hallintotiedot

Hallintotiedot are administrative data held by public authorities describing individuals and households for the purpose of administering rights, services, and obligations. These data originate from various registers and information systems maintained by government agencies, such as population information, tax, social security, education, employment, housing, health services, and immigration records. The content can include identifiers (for example a personal identity code), contact details, demographic information, employment status, income, benefits received, and service usage, though the exact fields vary by source and purpose.

Uses and value: The primary purpose of hallintotiedot is to deliver public services and implement policy. They also enable the production of register-based statistics and research when properly authorized. A key advantage is the potential to cover the whole population, reducing the need for separate surveys. Data quality and timeliness depend on the respective registers and the administrative processes that generate and update them.

Privacy and governance: Hallintotiedot are protected by data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and national provisions. Access is limited to authorized personnel, and any cross‑agency data sharing requires a legal basis and appropriate safeguards, such as pseudonymization or anonymization for research purposes. When used for statistics, authorities like Statistics Finland may combine hallintotiedot from multiple registers under strict governance and oversight.

Limitations and challenges: Data fragmentation across agencies, differing definitions, and recording delays can affect quality and comparability. Efforts to link and harmonize data continue to improve the usefulness of hallintotiedot for administration and statistical work while safeguarding individuals’ privacy.