Agricultural statistics : data 1995-2005.
Date: 2007-03-06
Institutions: Eurostat
Subjects: EU statistics, agricultural holding, agricultural statistics, agricultural structure, animal production, crop production, rural development

ISSN 1830-463X

Pocketbooks

Agricultural statistics

Data 1995-2005

2007 edition

EuropEan Commission

2006_3669.indd   1

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Immediate access to harmonised statistical data
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Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007

ISBN 92-79-02955-X
ISSN 1830-463X

Theme: Agriculture and fisheries
Collection: Pocketbooks

© European Communities, 2007

Printed in Belgium

Printed on white chlorine-free PaPer

2006_3669.indd   2

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Eurostat on the Internet

Our website is updated daily. Visit it today and get: 

direct and free access to all Eurostat PDF publications;

direct and free access to our databases,

alert me — customisable e‑mail alerts;

specialised access to short‑term economic data;

complete information on all Eurostat products and services. 

European Statistical Data Support

Eurostat has set up with the members of the ‘European statistical system’ 
a network of support centres which will exist in nearly all Member States 
as well as in some EFTA countries. Their mission is to provide help and 

guidance to Internet users of European statistical data.

Contact details for this support network can be found on our Internet 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

site.

Media Support Eurostat

Journalists can contact the media support service:

Tel. (352) 4301‑33408

Fax (352) 4301‑35349

Introduction

The pocketbook Agricultural Statistics presents selected tables and 
graphs  providing  an  overview  on  developments  and  the  situation 
in  the  agricultural  sector  of  the  European  Union  and  also  presents 
some  data  on  rural  development.  The  data  come  from  various 
statistical themes of Eurostat: economy and finance, population and 
social  conditions,  external  trade,  regional  statistics  and  –  primarily 
– agriculture and fisheries.

Chapter  1  shows  important  indicators  of  agricultural  development 
in the European Union and the place of agriculture in the economy 
of the Member States. It also outlines the volume of the European 
Union’s  external  trade  in  food  and  agricultural  products.  The 
following  chapter  2  covers  the  economics  of  the  agricultural 
industry  and  presents  data  on  output  and  input  volumes,  income 
indicators  and  main  price  trends.  Chapter    covers  land  use  and 
crop  production.  The  selected  tables  and  graphs  focus  on  cereal 
production and demand as well as on the production of vegetables 
and  fruits.  Chapter  4  on  animal  products  presents  data  for  meat 
supply  and  demand  and  for  milk  production.  Chapter  5  presents 
basic information on the rural areas of the EU.

More  detailed  data  as  well  as  methodological  information  can  be 
found on the Eurostat website at:

E‑mail: eurostat‑mediasupport@ec.europa.eu

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

This website offers free access to Eurostat’s dissemination database, 
predefined tables, methodological documents and other publications 
of Eurostat.



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2006_3669.indd   4

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Table of contents

Page

Introduction .. .. .. ..................... ........ ........ .. ... .. ... ... .. .. 

Table of contents ......................... ........ ........ ..... ... . .. . 

Units, abbreviations and symbols used .............. ... ... . 

3

5

6

1. Agriculture in the economy ......................... ........ ... ... 

9
1.1.   Labour force in agriculture ........................ ... .. .   12 
1.2.   Gross value added at basic prices in agriculture, 

hunting, forestry and fisheries ................... .. .. ...   14
1..   Exports of food, drinks and tobacco ........... ... ... ..   16
Imports of food, drinks and tobacco ........... ... ... ..   18
1.4.  

2. The agricultural economy ......................... ........ ... ... ..  21
2.1.   Output value at producer prices of the agricultural 

industry ......................... ........ ........ .. ... ... . .   24

2.2.   Total intermediate consumption by the agricultural 

industry ......................... ........ ........ .. ... ... . .   26

2..   Agricultural gross value added at producer prices 

and all subsidies ......................... ........ .. ... ...   28
2.4.   Agricultural income indicator A .................. ... ... .   0
2.5.   Deflated agricultural price indices ............. ... .. ...   2
2.6.   Number of agricultural holdings of at least 1 ESU

by area size class, 2005 ........................... .. .. .   4

3. Land use and crop products ............................. .. ... ...  7
.1.   Land use by EU agriculture, 2005 ............. ... .. ...   40
.2.   Harvested production of cereals (including rice) .. ...   42
..   Supply balance sheets for cereals (excluding rice) ..   44
.4.   Production of common wheat, barley and grain

maize in the EU ......................... ........ .. ... ... .   46

.5.   Harvested area of vegetables (excluding kitchen 

gardens) ......................... ........ ........ ... . .. . ..   48
.6.   Harvested area of fruit trees ..................... ... ...   50

