Statistical reporting

Not all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participate in statistical surveys. Most of the time, a certain proportion of them are randomly selected (sampled). This means that SMEs are included in many surveys by chance. However, certain methodological principles are always followed when forming a sample of enterprises:

1. First, enterprises are divided into strata according to economic activity, and each stratum is in turn subdivided into strata according to enterprise size. Sometimes it is also necessary to stratify by territory. A random sample is then collected from each stratum.

2. The enterprises are assigned to the sample for one year. The following year, the sample is made again. However, if there are few enterprises in a stratum, they may be included in the sample again and again. Thus, sometimes small enterprises are repeatedly included in statistical surveys simply because there are very few enterprises of their kind of activity and size in Lithuania and they are statistically significant in the kind of activity they represent.

3. In order to control the statistical reporting burden on the smallest enterprises, it is ensured that enterprises having 0–4 employees and annual revenue not exceeding 10 per cent of the total revenue of the activity according to the Classification of Economic Activities (EVRK Rev. 2) participate in no more than 3 statistical surveys per year.

Document updated: 2023-01-09

The purpose of official statistics is to provide users with objective, reliable and timely statistical information on demographic, social and economic processes, and to help society make decisions both at the national and personal level. For preparation of such information, data from administrative data sources do not suffice. Therefore, statistical surveys are carried out and data from enterprises and residents are collected. By providing statistical reports, respondents make a significant contribution to the production of official statistics.

The obligation to provide statistical data is set by legislation.

Respondents must:

1. Provide free of charge correct and detailed statistical data, and the data which allow direct or indirect identification, as well as electronic transactions’ or other records, mobile data, real-time data or other data collected and processed by private legal entities, including personal data, among them also special categories of personal data, in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts for the purpose of implementation of the Official Statistics Programme. The respondents being natural persons must provide statistical data, and the data which allow direct or indirect identification, if so provided by legal acts of the European Union or by laws of the Republic of Lithuania, for the purpose of implementation of the Official Statistics Programme.

2. Rectify and/or adjust and/or supplement false and/or inaccurate and/or missing statistical data if they find that they have provided such data to a body managing official statistics. The body managing official statistics shall provide the respondents with the possibility to rectify and/or adjust and/or supplement the statistical data provided and inform them of the mode/modes of rectification and/or adjustment and/or supplementing;

3. When providing statistical data, using an advanced electronic signature or by any other means that allows identification of the natural person who has provided them, confirm the correctness of the statistical data or the fact that the statistical data recorded in a statistical questionnaire or provided according to the list of statistical indicators are consistent with the statements of an interview, except in cases where it is not required to indicate the respondent;

4. Create conditions for employees of the bodies managing official statistics to collect free of charge publicly available statistical data for the purpose of implementation of the Official Statistics Programme;

5. When the respondents being natural persons provide statistical data by telephone – introduce themselves, namely, provide the name, surname.

The consequences of failure to submit statistical reports are defined by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

Pursuant to Article 221 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Lithuania**:

1. Failure to submit statistical data in accordance with the established procedure to institutions managing official statistics or submitting false statistical data to institutions managing official statistics shall result in a fine of EUR 150 to EUR 300 for managers of legal entities or other responsible persons.

2. The administrative offence provided for in paragraph 1 of this article, committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of EUR 800 to EUR 1,800.

3. Failure to provide civil servants/employees of institutions managing official statistics with documents confirming the statistical data provided, or concealment of such documents, shall result in a fine of EUR 150 and EUR 300 for managers of legal entities or other responsible persons.

Statistics Lithuania hopes for the understanding and goodwill of enterprises and residents in providing statistical data.
 

*Law on Official Statistics and State Data Governance of the Republic of Lithuania
**Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Lithuania

Document updated: 2023-01-09