Business demography by area and year

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

Data values	Data description	Year	Area
9.7	Birth Rate	2015	Northern Ireland
9.1	Death Rate	2012	Northern Ireland
62,325	Active enterprises	2020	Northern Ireland
8.7	Birth Rate	2014	Northern Ireland
[x]	Death Rate	2003	Northern Ireland
8.3	Death Rate	2011	Northern Ireland
56,255	Active enterprises	2012	Northern Ireland
61,730	Active enterprises	2019	Northern Ireland
10.1	Birth Rate	2006	Northern Ireland
8.7	Birth Rate	2013	Northern Ireland
8.3	Birth Rate	2022	Northern Ireland
[x]	Death Rate	2002	Northern Ireland
6.8	Death Rate	2006	Northern Ireland
8.8	Death Rate	2010	Northern Ireland
60,030	Active enterprises	2008	Northern Ireland
57,370	Active enterprises	2011	Northern Ireland
55,240	Active enterprises	2014	Northern Ireland
60,080	Active enterprises	2018	Northern Ireland
[x]	Birth Rate	2002	Northern Ireland
10.5	Birth Rate	2005	Northern Ireland
9.4	Birth Rate	2008	Northern Ireland
7.0	Birth Rate	2012	Northern Ireland
9.2	Birth Rate	2018	Northern Ireland
10.3	Birth Rate	2021	Northern Ireland
[x]	Active enterprises	2002	Northern Ireland
8.3	Birth Rate	2023	Northern Ireland
7.5	Death Rate	2004	Northern Ireland
6.7	Death Rate	2005	Northern Ireland
6.5	Death Rate	2007	Northern Ireland
8.7	Death Rate	2009	Northern Ireland
5,110 [p]	Deaths	2023	Northern Ireland
57,660	Active enterprises	2007	Northern Ireland
59,700	Active enterprises	2009	Northern Ireland
58,985	Active enterprises	2010	Northern Ireland
3,920	Deaths	2016	Northern Ireland
55,780	Active enterprises	2013	Northern Ireland
56,060	Active enterprises	2015	Northern Ireland
59,190	Active enterprises	2017	Northern Ireland
64,670	Active enterprises	2021	Northern Ireland
64,705	Active enterprises	2023	Northern Ireland
5,960	Births	2007	Northern Ireland
11.1	Birth Rate	2004	Northern Ireland
5,170 [p]	Deaths	2022	Northern Ireland
10.3	Birth Rate	2007	Northern Ireland
6.6	Birth Rate	2009	Northern Ireland
6.5	Birth Rate	2011	Northern Ireland
10.0	Birth Rate	2016	Northern Ireland
11.1	Birth Rate	2017	Northern Ireland
9.8	Birth Rate	2019	Northern Ireland
9.1	Birth Rate	2020	Northern Ireland
3,935	Births	2012	Northern Ireland
5,670	Births	2020	Northern Ireland
5,190	Deaths	2010	Northern Ireland
5,730	Births	2004	Northern Ireland
55,445	Active enterprises	2006	Northern Ireland
5,440	Births	2015	Northern Ireland
5,655	Births	2008	Northern Ireland
[x]	Active enterprises	2003	Northern Ireland
4,780	Deaths	2011	Northern Ireland
51,825	Active enterprises	2004	Northern Ireland
53,495	Active enterprises	2005	Northern Ireland
7.0	Death Rate	2008	Northern Ireland
4,120	Deaths	2015	Northern Ireland
4,105	Deaths	2018	Northern Ireland
5,580	Births	2006	Northern Ireland
4,920	Deaths	2013	Northern Ireland
3,745	Births	2011	Northern Ireland
6,655	Births	2021	Northern Ireland
4,400	Deaths	2014	Northern Ireland
4,855	Births	2013	Northern Ireland
5,370	Births	2023	Northern Ireland
5,385	Births	2022	Northern Ireland
3,775	Deaths	2006	Northern Ireland
3,910	Deaths	2004	Northern Ireland
3,575	Deaths	2005	Northern Ireland
4,255	Deaths	2017	Northern Ireland
5,545	Births	2018	Northern Ireland
56,730	Active enterprises	2016	Northern Ireland
5,015	Deaths	2021	Northern Ireland
6,045	Births	2019	Northern Ireland
4,790	Deaths	2019	Northern Ireland
64,745	Active enterprises	2022	Northern Ireland
[x]	Births	2003	Northern Ireland
[x]	Births	2002	Northern Ireland
4,130	Deaths	2020	Northern Ireland
[x]	Birth Rate	2003	Northern Ireland
5,635	Births	2005	Northern Ireland
4,180	Deaths	2008	Northern Ireland
3,760	Deaths	2007	Northern Ireland
3,945	Births	2009	Northern Ireland
[x]	Deaths	2002	Northern Ireland
4,805	Births	2014	Northern Ireland
7.8	Birth Rate	2010	Northern Ireland
5,665	Births	2016	Northern Ireland
5,125	Deaths	2012	Northern Ireland
[x]	Deaths	2003	Northern Ireland
4,590	Births	2010	Northern Ireland
6,570	Births	2017	Northern Ireland
5,170	Deaths	2009	Northern Ireland
8.8	Death Rate	2013	Northern Ireland

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:
  • Welsh Government - Business demography (English)
  • Welsh Government - Business demography (Welsh)
  • ONS - Business demography (English)
  • ONS - Business demography quality and methodology information (English)

Published by

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

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.