4. Animal products ......................... ........ ........ .... .. . ... ..  5
4.1.   Slaughtering of bovines ......................... ... ... ..   56
4.2.   Slaughtering of pigs ............................. .. ... ...   58
4..   Supply demand balance for total meat ......... .. ... ..   60
4.4.   Production of cow’s milk ........................... .. .. .   62

5. Labour in rural areas ......................... ........ ........ .. ... .  65
5.1.   Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation, 

2005 . ........................ ........ ........ ........ . .. . ..  68
5.2.   Employment rates by degree of urbanisation, 2005 ..   72
5..   Youth unemployment ratio by degree of urbanisation,  

2005 ....................... ........ ........ ..... ... .. ... ...  7

5

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Units, abbreviations and symbols used

Units
ha 
kg 
t 
€	

hectare = 10.000 m²
kilogram
metric tonne
Euro

annual work unit
Economic Accounts for Agriculture
European System of Accounts
European Size Unit

Abbreviations
AWU 
EAA 
ESA 
ESU 
EU-SILC   European Survey on Income andLiving Conditions
FAO 
FSS 
GIP 
GVA 
LAU 
LFS 
NUTS 
OECD 
UAA 

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Farm Structure Survey
gross indigenous production
gross value added
local administrative unit
Labour Force Survey
Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
utilized agricultural area

EU 
EU-25 
EU-15 

European Union
European Union (25 Member States)
European Union (15 Member States)

Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Germany
Estonia
Greece
Spain
France
Ireland
Italy
Cyprus
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Hungary
Malta
Netherlands
Austria 
Poland
Portugal
Slovenia
Slovak Republic
Finland
Sweden
United Kingdom
Bulgaria
Romania
Croatia
Turkey

BE 
CZ 
DK  
DE 
EE 
EL 
ES 
FR 
IE 
IT 
CY 
LV 
LT 
LU 
HU 
MT 
NL 
AT 
PL 
PT 
SI 
SK 
FI 
SE 
UK 
BG 
RO 
HR 
TR 

6

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Symbols

–  
0.0  
: 
p 
e 
s 
f 
u 
c 

Not applicable
Less than half the unit used
Not available
Provisional value
Estimated value
Eurostat estimate
Forecast
Unreliable or uncertain data
Confidential

7

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2006_3669.indd   8

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1.  

AgrIcULTUre  
In The economy

2006_3669.indd   9

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2006_3669.indd   10

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1. Agriculture in the economy

This  chapter  gives  an  overview  on  indicators  of  agricultural 
development in the EU and the place of agriculture in the economy of 
the Member States. The data are extracted from various collections 
of  Eurostat’s  statistics:  national  accounts  (within  theme  economy 
and finance), labour force survey (LFS) (within theme population and 
social conditions), aggregated data on external trade and agricultural 
labour input.

The  share  of  agriculture,  hunting,  forestry  and  fisheries  in  total 
employment  in  2005  is  4.9%  in  the  EU-25.  It  is  also  shown  that 
labour input to the agricultural industry follows a negative trend.

The  National  Accounts  measure  the  money  value  of  the  goods 
and  services  produced  by  a  country.  The  breakdown  by  economic 
activities  shows  that  the  share  of  agriculture,  hunting,  forestry  and 
fisheries in gross value added (GVA) at basic prices is 1.9% in the 
EU-25.

The external trade database contains data at a detailed commodity 
breakdown.  It  may  be  seen  that  agrifood  trade  represents  4.9%  of 
the  total  exports  and  6.6%  of  the  total  imports  value  of  the  Union 
(excluding intra-EU-trade between Member States).

