rate2002United Kingdom
11.8 [t]Death Rate2009United Kingdom
10.6 [t]Death Rate2010United Kingdom
2,351,425 [t]Active enterprises2010United Kingdom
2,372,645 [t]Active enterprises2012United Kingdom
2,671,700 [t]Active enterprises2015United Kingdom
2,889,115 [t]Active enterprises2019United Kingdom
12.5Birth Rate2003United Kingdom
12.6 [t]Birth Rate2005United Kingdom
10.1 [t]Birth Rate2009United Kingdom
14.1 [t]Birth Rate2013United Kingdom
12.3 [t]Birth Rate2018United Kingdom
11.5 [t]Birth Rate2020United Kingdom
11.5 [t]Birth Rate2022United Kingdom
11.0 [t]Birth Rate2023United Kingdom
10.5 [t]Death Rate2005United Kingdom
9.6 [t]Death Rate2008United Kingdom
243,615 [t]Deaths2004United Kingdom
2,207,290 [t]Active enterprises2006United Kingdom
269,015 [t]Deaths2016United Kingdom
2,341,900 [t]Active enterprises2009United Kingdom
228,155 [t]Deaths2005United Kingdom
2,342,595 [t]Active enterprises2011United Kingdom
2,550,595 [t]Active enterprises2014United Kingdom
223,600 [t]Deaths2007United Kingdom
2,767,770 [t]Active enterprises2016United Kingdom
2,841,025 [t]Active enterprises2018United Kingdom
248,595 [t]Deaths2010United Kingdom
11.5Birth Rate2002United Kingdom
222,560 [t]Deaths2008United Kingdom
13.0 [t]Birth Rate2004United Kingdom
328,495 [t]Deaths2021United Kingdom
11.5 [t]Birth Rate2008United Kingdom
11.3 [t]Birth Rate2012United Kingdom
277,435 [t]Deaths2009United Kingdom
2,182,750 [t]Active enterprises2005United Kingdom
12.5 [t]Birth Rate2017United Kingdom
2,115,915Active enterprises2002United Kingdom
12.6 [t]Birth Rate2019United Kingdom
2,136,405Active enterprises2003United Kingdom
229,525 [t]Deaths2011United Kingdom
382,755 [t]Births2015United Kingdom
2,158,555 [t]Active enterprises2004United Kingdom
11.3 [t]Death Rate2004United Kingdom
363,995 [t]Births2021United Kingdom
9.4 [t]Death Rate2006United Kingdom
9.8 [t]Death Rate2007United Kingdom
235,145 [t]Births2010United Kingdom
350,305 [t]Births2014United Kingdom
252,085 [t]Deaths2012United Kingdom
348,630 [t]Births2018United Kingdom
242,540Births2002United Kingdom
255,530 [t]Births2006United Kingdom
348,695 [p] [t]Deaths2022United Kingdom
2,325,770 [t]Active enterprises2008United Kingdom
261,370 [t]Births2011United Kingdom
269,250 [t]Births2012United Kingdom
346,275 [t]Births2013United Kingdom
232,385Deaths2003United Kingdom
336,925 [t]Births2022United Kingdom
316,025 [t]Births2023United Kingdom
207,125 [t]Deaths2006United Kingdom
274,855 [t]Births2005United Kingdom
237,025 [t]Deaths2013United Kingdom
281,995 [t]Deaths2015United Kingdom
2,844,705 [t]Active enterprises2017United Kingdom
246,190 [t]Deaths2014United Kingdom
356,895 [t]Births2017United Kingdom
267,445 [t]Births2008United Kingdom
2,924,685 [t]Active enterprises2022United Kingdom
2,870,295 [t]Active enterprises2023United Kingdom
363,825 [t]Births2019United Kingdom
280,080 [t]Births2004United Kingdom
267,000Births2003United Kingdom
331,450 [t]Deaths2017United Kingdom
296,575 [t]Deaths2018United Kingdom
300,475 [t]Deaths2020United Kingdom
12.3 [t]Birth Rate2007United Kingdom
303,495 [t]Deaths2019United Kingdom
10.0 [t]Birth Rate2010United Kingdom
11.2 [t]Birth Rate2011United Kingdom
213,345Deaths2002United Kingdom
280,730 [t]Births2007United Kingdom
309,290 [p] [t]Deaths2023United Kingdom
236,030 [t]Births2009United Kingdom
333,020 [t]Births2020United Kingdom
2,280,215 [t]Active enterprises2007United Kingdom
397,540 [t]Births2016United Kingdom
9.7 [t]Death Rate2013United Kingdom
Showing 1 to 100 of 7,392 rows
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Main information

Most recent update
24 September 2025
Next update expected
December 2025
Designation
Accredited official statistics
Data provider 1
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source 1
Business demography
Data provider 2
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source 2
Mid-year population estimates

Data notes

Rounding applied

Business births, deaths and active enterprises have been rounded to the nearest 5, rates are rounded to 1 decimal place, and per 10,000 population to the nearest whole number.

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset details business births, deaths and active enterprises by measure, area 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.

Birth and death rates are calculated as a percentage of active enterprises.

Births, deaths and active enterprises per 10,000 of the population aged 16 to 64 are calculated using ONS' population estimates, which are currently available up to 2023.

Statistical quality

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

Please note, levels for Welsh economic regions and all rates (including per 10,000 population figures) have been calculated using the rounded figures, published by the Office for National Statistics.

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

Related reports

Published by

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

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