Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1. Nationals
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with national citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
X
2. EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with EEA citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
X
3. NON-EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with non-EEA foreign citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
X
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Data transmitted as requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Population statistics in Austria in principle follow a “de-jure”-concept, including only people with a registered main residence in Austria. Data are based on information from the Central Residence Register (CRR) of the Ministry of Interior. They are stored in a statistical mirror register established at Statistics Austria called population register (POPREG). Data transmitted to Statistics Austria are pseudonymised according to e-government law and rules, containing a statistical PIN only, which allows a deterministic linkage of all records of a single person across the different statistical domains. Besides, the population register contains individual registration histories, while the administrative register only stores the latest valid information.
Population and Migration Statistics are produced on the basis of an ex-post-analysis of pseudonymised microdata on registrations and de-registrations in the statistical population register. However, a few modifications have been undertaken to shift this count of registered population more towards a de-facto-concept suiting to UN recommendations. These modifications mainly target issues of overestimation, i.e. people being registered, but de-facto not forming part of the usually resident population.
Only registrations upheld for more than 90 days are counted and absences from Austria for less than 90 days are not treated as such in population stocks, meaning these people remain in the stock figures.
The number of nominal members (“zombie records” or “Karteileichen”) in the population is continuously reduced by incorporating the results of a so-called “residence analysis”. This is done annually to determine the municipal population figures for tax sharing. Comparison of several registers (e.g. residence register, social security register, tax register, social benefits database) allows for identification of nominal members. People being registered in the residence register only (for the 2021 census about 79 000 people) are suspected as being potential cases for nominal members. At census all suspected cases are contacted by registered mail and thus have the opportunity to confirm that their main residence is still in Austria. Drawing upon the share of positive responses in the total number of suspected cases, for each municipality a statistical model randomly determines a certain number of people out of the suspected cases(for detailed methodology see (in German). These people do not count to quarterly and annual population figures. For consistency with migration statistics they are treated as out-migrations.
The methodology of these modifications is described in detail in the standard documentation of population statistics (long version in German; short version in English).
We therefore believe, that over-estimation should not pose a problem in the population statistics provided. In contrast to the measures against overestimation described above, issues of underestimation have only been tackled for the estimation of the usually resident population. That means, that in contrast to national population figures, non-registered people having their usual residence in Austria are included in the usually resident population stock for the first time.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The total usually residence population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usually Resident Population data collection may differ from those available in National Accounts, Labour Force Survey or in the survey on Income and Living Conditions. The difference is given by the population coverage (see metadata specific to each domain).
15.4. Coherence - internal
The total usually resident population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usually Resident Population data collection may differ from those available in the rest of the Demographic domain. The difference is given by the population definition (see metadata specific to each domain).
No burden for respondents.
One person-month for calculations in national statistical office.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Population Register, police data on suspected criminal offenders.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Population Register: quarterly.
Police Suspects: annual.
18.3. Data collection
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English)
18.4. Data validation
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English).
18.5. Data compilation
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English)
18.6. Adjustment
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English)
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
14 August 2024
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English).
Person.
Not applicable.
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
Population statistics in Austria in principle follow a “de-jure”-concept, including only people with a registered main residence in Austria. Data are based on information from the Central Residence Register (CRR) of the Ministry of Interior. They are stored in a statistical mirror register established at Statistics Austria called population register (POPREG). Data transmitted to Statistics Austria are pseudonymised according to e-government law and rules, containing a statistical PIN only, which allows a deterministic linkage of all records of a single person across the different statistical domains. Besides, the population register contains individual registration histories, while the administrative register only stores the latest valid information.
Population and Migration Statistics are produced on the basis of an ex-post-analysis of pseudonymised microdata on registrations and de-registrations in the statistical population register. However, a few modifications have been undertaken to shift this count of registered population more towards a de-facto-concept suiting to UN recommendations. These modifications mainly target issues of overestimation, i.e. people being registered, but de-facto not forming part of the usually resident population.
Only registrations upheld for more than 90 days are counted and absences from Austria for less than 90 days are not treated as such in population stocks, meaning these people remain in the stock figures.
The number of nominal members (“zombie records” or “Karteileichen”) in the population is continuously reduced by incorporating the results of a so-called “residence analysis”. This is done annually to determine the municipal population figures for tax sharing. Comparison of several registers (e.g. residence register, social security register, tax register, social benefits database) allows for identification of nominal members. People being registered in the residence register only (for the 2021 census about 79 000 people) are suspected as being potential cases for nominal members. At census all suspected cases are contacted by registered mail and thus have the opportunity to confirm that their main residence is still in Austria. Drawing upon the share of positive responses in the total number of suspected cases, for each municipality a statistical model randomly determines a certain number of people out of the suspected cases(for detailed methodology see (in German). These people do not count to quarterly and annual population figures. For consistency with migration statistics they are treated as out-migrations.
The methodology of these modifications is described in detail in the standard documentation of population statistics (long version in German; short version in English).
We therefore believe, that over-estimation should not pose a problem in the population statistics provided. In contrast to the measures against overestimation described above, issues of underestimation have only been tackled for the estimation of the usually resident population. That means, that in contrast to national population figures, non-registered people having their usual residence in Austria are included in the usually resident population stock for the first time.
Person.
See documentation of population statsitics (long version German; short version English)
Population Register, police data on suspected criminal offenders.
Annual.
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
