Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics

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A diagram of the three main divisions of the NUTS system developed by Eurostat

Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (French: Nomenclature des unités territoriales statistiquesCategory:Articles containing French-language text; NUTS) is a geocode standard for referencing the administrative divisions of countries for statistical purposes.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The standard, adopted in 2003,[8] is developed and regulated by the European Union (EU), and thus only covers the EU member states in detail. The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics is instrumental in the European Union's Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund delivery mechanisms and for locating the area where goods and services subject to European public procurement legislation are to be delivered.

For each EU member country, a hierarchy of three NUTS levels is established by Eurostat in agreement with each member state; the subdivisions in some levels do not necessarily correspond to administrative divisions within the country. A NUTS code begins with a two-letter code referencing the country, as abbreviated in the European Union's Interinstitutional Style Guide.[9] The subdivision of the country is then referred to with one number. A second or third subdivision level is referred to with another number each. Each numbering starts with 1, as 0 is used for the upper level. Where the subdivision has more than nine entities, capital letters are used to continue the numbering. Below the three NUTS levels are local administrative units (LAUs). A similar statistical system is defined for the candidate countries and members of the European Free Trade Association, but they are not part of NUTS governed by the regulations.

The current NUTS classification, dated 21 November 2016 and effective from 1 January 2018 (now updated to current members as of 2020Category:Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2020Category:All articles containing potentially dated statements), lists 92 regions at NUTS 1, 244 regions at NUTS 2, 1215 regions at NUTS 3 level, and 99,387 local administrative units (LAUs).[10][11]

National structures

Not all countries have every level of division, depending on their size. For example, Luxembourg and Cyprus only have local administrative units (LAUs); the three NUTS divisions each correspond to the entire country itself.

Member states

Countries NUTS 1 NUTS 2 NUTS 3 Local administrative units (LAU)
Member State 27 92 240 1,164 92,054
Austria AT Groups of states 3 States 9 Groups of districts 35 Municipalities (GemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text) 2,093
Belgium BE Regions 3 Provinces (+ Brussels) 11 Arrondissements (Verviers split into two) 44 Municipalities (gemeentenCategory:Articles containing German-language text / communesCategory:Articles containing French-language text) 581
Bulgaria BG Regions 2 Planning regions 6 Oblasts 28 Municipalities (общиниCategory:Articles containing Bulgarian-language text, obshtiniCategory:Articles containing Bulgarian-language text) 265
Croatia HR 1 Regions 4 Counties (županijeCategory:Articles containing Croatian-language text) + Zagreb 21 Municipalities (općineCategory:Articles containing Croatian-language text) 556
Cyprus CY 1 1 1 Municipalities, communities (δήμοι, κοινότητεςCategory:Articles containing Greek-language text, dimoi, koinotitesCategory:Articles containing Greek-language text) 615
Czech Republic CZ 1 Statistical areas 8 Administrative regions (krajeCategory:Articles containing Czech-language text) 14 Municipalities (obceCategory:Articles containing Czech-language text) 6,254
Denmark DK 1 Regions (RegionerCategory:Articles containing Danish-language text) 5 Provinces (LandsdeleCategory:Articles containing Danish-language text) 11 Municipalities (kommunerCategory:Articles containing Danish-language text) and 1 unincorporated area 99
Estonia EE 1 1 Groups of counties 5 Municipalities (Vald, linnCategory:Articles containing Estonian-language text) 79
Finland FI Mainland Finland, Åland 2 Large areas (SuuralueetCategory:Articles containing Finnish-language text / StorområdenCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 5 Regions (MaakunnatCategory:Articles containing Finnish-language text / LandskapCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 19 Municipalities (kunnatCategory:Articles containing Finnish-language text / kommunerCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 309
France FR Regions + DOM 14 Former regions (1982–2015) + DOM 27 Departments + DOM 101 Communes 34,965
Germany DE States (BundeslandCategory:Articles containing German-language text) 16 Inconsistent, some whole States (BundeslandCategory:Articles containing German-language text), some Government regions (RegierungsbezirkCategory:Articles containing German-language text) (or equivalent, or dissolved) 38 Districts (KreisCategory:Articles containing German-language text) 400 Municipalities (GemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text) 10,775
Greece EL[a] Groups of development regions 4 Regions 13 Prefectures 51 Municipal districts/Community districts
(δημοτικό διαμέρισμα, κοινότικο διαμέρισμαCategory:Articles containing Greek-language text, demotiko diamerisma, koinotiko diamerismaCategory:Articles containing Greek-language text)
6,133
Hungary HU Statistical large regions (statisztikai nagyrégiókCategory:Articles containing Hungarian-language text) 3 Planning and statistical regions (tervezési-statisztikai régióCategory:Articles containing Hungarian-language text) 8 Counties (vármegyeCategory:Articles containing Hungarian-language text) + Budapest 20 Settlements (településekCategory:Articles containing Hungarian-language text) 3,155
Ireland IE 1 Regions 3 Regional Authority Regions 8 Local electoral areas 166
Italy IT Groups of regions 5 Regions (Trentino-Alto Adige split into two) 21 Provinces