11

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Agriculture in the economy

Table 1.1: Labour force in agriculture

1995

2000

2005

1995-2000

2000-2005

1000 AWU

annual change: % p.a.

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

:

7209

84

:

90

792

70

645

1102

117

22

146

:

:

:

5

780

5

221

198

:

619

111

20

141

90

91

:

:

10540

6529

75

166

76

685

65

586

1101

1028

172

18

24

149

187

4

676

4

220

175

910

5797

71

157

65

58

8

610

989

94

167

1159

22

16

151

4

521

4

197

169

2495

2292

50

104

14

111

77

4

70

91

101

96

76

299

771

645

626

2515

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural labour input statistics
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

:

-2.0

-2.

:

-.

-2.9

-1.7

-1.9

-0.0

-2.0

-5.8

-1.1

:

:

:

-2.6

-2.8

-0.4

-0.1

-2.4

:

-4.1

-1.

-6.8

-4.6

-.

-.1

:

:

-2.5

-2.

-1.2

-1.1

-2.9

-.2

-10.2

0.8

-2.1

-1.7

-0.5

-.5

-1.7

-1.7

-4.1

-1.4

-5.1

-0.8

-2.2

-0.7

-1.7

-5.9

-2.6

-6.6

-2.8

-0.2

-2.2

-4.1

-7.2

12

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Agriculture in the economy

Share of economic activities in total employment of EU-25, 2005

Services,
67.6 % 

Agriculture,
hunting, forestry
and fisheries
4.9%

Source: Eurostat

Industry
27.5 %

The  labour  force  survey  (LFS)  defines  employment  in  agriculture,  hunting, 
forestry and fisheries on the basis of the main income of the natural persons. 
The  LFS  reports  that,  in  2005,  4.9%  of  the  total  labour  force  in  the  EU-25 
is  employed  in  agriculture,  hunting,  forestry  and  fisheries  (EU-15:  .7%). 
Countries  with  a  share  of  more  than  10%  are  Greece,  Latvia,  Lithuania, 
Austria1 and Poland.

Labour  input  according  to  the  definitions  of  the  agricultural  labour  input 
statistics  is  measured  in Annual  Work  Units  (AWUs),  which  are  defined  as 
full-time  equivalent  employment,  i.e.  as  total  hours  worked  divided  by  the 
average annual number of hours worked in full-time jobs within the economic 
territory. It covers all persons providing salaried and non-salaried labour input 
to the agricultural industry (more detailed methodological notes are available 
on  the  Eurostat  website).  Over  the  period  1995-2000,  the  agricultural 
labour  input  has  declined  by  2.0%  p.a.  in  the  EU-15.  This  rate  of  change 
has  speeded  up  since  2000  to  -2.%  for  the  period  up  to  2005  (EU-25:  
-2.5%).

1  Data of Austria is expressed in number of jobs.

1

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Agriculture in the economy

Table 1.2: gross value added at basic prices: agriculture, 

hunting, forestry, and fishing

1995

2000

2002

2003

2004

2005

% of the total economy

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

2.8

2.7

1.5

5.0

.5

1.

8.0

9.9

4.5

:

7.0

.

5.1

9.1

11.4

1.0

6.7

:

.5

2.7

8.0

5.7

4.2

5.9

4.

2.7

1.8

:

:

10.4

15.7

2.

2.2

1.4

.9

2.6

1.

4.9

7.

4.4

2.8

.4

2.8

.6

4.6

7.9

0.7

5.4

2.

2.6

2.1

5.0

.8

.2

4.5

.5

1.9

1.0

2.2

2.1

1.2

.

2.2

1.1

4.2

7.0

4.0

2.7

2.6

2.6

.7

4.6

7.0

0.6

4.7

2.5

2.

2.0

4.5

.

.2

5.1

.

1.8

0.9

2.1

2.0

1.1

.1

2.0

1.1

.7

6.7

4.0

2.5

2.5

2.5

.4

4.1

6.4

0.6

4.

2.5

2.

1.9

4.4

.4

2.6

4.5

.2

1.8

1.0

2.1

2.0

1.1

.

