perustilastoja

Perustilastoja, or basic statistics, is a term used in Finnish official statistics to denote the core data sets that describe the structure and development of society. They provide the essential baselines for monitoring progress and for constructing more detailed indicators. Perustilastot are typically produced and published by Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) in cooperation with other authorities.

Scope and content: The concept covers demographic, economic, social, and regional indicators that serve as building blocks for analysis. Common categories include population size and structure, migration, births and deaths; employment, unemployment, and earnings; education levels; housing and living conditions; health indicators; and regional or municipal indicators such as population density and labor market statistics. The exact composition varies, but the aim is to offer robust, comparable baselines over time and across regions.

Data and methods: Perustilastot rely on multiple data sources, such as population registers, censuses, administrative records, and surveys. Classification schemes and harmonized definitions ensure comparability over time and across regions. Data quality control, revisions, and transparency about methodologies are standard practices to maintain reliability.

Usage and importance: They form the foundation for policy planning, budgeting, and research. Perustilastot enable national, regional, and local authorities to track trends, compare areas, and benchmark against international standards. Challenges include timeliness, data gaps, privacy considerations, and ensuring consistent definitions across data sources.