Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

Because of the number of consistency checks and data confrontations facilitated by the system of accounts, the overall accuracy is considered to be relatively high.

Sampling error

None.

Non-sampling error

The government deficit and debt is based on accounts figures for the whole general government sector that have a very limited degree of inaccuracy.

The statistical uncertainty is not calculated.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

The government deficit and debt is based on a number of sources that may be influenced by a certain degree of inaccuracy.

The deficit and debt is calculated for the past year and is public in a provisional edition at the beginning of April. The final edition, which is mainly based on final accounts is made public at the beginning of October.

The compilation of income taxes is not based on final tax statement until November.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

The deficit and debt is calculated for the past year and is public in a provisional edition at the beginning of April. The final edition, which is mainly based on final accounts is made public at the beginning of October.