1.9

1.2

.8

5.7

.8

2.5

2.5

2.5

.0

4.4

5.8

0.5

4.8

2.5

2.2

1.9

5.1

.

2.7

4.5

.1

1.8

0.9

1.9

1.8

1.1

2.9

1.5

1.0

.7

5.2

.

2.2

:

2.

2.9

4.1

5.7

0.4

4.

2.5

2.2

1.6

4.8

2.8

2.5

4.

2.9

1.2

0.9

1.9

12.4

8.8

14.2

12.1

12.6

8.7

11.7

11.6

1.0

7.0

11.9

10.9

14.

6.9

11.5

9.

10.1

6.7

10.5

Source: Eurostat, Economy and finance - national accounts
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

14

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Agriculture in the economy

Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fisheries in the economy
of the EU Member States, 2005

y
m
o
n
o
c
e

l
l

a

f

o
%

20

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

BE CZ DK DE EE EL ES FR IE IT CY LV LT LU HU MT NL AT PL PT SI SK FI SE UK

Source: Eurostat

Labour force

GVA

Annual  national  accounts  are  broken  down  by  economic  activities  in 
accordance with the European System of Accounts (ESA 1995).

In  2005,  1.9%  of  the  EU-25  gross  value  added  (GVA)  is  produced  by 
agriculture, hunting, forestry and fisheries. The share of these primary sectors 
in the GVA is for most of the new Member States higher than for most of the old 
Member  States. This  finding,  however,  cannot  be  generalised.  For  example, 
the share for Poland is 4.8% in 2005, which is higher than for France (2.2%) 
but lower than for Greece (5.2%).

The  development  of  the  GVA  of  agriculture,  hunting,  forestry  and  fisheries 
is  lagging  behind  the  growth  of  the  total  economy.  This  trend  has  led  to  an 
average annual reduction of the share by 0.1 percentage points over the past 
ten years. Some of the new Member States show a particular marked decline 
of this GVA share (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland).

It is also interesting to compare the GVA shares of these primary sectors with 
their labour force shares. At EU-25 level, the labour force share exceeds the 
GVA share by around 150%.

15

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Agriculture in the economy

Table 1.3: exports of food, drinks and tobacco

1995

2000

2005

1995

2000

2005

billion €

% of all exports

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

:

9.0

1.9

:

9.2

18.8

:

2.0

10.6

0.1

6.6

11.0

:

:

:

:

:

:

25.7

1.8

:

1.1

:

:

0.7

1.

11.9

48.0

49.9

17.5

1.2

10.9

25.5

0.2

2.5

15.9

4.9

6.9

14.8

0.1

0.1

0.4

0.6

2.1

0.1

52.6

56.9

21.

2.4

12.0

.5

0.4

2.6

19.4

6.6

7.4

18.0

0.2

0.5

1.1

0.7

.1

0.1

.9

40.5

.5

2.7

1.7

0.

0.4

0.8

2.2

6.1

6.7

2.4

0.5

1.0

0.9

.6

16.2

15.4

:

6.8

10.2

:

2.6

4.7

:

2.

14.2

1.1

19.

6.1

:

:

:

:

:

:

16.5

4.0

:

6.4

:

:

2.

2.0

6.5

5.6

5.

8.6

.7

19.6

4.

5.5

19.6

12.8

9.8

8.2

5.7

25.6

5.4

10.9

6.4

6.9

2.6

4.9

4.9

7.9

.8

17.4

4.

6.8

18.7

12.9

9.9

8.4

6.1

16.1

11.1

12.0

4.7

6.1

.

1.4

12.5

4.7

7.9

6.4

.6

.0

1.6

2.4

5.2

6.1

9.

7.8

.2

.9

1.7

.4

5.0

Source: Eurostat, External trade - aggregated data
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

16

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Agriculture in the economy

Share of exports of food, drinks and tobacco in total exports
of the EU, 2000 and 2005

s
t
r
o
p
x
e

l
l

a

f

o
%

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

2000

2005

Source: Eurostat

EU-25

EU-15

The  external  trade  statistics  cover  both,  extra-EU-trade  (between  a  Member 
State  and  a  non-member  country)  and  intra-EU  trade  (between  Member 
States).

