Extension of annual statistics for the survival of VAT-registered units
As of today, Statbel is making available the extended results of the annual statistics on the survival of VAT-registered units.
These results are now available down to the district level and according to the 4-digit NACE classification. These detailed data enable in-depth analyses to be carried out and a better understanding of local economic dynamics.
For more details, these data are now also available as open data:
As a reminder, 90.3% of Belgian enterprises created (first VAT registrations) in 2022 were still active on 31 December 2023. This 1-year survival rate amounts to 90.9% in Wallonia, 90.2% in Flanders and 89.7% in Brussels.
Survivals and survival rates of active enterprises subject to VAT 2018
| Region | 1-year survival rate | 2-years survival rate | 3-years survival rate | 4-years survival rate | 5-years survival rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 89.0% | 81.4% | 74.6% | 67.5% | 61.5% |
| Flemish Region | 90.3% | 82.6% | 75.9% | 70.0% | 64.2% |
| Walloon Region | 89.4% | 82.4% | 76.2% | 70.5% | 65.0% |
Purpose and short description
Survivals and survival rates of active enterprises subject to VAT since 2008, based on the business register DBRIS, per year, region, economic activity (NACE-BEL), employment class and type of enterprise (natural person or legal entity).
Survey population
VAT-registered enterprises
Periodicity
Annual
Release calendar
Results available 9 months after the reference period
Definitions
Economic activity (NACE-BEL): Official nomenclature with an ‘X’ at the end when the information is only on 4 positions.
NIS employment class: NIS employment class as defined in the official NIS table
Number of first registrations: The number of first registrations refers to the number of VAT units which register for the first time for VAT.
Methodology
In order to produce the statistic on the survival rate of VAT-registered enterprises, we have tracked all enterprises which were for the first time subject to VAT, and we have identified, over the 5 following years, the enterprises concerned retaining this quality. When this information was verified, we have calculated a survival rate for the period concerned. If an enterprise was removed from the VAT register, and is subsequently again subject to VAT, it was excluded the year of the first removal and is therefore not considered as having survived.
The survival rate is calculated as a percentage by dividing the number of survivals by the number of first registrations for each breakdown in the table.
The descriptive variables (type of enterprise, employment, activity) are those of the enterprise on 31/12 of the year of its first VAT registration.