The Eurostat regional yearbook provides statistics on the economy and people in the regions of the European Union (EU). National figures alone cannot reveal the full and sometimes complex picture of what is happening at a more detailed level within the EU. Regional and local data help to increase the understanding of the diversity that exists between regions, cities and other geographical classifications that may be used to analyse a territory, complementing information for the EU, euro area and individual Member States. Within the EU, regional statistics are based on the three-level classification of territorial units for statistics, known by the acronym NUTS. The classification, updated every three years, uses harmonised conventions to define regions in a comparable manner, reflecting their diverse physical, demographic and administrative situations. For this edition of the Eurostat regional yearbook we have introduced NUTS 2016 as the basis for classifying the EU’s regions, while a set of statistical regions has also been added for one of the enlargement countries, Serbia. The Eurostat regional yearbook is based on the most recent data available, usually for 2017 or 2018. Whenever possible, it also provides analyses of changes over a 5 or 10-year period. These analyses are supported by a range of maps, tables, figures and infographics which are designed to highlight regional variations. Statistical information is an important tool for understanding and quantifying the impact of political decisions in a specific territory or region. The Eurostat regional yearbook 2019 gives a detailed picture relating to a broad range of statistical topics across the regions of the EU Member States, as well as the regions of the EFTA and candidate countries. Each chapter presents statistical information in maps, tables, figures and infographics, accompanied by a descriptive analysis highlighting the main findings. Regional indicators are presented for the following 12 subjects: EU policies for regions and cities, population, health, education and training, the labour market, the economy, structural business statistics, research and innovation, the digital economy and society, tourism, transport, and agriculture. In addition, two special chapters are included in this edition: a focus on European cities and a focus on regional socioeconomic developments after the global financial and economic crisis.
