The concepts described on these pages are words and expressions used in statistics with a specific, limited meaning. In everyday speech the word may have a different meaning. In connection with each definition you can find information about which sets of statistics use the concept.

If you are looking for statistical figures, go from the definition to the statistics page.

Legal unit

A legal unit is a corporation, or an organisation registered for conducting business. A legal unit is identified with a Business ID.

Legal units are, for example, limited companies, private practitioners of trade, co-operative societies, state-owned companies and foundations.



Validity of the definition

  • Valid

A unit for which a Business ID has been assigned in the Businesses Information System. Apart from business enterprises, such units also include public corporations and non-profit organisations. A statistical unit of the Business Register.

The definition is based on an EU regulation concerning statistical units (EEC 696/93).



Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 1900 - 21 August 2019

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Jaa