Statistics Explained

Glossary:Sector of origin

The definitions of the institutional sectors from which the receipts of social protection schemes originate are the same as those for the national accounts: the institutional unit is defined as an elementary economic decision-making centre characterised by uniformity of behaviour and decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function. A resident unit is regarded to constitute an institutional unit if it has decision-making autonomy in the exercise of its principal function and either keeps a complete set of accounts or is such that it would be possible and meaningful, from both an economic and legal viewpoint, to compile a complete set of accounts if required. The institutional sectors from which receipts of social protection schemes originate are listed below:

  • All resident institutional units: 1) Corporations (non-financial and financial); 2) General government(Central government; State and local government; Social security funds); 3) Households; 4) Non-profit institutions serving households
  • Rest of the world.


Further information

European system of integrated social protection statistics — ESSPROS Manual and User guidelines. 2019 edition

Statistical data

Social protection statistics - overview