The  value  of  exports  of  food,  drinks  and  tobacco  from  the  EU-25  reaches  
€	52.7	billion	in	2005,	which	represents	4.9%	of	the	value	of	all	exports.	This	
percentage was slightly higher in the preceding years.

In  the  EU-15  the  share  of  food,  drinks  and  tobacco  in  total  exports  fell  from 
6.8% in 1995 to 4.9% in 2005.

The figures reported for EU-25 exclude trade between the 25 Member States, 
whereas the figures for EU-15 only exclude trade between the old 15 Member 
States.  Therefore  the  value  of  EU-15  exports  of  food  drinks  and  tobacco  in 
2005	is	with	€	56.9	billion	slightly	higher	than	for	EU-25.

The  reported  figures  for  the  single  Member  States  include  trade  with  other 
Member States. Among the 25 Member States the Netherlands have reported 
the	 highest	 value	 of	 exports	 of	 food,	 drinks	 and	 tobacco	 (€	40.5	billion)	
followed	 by	 France	 (€	36.7	billion).	 However,	 Greece	 has	 the	 highest	 share	
of exports of food, drinks and tobacco in its total exports (18.7%) followed by 
Denmark (17.4%) and Cyprus (16.1%).

17

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Agriculture in the economy

Table 1.4: Imports of food, drinks, and tobacco

1995

2000

2005

1995

2000

2005

billion €

% of all imports

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

:

4.2

12.9

:

4.2

2.5

:

.0

10.

20.9

2.1

16.6

:

:

:

:

:

:

14.8

2.9

:

.0

:

:

1.2

.0

18.8

54.6

54.8

14.9

1.6

5.7

6.0

0.4

.9

14.2

25.2

.

20.4

0.4

0.4

0.5

1.2

1.0

0.

62.

66.5

18.1

.2

6.9

41.6

0.6

4.6

19.0

28.

4.

24.1

0.6

0.7

0.9

1.4

2.1

0.

20.2

24.0

4.1

.0

4.5

0.6

0.7

1.8

4.5

5.9

4.7

5.1

1.0

1.6

2.

6.5

28.0

.8

:

7.9

10.2

:

12.0

9.2

:

15.2

11.9

9.5

8.

10.5

:

:

:

:

:

:

10.4

5.7

:

11.8

:

:

5.

6.0

9.2

5.5

5.

7.8

4.7

11.5

6.7

8.0

10.7

8.4

6.9

6.0

7.9

11.8

11.5

8.8

9.8

2.7

8.1

8.6

5.

5.6

5.

5.4

7.1

5.1

11.4

6.7

7.6

10.6

8.5

7.1

7.9

7.9

11.2

10.6

7.6

8.

.9

11.8

8.

5.8

5.8

10.4

10.5

5.6

5.

4.9

5.8

7.4

6.1

5.5

4.9

7.

8.2

Source: Eurostat, External trade - aggregated data 
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

18

2006_3669.indd   18

23-01-2007   14:40:01

Agriculture in the economy

EU net imports of food, drinks and tobacco, 2000 and 2005

€

n
o

i
l
l
i

b

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

2000

2005

Source: Eurostat

EU-25

EU-15

Share of imports of food, drinks and tobacco in total imports
of the EU, 2000-2005 

s
t
r
o
p
m

i

l
l

a

f

o
%

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

2000

2005

Source: Eurostat

EU-25

EU-15

The  value  of  imports  of  food,  drinks  and  tobacco  into  the  EU-25  reaches 
€	62.3	billion	in	2005,	which	represents	6.6%	of	the	value	of	all	imports.

The figures reported for EU-25 exclude trade between the 25 Member States, 
whereas  the  figures  for  EU-15  only  exclude  intra-EU-trade  between  the  old 
15 Member States. Therefore the value of EU-15 imports of food, drinks and 
tobacco	is	with	€	66.5	billion	slightly	higher	than	for	EU-25.

