{"analytics_identifier":null,"base_path":"/government/statistics/business-population-estimates-2026","content_id":"df500d94-8543-4d39-9571-e7823c253c3d","description":"Annual business population estimates for the UK and regions in 2026.","details":{"attachments":[{"attachment_type":"html","command_paper_number":"","hoc_paper_number":"","id":"9596491","isbn":"","title":"Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2026: statistical release","unique_reference":"","unnumbered_command_paper":false,"unnumbered_hoc_paper":false,"url":"/government/statistics/business-population-estimates-2026/business-population-estimates-for-the-uk-and-regions-2026-statistical-release"},{"attachment_type":"html","command_paper_number":"","hoc_paper_number":"","id":"9596492","isbn":"","title":"Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2026: methodology note","unique_reference":"","unnumbered_command_paper":false,"unnumbered_hoc_paper":false,"url":"/government/statistics/business-population-estimates-2026/business-population-estimates-for-the-uk-and-regions-2026-methodology-note"},{"accessible":false,"alternative_format_contact_email":"digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk","assets":[{"asset_manager_id":"6ae3162ec591dbfc31fb67f1","filename":"BPE_2026_detailed_tables.ods"}],"attachment_type":"file","command_paper_number":"","content_type":"application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet","file_size":532270,"filename":"BPE_2026_detailed_tables.ods","hoc_paper_number":"","id":"9596493","isbn":"","title":" Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2026: detailed tables (ODS)","unique_reference":"","unnumbered_command_paper":false,"unnumbered_hoc_paper":false,"url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ae3162ec591dbfc31fb67f1/BPE_2026_detailed_tables.ods"},{"accessible":false,"alternative_format_contact_email":"digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk","assets":[{"asset_manager_id":"6ae093717cf9b22489046761","filename":"BPE_2026_data_underlying_SR_charts_tables.ods"}],"attachment_type":"file","command_paper_number":"","content_type":"application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet","file_size":14000,"filename":"BPE_2026_data_underlying_SR_charts_tables.ods","hoc_paper_number":"","id":"9596494","isbn":"","title":"Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2026: data for charts and tables in statistical release","unique_reference":"","unnumbered_command_paper":false,"unnumbered_hoc_paper":false,"url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ae093717cf9b22489046761/BPE_2026_data_underlying_SR_charts_tables.ods"},{"accessible":false,"alternative_format_contact_email":"digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk","assets":[{"asset_manager_id":"6ae3162ec591dbfc31fb67f0","filename":"BPE_2026_detailed_tables.xlsx"}],"attachment_type":"file","command_paper_number":"","content_type":"application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet","file_size":621549,"filename":"BPE_2026_detailed_tables.xlsx","hoc_paper_number":"","id":"9596495","isbn":"","title":" Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2026: detailed tables (MS Excel)","unique_reference":"","unnumbered_command_paper":false,"unnumbered_hoc_paper":false,"url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ae3162ec591dbfc31fb67f0/BPE_2026_detailed_tables.xlsx"}],"body":"<div class=\"govspeak\"><p>The business population estimates for the <abbr title=\"United Kingdom\">UK</abbr> and regions (<abbr title=\"Business population estimates\">BPE</abbr>) provide the only official estimate of the total number of private sector businesses in the <abbr title=\"United Kingdom\">UK</abbr> at the start of each year.</p>\n\n<p>Business population estimates 2026 is the latest in the annual publication of business population estimates.</p>\n\n<p>The status of the 2026 publication remains as <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/who-we-are/policies/official-statistics-policies/official-statistics-in-development/\">official statistics in development</a> this year.</p>\n\n<p>This publication differs from other official statistics outputs produced by the Office for National Statistics (<abbr title=\"Office for National Statistics\">ONS</abbr>) on Value Added Tax (<abbr title=\"Value Added Tax\">VAT</abbr>) traders and Pay As You Earn (<abbr title=\"Pay As You Earn\">PAYE</abbr>) employers. The <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/guide-to-business-statistics\">‘Guide to Business Statistics’</a> sets out the differences. The business population estimates provide further information broken down by number of employees, legal status, industry and geography.</p>\n\n<p>The department’s <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbt-standards-for-official-statistics/pre-release-access-to-official-statistics-order-2008-statement-of-compliance\">Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008: statement of compliance</a> sets out the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (<abbr title=\"Department for Business, Innovation, Scienece and Trade\">BIST</abbr>)’s operational arrangements for giving ministers and officials pre-release access to official statistics once they have attained their final form prior to publication.</p>\n\n<p>Future release dates will be announced on the <a 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