Results of the 2021 Economic Census for Business Activity Compiled: Cross-Industry Aggregates of Establishments and of Businesses

1. The Economic Census for Business Activity

The Economic Census for Business Activity is a survey of all establishments and businesses in Japan conducted with the aim of clarifying both the nationwide and region-by-region situation of economic activity in establishments and businesses in all industries and fields in Japan and obtaining information on the population that will contribute to improving the accuracy of each statistical survey targeting all establishments and businesses. This survey was the third one, with the first and second conducted in 2012 and 2016, respectively.

2. Summary of the survey results

(1) Results for cross-industry aggregates (aggregates of businesses)

As of June 1, 2021, there were 3,684,049 businesses in Japan, while the total value of their sales (revenue; hereinafter referred to as “sales”) in 2020 was 1,693.3126 trillion yen and the net value added was 336.2595 trillion yen.

Looking at the sales by large category, those in the wholesale and retail trade industry were 480.1679 trillion yen, accounting for 28.4%, the largest share in all industries, followed by the manufacturing industry, at 387.0606 trillion yen, accounting for 22.9%, and the medical, healthcare and welfare industry, at 173.3369 trillion yen, accounting for 10.2%. These top three industries account for 61.5% of the sales in all industries.

Notes:

1. The term “businesses” refers to companies (excluding foreign companies) and privately-owned establishments that conduct business activities. If one operator runs multiple privately-owned establishments, they are collectively deemed as one business. The same applies hereinafter.
2. The “sales” and “net value added” were aggregated targeting businesses from which values concerning necessary items were obtained.
3. The net value added in this survey was calculated using the following formula.
   Net value added = sales - (total costs (cost of sales + marketing expense and administrative overhead)) + total salaries + taxes and dues
   Among the components of the gross domestic product in the concept of the National Accounts of Japan, the value added in this survey does not include the following items, in particular:
   Value added by: consumption of fixed capital; employers’ shares of social insurance premiums; imputed service of owner-occupied dwellings; research and development cost; businesses in agriculture, forestry and fisheries; public corporations and producers of government services.

 

(2) Results for cross-industry aggregates (aggregates of establishments)

As of June 1, 2021, there were 5,156,063 private establishments in Japan with the number of employees being 57.95 million.

Looking at the number of private establishments by large category, that in the wholesale and retail trade industry amounted to 1,228,920, accounting for 23.8%, the largest share in all industries, followed by the accommodations, eating and drinking services, at 599,058, accounting for 11.6%, and the construction, at 485,135, accounting for 9.4%. These top three industries account for 44.9% of all industries.

Note: The “number of establishments” and “number of employees” were aggregated targeting establishments from which values concerning necessary items were obtained.

3. Information on the census website

A summary of results and statistical tables (Excel format) presenting the results of the survey and plans for future releases can be downloaded from this website (in Japanese) .

Division in Charge

Structural Statistics Office, Research and Statistics Department, Minister’s Secretariat