The  import  figures  for  the  single  Member  States  include  trade  with  other 
Member  States.  Among  the  25  Member  States  Germany  has  reported  the 
highest	 value	 of	 imports	 of	 food,	 drinks	 and	 tobacco	 (€	41.6	billion)	 followed	
by	the	United	Kingdom	(€	33.8	billion).

Comparing the import figures with export figures shows that the EU is a net 
importer of food, drinks and tobacco.

19

2006_3669.indd   19

23-01-2007   14:40:01

 
 
 
2006_3669.indd   20

23-01-2007   14:40:01

2.  

The AgrIcULTUrAL 
economy

2006_3669.indd   21

23-01-2007   14:40:01

2006_3669.indd   22

23-01-2007   14:40:01

2. The agricultural economy

This  chapter  presents  economic  data  for  the  agricultural  branch  of 
the EU which are extracted from the statistical collections economic 
accounts  for  agriculture  (EAA)  and  agricultural  prices  and  price 
indices.

The EAA is a satellite account of the European System of Accounts 
(ESA  1995),  providing  complementary  information.  It  covers  all  of 
the agricultural products and services produced over the accounting 
period  sold  by  agricultural  units,  held  in  stocks  on  farms,  or  used 
for  further  processing  by  agricultural  producers.  The  concepts  of 
the EAA are thus adapted to the particular nature of the agricultural 
industry:  for  example,  the  EAA  includes  not  only  the  production  of 
grapes  and  olives  but  also  the  production  of  wine  and  olive  oil  by 
agricultural  producers.  The  EAA  includes  information  on  the  intra-
unit  consumption  of  crop  products  used  in  animal  feed,  as  well  as 
output accounted for own-account production of fixed capital goods 
and own final consumption of agricultural units. Based on the EAA 
data, income indicators for the agricultural sector can be calculated.

The  agricultural  price  statistics  provide  information  on  the  
development  of  producer  prices  of  agricultural  products  as  well 
as  of  the  purchase  prices  of  the  goods  and  services  consumed 
by  agriculture  in  the  production  process.  Price  data  are  available 
for  single  commodities  and  for  larger  aggregates  in  the  form  of 
absolute  prices  and  price  indices.  There  are  annual  as  well  as 
monthly time series.

The  Farm  Structure  Survey  (FSS)  is  carried  out  about  every 
two  to  three  years  measuring  the  number  and  size  of  farms  and 
related  variables  such  as  the  agricultural  labour  force  and  the  age 
distribution of holders. The figures presented in this publication focus 
on the number of farms by area size classes. More detailed analytical 
tables with the results of the latest FSS in 200 are published in a 
special issue of the Quarterly Bulletin of Agricultural Statistics.

2

2006_3669.indd   23

23-01-2007   14:40:01

The agricultural economy

Table 2.1: output value at producer prices of the agricultural 

industry

1995

2000

2005

2000

2005

eU-25

eU-15

:

24450

million €

28001

25850

6845

2819

7724

291627

26062

6546

88

7746

9154

8868

66

9878

269

56607

515

40996

:

467

1140

28

484

11

1969

5189

12406

5997

952

182

50

492

502

10477

5666

55752

525

42776

0

69

1419

250

5715

112

20482

5297

14121

5947

990

1625

49

411

7090

:

791

40520

12

987

25744

5428

5167

468

:

:

849

247

:

:

1967

5219

:

5772

964

1568

50

4015

2124

20648

2097

2819

:

89

7971

56

12667

% of eU-15 % of eU-25

-

100.0

100.0

90.2

2.6

-

.0

15.1

-

.8

12.6

21.9

2.0

15.9

-

-

-

0.1

-

-

7.6

2.0

-

2.

-

-

1.

1.7

8.0

-

-

2.2

1.2

2.7

1.

0.2

.6

12.2

19.1

1.8

14.7

0.0

0.2

0.5

0.1

2.0

0.0

7.0

1.8

4.8

2.0

0.

