Business population estimates
This collection brings together all documents relating to business population estimates.
The Business population estimates for the United Kingdom (UK) and regions (BPE) publication provides the only official estimate of the total number of private sector businesses in the UK at the start of each year, with their associated employment and turnover.
Business population estimates annual publications are accredited official statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
The Department’s Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008: statement of compliance sets out the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)’s operational arrangements for giving ministers and officials pre-release access to official statistics once they have attained their final form prior to publication.
This publication differs from other accredited official statistics outputs produced by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) on value-added tax (VAT) traders and pay as you earn (PAYE) employers. The ‘Guide to Business Statistics’ sets out the differences. The Business population estimates provide further information by number of employees, legal status, industry and geography.
Published editions
The publication has three main outputs. For headline summary information, refer to the ‘Statistical release’, published in html format. More detailed data is available in the ‘Detailed tables’, published in accessible Excel format (since 2022) and OpenDocument source format. The ‘Methodology and quality note’ explains how the estimates are calculated and reports on quality and changes in methodology.
The 2023 edition of Business population estimates for the UK and regions was published on 5 October 2023. View the latest BPE figures. Future release dates will be announced on the GOV.UK release calendar.
Get in touch
Send comments or feedback about the report to business.statistics@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Documents
Last updated 5 October 2023 + show all updates
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Business population estimates 2023 published and added to collection.
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Collection page updated to link to latest editon of the publications
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Updating page to link to 2021 editon of publication
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Updating the collection page for release of 2020 edition of publication
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Changes made to text to indicate availability of, provide description of, and link to data tools
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Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2019 added.
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Added business population estimates for 2018.
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Added details of new data tools.
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Added Business population estimates 2017.
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Added business population estimates for 2016.
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Added business population estimates for 2015
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Added Business population estimates 2014.
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Updated for the 2013 Business Population Estimates.
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First published.