67% of enterprises created in 2016 were still active in 2021
90.8% of Belgian enterprises created (first VAT registrations) in 2020 were still active on 31 December 2021. This represents 82,807 enterprises out of a total of 91,161 enterprises created in 2020.
This 1-year survival rate amounts to 92% in Wallonia, 91% in Brussels and 90.4% in Flanders.
For first registrations in 2019, this 1-year survival rate was 90.8% for Belgium, 91.3% in Wallonia, 91% in Brussels and 90.6% in Flanders.
Among enterprises with a first VAT registration in 2016, 67.1% have survived until 2021 in Belgium, 67.8% in Flanders, 67% in Wallonia and 64.3% in Brussels.
Survivals and survival rates of active enterprises subject to VAT 2016
| Region | 1-year survival rate | 2-years survival rate | 3-years survival rate | 4-years survival rate | 5-years survival rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 90.3% | 81.2% | 73.9% | 68.8% | 64.3% |
| Flemish Region | 92.1% | 84.7% | 77.9% | 72.4% | 67.8% |
| Walloon Region | 90.9% | 83.2% | 76.4% | 71.5% | 67.0% |
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.