0.6

1.2

1.4

7.0

-

-

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

Source: Eurostat, Economic accounts for agriculture 
Extraction date: 21 Nov 2006

24

2006_3669.indd   24

23-01-2007   14:40:02

The agricultural economy

Composition of the output value at producer prices
of the agricultural industry in EU-25, 2005

Other
36%

Eggs
2%

Milk
4%

Poultry
4%

Pigs
10%

Source: Eurostat

Cereals
9%

Vegetables &
horticultural
products
15%

Cattle
8%

Wine
5%

Fruits
7%

The  output  of  the  agricultural  industry  comprises  the  output  of  agricultural 
production  and  the  output  of  non-agricultural  secondary  activities  which  are 
inseparable from the principal agricultural activity.

According to the EAA the output value at producer prices (the producer price 
excludes subsidies less taxes on the products) of the agricultural industry is 
€	292	billion	 in	 2005	 for	 the	 EU-25.	The	 new	 Member	 States	 contribute	 with	
a	 share	 of	 10%	 to	 this	 value.	 With	 an	 output	 value	 of	 €	56	billion	 France	 is	
the largest agricultural producer in value terms in the EU-25 followed by Italy, 
Germany	 and	 Spain	 which	 each	 report	 an	 output	 value	 between	 €	36	 and	
€	43	billion.

The most important product groups are vegetables and horticultural products, 
pigs,  cereals,  cattle  and  fruits,  which  together  account  for  50%  of  the  total 
output of the agricultural industry in the EU-25.

25

2006_3669.indd   25

23-01-2007   14:40:14

The agricultural economy

Table 2.2: Total intermediate consumption by the agricultural 

industry

1995

2000

2005

in % of the output of the agricultural industry

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

:

5.

65.8

:

60.2

70.4

70.1

2.8

8.5

56.0

5.4

5.5

:

:

6.5

51.5

:

:

52.0

58.0

:

59.5

55.5

67.4

77.9

69.9

54.8

49.4

:

55.6

54.6

6.7

70.5

65.2

65.5

62.4

5.9

40.4

57.8

61.2

40.2

44.0

56.7

65.4

54.4

62.9

50.7

5.9

56.9

62.9

64.0

58.1

77.5

80.0

75.1

65.8

51.8

48.

57.8

56.8

67.4

72.9

68.0

66.

6.5

9.4

41.6

62.5

66.9

41.9

4.0

68.5

70.9

61.4

65.5

60.0

60.7

58.6

6.5

64.8

59.

76.5

8.7

76.2

64.9

54.0

51.5

Source: Eurostat, Economic accounts for agriculture
Extraction date: 21 Nov 2006

26

2006_3669.indd   26

23-01-2007   14:40:16

The agricultural economy

Composition of the value of intermediate inputs
consumed by the agricultural industry in EU-25, 2005

Maintenance
of buildings
2%

Maintenance
of material
6%

Feedingstuffs
36%

Source: Eurostat

Agricultural
services
8%

Other
16%

Seeds & planting
stocks
5%

Energy &
lubricants
12%

Fertiliser & soil
improvers
7%

Veterinary
expenses
3%

Plant protection
products
5%

In  the  EU-25,  intermediate  consumption  eats  up  58%  of  the  output  value  at 
producer  prices  of  the  agricultural  industry. The  most  important  intermediate 
input to agriculture in value terms is animal feed, which accounts for 6% of 
total intermediate consumption. Energy and lubricants contribute with 12% to 
the  value  of  intermediate  inputs  consumed  by  the  agricultural  industry.  The 
most important intermediate input items to crop production are fertilisers, plant 
protection  and  seeds  and  plantings  which  together  have  a  share  of  17%  in 
total agricultural intermediate consumption.

27

2006_3669.indd   27

23-01-2007   14:40:27

The agricultural economy

Table 2.3: Agricultural gross value added at basic prices and 

subsidies

gVA at producer prices

overall subsidies

1995

2000

2005

1995

2000

2005

million €

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

12658

12584

114255

11702

11529

2428

:

146

2484

81

2689

215

918

2475

12006

1521

1095

9

661

1589

292

2405

17

65

19484

2890

1998

18

649

20814

20920

174

2264

24527

24859

:

:

10

120

:

:

902

219

:

28

428

510

740

1208

9612

1428

:

25

202

94

109

61

219

412

97

1794

1972

64

905

229

4598

2160

99

11

670

1094

705

164

4121

45

8048

219

5161

2095

40

82

571

982

7161

1544

617

477

4186

8401

7485

48655

4864

4

:

