Classification of Territorial Units for Statistics – abbreviated as NUTS (from the French: Nomenclature des Unités territoriales statistiques; also known as: Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) is a geographical standard used for a statistical division of the EU Member States economic territories into three regional levels of specified classes of the population. It has been established in order to enable the collection, compilation and dissemination of harmonised regional statistics in the European Union (e.g. data on regional accounts, demography, labour market and information society). The NUTS classification forms the basis for the application of regional policies in the EU Member States. In addition, it is essential for socio-economic development analysis of the regions. The NUTS classification was introduced by the Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003[1]. It entered into force on 11 July 2003 and replaced the earlier “Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)” established by Eurostat in cooperation with national statistical offices.
Information on the NUTS is available on the Eurostat website:
- Glossary: Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)
- Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics – Overview
- Publications of Eurostat on the NUTS classification