Data by domain
In the database, data is not presented by cultural domain, but takes more a sectoral approach. Thus, below data is presented using a domain approach to facilitate analysis.
Music
No data collection specifically on music exists. The various EU harmonised surveys and data collections include only a few items of information on the topic.
A difficulty with those is that statistical classifications and variables often do not differentiate music from other cultural activities in broader categories, such as live performances, or artistic creation.
Regarding the sector of economic activity, 2 NACE codes exists which specifically relate to music:
- sound recording and music publishing activities (59.2)
- manufacture of musical instruments (32.2)
Data on these codes is collected in the EU labour force survey (EU-LFS). However, these 2 codes cover just a small part of the music sector. As the number of people employed in these professions is small, the data are not reliable in most countries.
These data come from the structural business statistics (SBS). The variables available include for example the number of enterprises, turnover, and value added.
Data as of 2021
- Sound recording and music publishing activities (NACE code 59.2)
- Manufacture of musical instruments (NACE code 32.2)
Data until 2020
- Sound recording and music publishing activities (NACE code 59.2)
- Manufacture of musical instruments (NACE code 32.2)
The database on the production of goods provides information about the production of music-related goods (mainly instruments and recorded media).
The domain of international trade in goods includes annual data on trade of musical instruments and parts of thereof.
Since 2017, data on recorded media containing only music have not been collected as a separate category. In statistics on international trade in services, music items are included in the existing categories:
- audio-visual services
- artistic services
- licences
The survey on ICT use in households and by individuals provides annual data on listening to music online (via web radio or music streaming). These data are available by breakdowns such as age, sex, and educational attainment.
These statistics come from the household budget surveys (HBS). They are collected by Eurostat every 5 years. Music-related items include 2 codes: equipment for the reception, recording, and reproduction of sound and musical instruments.
In the EU-SILC ad hoc modules on cultural participation, data on musical events or activities (theatre, music and dance) are collected in just 1 category on live performances attendance. Similarly, information on artistic practices, include art, theatre, and other categories besides music.
Cultural heritage
Several EU-harmonised surveys and databases include data on topics that relate to cultural heritage across the EU. However, statistical classifications or variables often cannot distinguish cultural heritage-related items from other categories covered by broader codes, for example, for occupations using the international standard classification of occupations (ISCO) or for public expenditure using the classification of the functions of government (COFOG).
For economic activities according to the NACE revision 2 classification, the main code on cultural heritage is ‘libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities’.
The classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP) covers ‘museums, libraries, zoological gardens’.
Source is the EU labour force survey (EU-LFS).
These data come from the structural business statistics (SBS). The variables available include for example the number of enterprises, value added, persons employed per enterprise.
- Museums activities (NACE code 91.02)
- Operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions (NACE code 91.03)
- Library and archives activities (NACE code 91.01)
Business demography statistics (births and deaths of enterprises) provide annual data. However, data are collected on a voluntary basis and are therefore not available for all countries.
Data as of 2021
Data until 2020
- Intra and extra-EU trade in antiques and works of art
- Intra and extra-EU trade in antiques and works of art, by partner
Source are the statistics on international trade in goods, which include annual data on imports and exports of objects classifiable as part of the cultural heritage, such as antiques, and works of art.
- Visiting cultural sites by sex, age and educational attainment
- Visiting cultural sites by income quintile, household type and degree of urbanisation
- Reasons for non-visiting cultural sites by sex, age and educational attainment
- Reasons for non-visiting cultural sites by income quintile, household type and degree of urbanisation
Source are the EU statistics on income and living conditions (SILC) modules on cultural participation, which include data on visiting cultural sites.
The most recent ad hoc module on cultural participation was included in the EU-SILC in 2015. The next set of data will be available in the framework of the EU-SILC 2022. Afterwards, it will take place every 6-year.
Source is the household budget surveys (HBS). Data are collected by Eurostat every 5 years. The most recent published data refer to the 2020 wave.
- Index of prices for museums, libraries and zoos - annual data
- Index of prices for museums, libraries and zoos - monthly data
Source are statistics on the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP), which show the costs to consumers of cultural heritage-related services.
Data are available for the area of museums, libraries, and zoological gardens.
Books and press
Books and press includes activity such as creating, editing, publishing, and distributing books, periodicals, magazines, or newspapers (whether printed or digital). It also includes all aspects of cultural participation related to these goods.
- Publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing activities (NACE 58.1)
- Authors, journalists and linguists (ISCO 264)
In the classification of economic activities (NACE), the books and press domain is mainly covered by the code 58.1 ‘Publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing activities.’ It consists of 3 classes on culture:
- book publishing (58.11)
- publishing of newspapers (58.13)
- publishing of journals and periodicals (58.14)
as well as 2 classes considered as ‘non cultural’
- publishing of directories and mailing lists (58.12)
- other publishing activities (58.19)
From 2021 reference year, the EU labour force survey (EU-LFS) provides annual employment data by economic activity at the NACE group level. This means that only the entire code 58.1 can be used for the books and press domain. This results in a potential overestimation of employment in the cultural sector due to the inclusion of the 2 non-cultural codes mentioned above.
The EU-LFS also provides data on the number of people describing their main job as ‘Authors, journalists and linguists’ (ISCO code 264).
These data come from the structural business statistics (SBS). The variables available include for example the number of enterprises, value added, persons employed per enterprise.
Data as of 2021
- Publishing activities
- News agency activities
- Retail sale of books, newspapers and stationery in specialised stores
Data until 2020
- Publishing activities
- News agency activities
- Retail sale of books, newspapers and stationery in specialised stores
Statistics on production of manufactured goods provide annual data on the production of different kinds of printed books, newspapers, journals, and periodicals.
Source of the data are the statistics on international trade in goods, which includes annual data on international trade of printed books, newspapers, journals, and periodicals, as well as maps and charts.
Source of the data are the 2007 and 2011 adult education surveys.
The 2022 EU-SILC ad hoc module on cultural participation included a variable about reading books, the number of books read in the last 12 months and the main reason for not reading books. Data are not yet available.
- Reading online news sites, newspapers or news magazines
- Purchase of books and press online (2020 onwards)
- Purchase of books and press online (until 2019)
Source is the annual EU survey on ICT use in households and by individuals.
- Index of prices for books and press - annual data
- Index of prices for books and press - monthly data
Source are the statistics on the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP), which allows for the analysis of price trends for books, newspapers, and periodicals in EU countries.
It is based on the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP). The category on books has been expanded to gather details on fiction books, educational text-books, other non-fiction books, and binding services and e-book downloads. The index is also available for newspapers, magazines and periodicals.
Source are the household budget surveys (HBS). Eurostat collects these data every 5 years. The most recent published dataset refers to the 2020 wave.