Metropolitan Cities

107 Municipalities (comuniCategory:Articles containing Italian-language text) 7,904
Latvia LV 1 1 Statistical regions 6 Municipalities, state cities (valstspilsētas, novadiCategory:Articles containing Latvian-language text) 43
Lithuania LT 1 Regions 2 Counties 10 Municipalities (savivaldybėsCategory:Articles containing Lithuanian-language text) 60
Luxembourg LU 1 1 1 Communes (French: communesCategory:Articles containing French-language text, German: GemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text, Luxembourgish: GemengenCategory:Articles containing Luxembourgish-language text) 102
Malta MT 1 1 Islands 2 Local councils (kunsilliCategory:Articles containing Maltese-language text) 68
Netherlands NL Groups of provinces 4 Provinces 12 COROP regions 40 Municipalities (gemeentenCategory:Articles containing Dutch-language text) 342
Poland PL Macroregions (MakroregionyCategory:Articles containing Polish-language text) 7 Voivodeships + Warsaw metro 17 Subregions (PodregionyCategory:Articles containing Polish-language text) 73 Municipalities (gminyCategory:Articles containing Polish-language text) 2,477
Portugal PT Continent + Azores + Madeira 3 Statistical regions + autonomous regions 7 Groups of municipalities 25 Municipalities (concelhosCategory:Articles containing Portuguese-language text) 308
Romania RO Macroregions 4 Regions 8 Counties + Bucharest 42 Communes + Municipalities + Cities (comune + municipii + orașeCategory:Articles containing Romanian-language text) 3,181
Slovakia SK 1 Oblasts 4 Regions (KrajeCategory:Articles containing Slovak-language text) 8 Municipalities (obceCategory:Articles containing Slovak-language text) 2,891
Slovenia SI 1 Macroregions 2 Statistical regions 12 Municipalities (občineCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 212
Spain ES Groups of autonomous communities 7 17 Autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities 19 Provinces + Islands + Ceuta and Melilla 59 Municipalities (municipiosCategory:Articles containing Spanish-language text) 8,131
Sweden SE Regions (Grupper av riksområdenCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 3 National Areas (RiksområdeCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 8 Counties (LänCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 21 Municipalities (kommunerCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) 290

Candidate countries

Country NUTS 1 NUTS 2 NUTS 3 LAU 1 LAU 2
Candidate countries 7 26 65 275 2,708 77,899
Albania AL 1 Regions (non-administrative) 3 Counties 12 Municipalities (komunëCategory:Articles containing Albanian-language text) / Communes (bashki / komunëCategory:Articles containing Albanian-language text) 373
Moldova MD 1 Western part (the right side of Dniester) and Eastern part (left side of Dniester). 2 Statistical regions 6 Districts of Moldova (known locally as Level 2 Local Public Administrations/LPAs) 37 Level 1 Local Public Administrations/LPAs 893
Montenegro ME 1 1 Statistical regions 3 Municipalities (општинеCategory:Articles containing Serbo-Croatian-language text, opštineCategory:Articles containing Serbo-Croatian-language text) 24 Settlements (насељаCategory:Articles containing Serbo-Croatian-language text, naseljaCategory:Articles containing Serbo-Croatian-language text) 1,256
North Macedonia MK 1 1 Statistical regions 8 Municipalities (општиниCategory:Articles containing Macedonian-language text, opštiniCategory:Articles containing Macedonian-language text) 84 Settlements (населени местаCategory:Articles containing Macedonian-language text, naseleni mestaCategory:Articles containing Macedonian-language text) 1,776
Serbia RS Groups of regions 2 Regions 5 Districts 29 Municipalities (општине и градовиCategory:Articles containing Serbo-Croatian-language text, opštine i gradoviCategory:Articles containing Serbo-Croatian-language text) 174 Settlements (насељена места, naseljena mesta) 6,155
Ukraine UA Statistical macroregions 12 Regions 27 Raions 138 Hromadas 1469 Starosta okruhs (старостинські округиCategory:Articles containing Ukrainian-language text, starostynski okruhy) + Settlements (населені пунктиCategory:Articles containing Ukrainian-language text, naseleni punkty) 29,831
Turkey TR Regions 12 Sub-regions 26 Provinces (illerCategory:Articles containing Turkish-language text) 81 Districts (ilçelerCategory:Articles containing Turkish-language text) 923 Municipalities (belediyelerCategory:Articles containing Turkish-language text) 37,675

