Definitions of statistical units

A statistical unit is an object of statistical survey and the bearer of statistical characteristics. The statistical unit is the basic unit of statistical observation within a statistical survey.

The list of statistical units is not yet complete. It will be updated in parallel with definitions of variables for different areas of statistics. The list will be limited to include only statistical units for which Statistics Norway actually publishes statistics.


Agricultural and forestry property
Property that is or can be used for farming and/or forestry. Everything that belongs to the same owner in a municipality belongs to the same agricultural and forestry property irrespective of whether it covers several cadastral title numbers (ground properties).
Building
Buildings in the Ground Property, Address and Building Register (GAB) that are included in Norwegian statistics are defined as constructions for which a utility floor space can be measured. The utility floor space is measured in accordance with Norwegian Standard NS 3940 Area and volume calculations of buildings.
Case
A registration of an instance in a (public) register or at a (public) office, which will be dealt with/settled, or has already been dealt with/settled.
Course
A course is an educational activity.
Dwelling
A dwelling is a residential unit consisting of one or more rooms that are built or rebuilt as an all-year private residence for one or more persons. It must be possible to enter the rooms without going through another dwelling. A dwelling can be either a flat or a bedsit. A flat is a dwelling with at least one room and kitchen (flat also includes detached house, row housing etc.). A bedsit is a room with its own entrance and is regarded as a dwelling for one or more persons. The residents must have access to water and toilet without going through another dwelling. This also includes bedsits in bedsit buildings with shared entrances and kitchens, typical student bedsits and units for the elderly and disabled etc. “Bedsits” that do not have a separate entrance (e.g. rooms in a private dwelling) are not regarded as a dwelling.
Enterprise
The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) defines an enterprise as the minimum combination of legal entities that produce goods or services, and which to a certain degree has independent decision-making powers. In statistics, a legal entity is treated as an enterprise. Examples of legal entities are limited companies, general partnerships and sole proprietorships.
Establishment
Defined as a locally delimited functional unit that mainly carries out business within a specific industry group (Standard Industrial Classification).
Family
A family consists of persons who are permanently resident in the same dwelling, and who are linked to each other as spouses, cohabitants, registered partners and/or as parents and unmarried children (regardless of the age of the unmarried child(ren)). A family can, at most, consist of two (consecutive) generations, and only one married/cohabiting couple. Individuals are also regarded as families, whereby all persons belong to a family and a household, either with others, or on their own.
Fishing vessel
Vessels registered in the Directorate of Fisheries Register of Norwegian Fishing Vessels as of 31. December. This register contains all motorized fishing vessels used commercially
Forest area
Defined as an area with a minimum of six trees, which are or can grow to 5 metres high, per decare. The trees should be evenly distributed in the area.
General government
Consists of public sector activities and non-profit organisations that are controlled by the authorities, and whose business is not conducted on a commercial basis.
Ground property
Ground property is property that is limited by property borders on the earth surface and which stretches so far vertically downwards into the ground and upwards into the air that private property rights apply in accordance with general rules.
Household
A household consists of persons who are permanently resident in the same dwelling (dwelling unit) or institution. A private household consists of persons who are permanently resident in the same dwelling, where this dwelling is not an institution. Private households are divided into dwelling households and housekeeping units. Dwelling households consist of persons who are permanently resident in the same dwelling, while housekeeping units consist of persons who are permanently resident in the same dwelling and have joint board. An institutional household consists of persons who are permanently resident, and whose needs for board, lodging, care or nursing are covered at an institution.
Internet subscription
A service that gives end users access to the Internet. For example, household members often have access to the Internet via the same subscription. However, there are also many who have a number of subscriptions with various Internet service providers. There is therefore no direct correlation between the number of subscriptions and the number of persons and establishments with Internet access.
Region
A geographical/administrative area. Is used as a common term for e.g. municipalities, densely populated areas, economic regions and zones of employer's contribution to the National Insurance
Registered transfer
Includes registered transfers of title, establishment of lease and transfer of lease. A transfer can include the whole or part of one or more ground parcels, leases and sections of buildings registered as freehold.
Shareholder
A shareholder is a person or entity that owns shares in a private limited company or public limited company.
Ship
A vessel that is used to transport persons or goods at sea. A ship is generally regarded as bigger than a boat, but there is no clear, defined difference between ship and boat. A distinction can be made in the crew however, since a ship always requires several persons to carry out different jobs in order to fulfil its function.
Vehicle
A vehicle is an appliance that is provided to drive on the ground.
Waste treatment plant
All plants that have treatment/disposal or pre-treatment of waste as their principal activity.
Waste water treatment plant
Waste water treatment plant means an installation for transport, treatment and emmision of waste water.
Work stoppage
Work stoppage covers labour disputes, or work stoppages, of at least one day's duration. There are two types of work stoppages, strike and lock-out.