Eurostat's flags
Eurostat puts a letter beside some values. The letter is called a flag, and it says what to know about the value. This page has all nine of Eurostat's flags under Eurostat's own names, and the two states of a missing value. Under each chart a sentence says the flag in words. On the method page the letter stands beside every flagged number.
Break in time series
A break in the series (flag b) means that a value is not fully comparable with the periods before it.
What the page does with it. The value stays in the chart and in the ranking. A sentence under the chart names the country whose series has the break.
Definition differs (see metadata)
A value with flag d follows a definition that differs from the others. Eurostat describes it in the metadata.
What the page does with it. The value stays in the chart and in the ranking. A sentence under the chart names the country.
Estimated
A value with flag e is an estimate, not measured or counted in full.
What the page does with it. The value stays in the chart and in the ranking. A sentence under the chart says that it is an estimate.
Forecast
A forecast (flag f) is not yet a measured value.
What the page does with it. A sentence under the chart says that the value is a forecast.
Value imputed by Eurostat or other receiving agencies
An imputed value (flag i) was filled in by Eurostat or another agency that receives the data, in place of a missing value.
What the page does with it. The value stays in the chart and in the ranking. A sentence under the chart says that Eurostat imputed it.
Missing value; data cannot exist
Flag m means that the country cannot have such a value.
What the page does with it. The country stands apart under the ranking, with the reason.
Not significant
Eurostat marks a value with flag n as not significant.
What the page does with it. A sentence under the chart names the country.
Provisional
A provisional value (flag p) may still be revised.
What the page does with it. The value stays in the chart and in the ranking. A sentence under the chart says that it is provisional.
Low reliability
A value of low reliability (flag u) should be read with care.
What the page does with it. The value is published. A sentence under the chart names the countries whose values Eurostat marks this way.
Without a value
Confidential
Eurostat treats the value as confidential and does not publish it.
What the page does with it. The country has no value on the page and is not ranked.
Not for publication
Eurostat does not publish the value.
What the page does with it. The country has no value on the page and is not ranked.