EFTA countries

Country NUTS 1 NUTS 2 NUTS 3 - LAU
EFTA countries 4 4 16 48 122 2,567
Switzerland CH 1 Regions 7 Cantons 26 Municipalities (German: GemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text, EinwohnergemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text and politische GemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text; French: communesCategory:Articles containing French-language text; Italian: comuniCategory:Articles containing Italian-language text; Romansh: vischnancasCategory:Articles containing Romansh-language text) 2,136
Iceland IS 1 1 Capital Region / Rest of country 2 Regions (landshlutarCategory:Articles containing Icelandic-language text) 8 Municipalities (sveitarfélagCategory:Articles containing Icelandic-language text) 64
Liechtenstein LI 1 1 1 Municipalities (GemeindenCategory:Articles containing German-language text) 11
Norway NO 1 Regions 7 Counties (FylkeCategory:Articles containing Norwegian-language text) 19 Economic regions (Økonomiske regionerCategory:Articles containing Norwegian-language text) 89 Municipalities (kommunerCategory:Articles containing Norwegian-language text) 356

Former EU member state

Country NUTS 1 NUTS 2 NUTS 3 LAU
United Kingdom UK[b] Regions of England 9 Sub-Regions: 30 Upper tier authorities and groups of unitary authorities and districts 93 Districts or unitary authorities 326
Wales 1 Groups of Principal Areas 2 Groups of Principal Areas 12 Principal Areas 22
Scotland 1 Groups of Council and/or Island Areas 4 Groups of Council Areas or Islands Areas 23 Council areas, subdivided by LEC where applicable 41
Northern Ireland 1 1 Groups of districts 5 Districts 11

Maps

Establishment

NUTS regions are generally based on existing national administrative subdivisions. In countries where only one or two regional subdivisions exist, or where the population of existing subdivisions is too small or too large, a second and/or third level is created. This may be on the first level (ex. France, Italy, Greece, and Spain), on the second (ex. Germany) and/or third level (ex. Belgium).[12] In countries with small populations, where the entire country would be placed on the NUTS 2 or even NUTS 3 level (ex. Luxembourg, Cyprus), the regions at levels 1, 2 and 3 are identical to each other (and also to the entire country), but are coded with the appropriate length codes levels 1, 2 and 3.

The NUTS system favors existing administrative units, with one or more assigned to each NUTS level. Specific guidelines are based in population, leaving little or no role for other types of variables such as area, distance, topography, levels of jurisdiction or history, which can only be considered in (unspecified) types of special cases.[13] From the NUTS Regulation, the average population size of the regions in the respective level shall lie within the following thresholds:[14]

LevelMinimumMaximum
NUTS 1 3 million 7 million
NUTS 2 800,000 3 million
NUTS 3 150,000 800,000

For non-administrative units, deviations from these population marks exist for particular geographical, socio-economic, historical, cultural or environmental circumstances, especially for islands and outermost regions.

Examples

See also

Notes

  1. The European Union uses EL as the country code for Greece instead of the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code GR.
  2. The European Union uses UK as the country code for the United Kingdom instead of the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code GB.

References

  1. "NUTS – Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics". European Commission. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  2. "Common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)". European Commission. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. "Statistics Explained". European Commission. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010.
  4. Regulation (EC) No 176/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union
  5. Regulation (EC) No 1888/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) by reason of the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union
  6. Commission Regulation (EC) No 105/2007 of 1 February 2007 amending the annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
  7. Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
  8. "History of NUTS – Eurostat". European Commission.
  9. "Annex A6 Country and territory codes". publications.europa.eu. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  10. "Background – Eurostat". European Commission.
  11. Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2066 of 21 November 2016 amending the annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
  12. "Europa – Eurostat – Regions – Basic principles of the NUTS". European Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  13. Regions and cities. Overview eurostat. Retrieved 31 December 2022
  14. https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/presentations/seminario_gsgf_principio-3_eurostat_nuts.pdf page=9
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