The NUTS classification is a hierarchical regional classification. There, each Member State is divided into regional units on the NUTS 1 level (3-digit codes), which are divided into NUTS 2 level regional units (4-digit codes), which are in turn further divided into NUTS 3 level regional units (5-digit codes). Each Member State can have more detailed hierarchical levels, which further divide the NUTS 3 level, and these are decided by the Member State in question.
The Regulation has defined the following average regional population thresholds for the formation of the NUTS regions: Regional level minimum maximum NUTS 1 3 mil. 7 mil. NUTS 2 800,000 3 mil. NUTS 3 150,000 800,000 According to the Regulation, administrative areas and otherwise geographically defined areas must be favoured in the definition of NUTS areas.
About the names and codes of areas:
Some areas of different countries can have the same name. The first letter of the country is added to the names of these areas to facilitate identification.Some areas appear on several NUTS levels, such as Luxembourg, which is present both as a country and on levels 1, 2 and 3. Then one to two zeros are added to the end of the code given to the area to describe different NUTS levels. Finland has one such area, Åland, which is included on levels 1, 2 and 3: FI2 Åland - NUTS 1 FI20 Åland - NUTS 2 FI200 Åland - NUTS 3.
NUTS classification and Finland’s national regional codes:
The NUTS 2016 regional classification effective from the beginning of 2018 is in force from 2018 to 2020. Even though corresponding national regional classifications would change during this time, the NUTS regional classification will not change. The NUTS Level 1 corresponds in Finland to the division into Mainland Finland and Åland. The NUTS 2 level corresponds to the national division of major regions and NUTS 3 to the division of regions. The NUTS classification is valid at least three years at a time. National regional codes are used in Finnish data systems and statistical compilation, such as municipality numbers given by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and national codes of regions.
The NUTS regional classification is used for statistics submitted to Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union.