796

5704



1944

4242

800

911

298

:

:

:

4

:

:

566

205

:

740

2

164

2289

704

2920

:

:

51

170

789

500

670

97

5601

609

22

2128

4895

8152

1284

4794



15

18

48

172

1

408

1422

214

664

64

25

1967

882

4099

5

228

90

2262

649

9685

2225

4417

4

171

228

61

1088

19

81

170

2086

108

199

26

2085

1018

4451

78

08

Source: Eurostat, Economic accounts for agriculture 
Extraction date: 10 Nov 2006

28

2006_3669.indd   28

23-01-2007   14:40:29

The agricultural economy

Agricultural GVA in the EU-25 by Member State,
average 2000-2005 

30.00

25.00

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00

€

n
o

i
l
l
i

b

9
2
5
2

.

8
5
2
2

.

2
5
1
2

.

7
6
.
3
1

7
2
.
8

1
5
.
7

7
4
.
6

1
9
.
4

4
5
.
2

5
2
.
2

3
2
.
2

2
2
.
2

2
9
.
1

2
8
.
1

7
0
.
1

4
9
.
0

0
6
.
0

9
3
.
0

9
3
.
0

8
3
.
0

5
3
.
0

1
2
.
0

6
1
.
0

0
1
.
0

6
0
.
0

IT FR ES DE NL UK EL PL DK PT BE AT HU IE SE CZ FI SI SK LT CY LV EE LU MT

Source: Eurostat

The gross value added (GVA) at producer prices of the agricultural industry is 
defined as the difference between the output value at producer prices and the 
value of intermediate consumption.

In	2005,	GVA	at	producer	prices	amounts	to	€	123	billion	in	the	EU-25.	More	
than  90%  of  this  value  is  generated  in  the  old  15  Member  States  (EU-15). 
Almost two thirds of the GVA of the agricultural industry in EU-15 are produced 
by France, Italy, Spain and Germany.

The value of all agricultural subsidies (product subsidies and other production 
subsidies) recorded in the European Agricultural Accounts (EAA) amounts to 
€	49	billion	in	the	EU-25.	The	value	of	GVA	at	current	producer	prices	in	2005	
has  remained  at  the  level  of  year  1995  in  the  EU-15,  while  the  value  of  all 
subsidies has increased by 28% in this time period.

29

2006_3669.indd   29

23-01-2007   14:40:29

The agricultural economy

Table 2.4: Agricultural income indicator A

Ø 1991-1995

Ø 1996-2000

Ø 2001-2005

index year 2000 = 100

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

:

:

102.1

:

9.1

70.1

:

:

81.

82.7

88.1

78.7

:

:

:

98.4

:

:

115.2

99.7

:

77.6

:

:

75.8

85.8

142.8

:

99.1

99.8

:

96.4

88.9

102.5

99.0

101.0

99.

9.

98.0

:

:

:

105.6

:

:

106.7

95.9

:

101.5

:

:

76.7

99.1

118.

105.2

101.6

92.2

87.7

91.7

110.5

191.2

91.6

111.2

95.9

95.9

95.

101.0

164.8

118.4

95.7

112.

95.6

87.9

108.9

146.2

115.8

111.4

11.8

96.4

106.9

122.1

Source: Eurostat, Economic accounts for agriculture 
Extraction date: 21 Nov 2006

0

2006_3669.indd   30

23-01-2007   14:40:30

The agricultural economy

Agricultural income indicator A, 1996-2005

112

110

108

106

104

102

100

98

96

94

0
0
1
=
0
0
0
2

r
a
e
y

x
e
d
n

i

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Source: Eurostat

EU-25

EU-15

The EAA also provides indicators on agricultural income. The indicator A is the 
real net value added at factor cost of agriculture per annual work unit (AWU). 
The  net  value  added  at  factor  cost  is  calculated  by  subtracting  from  gross 
value added at basic prices the consumption of fixed capital and adding the 
value of the (other) subsidies less taxes on production. The AWU is defined as 
the work volume corresponding to one full-time employed worker.

In  most  EU  Member  States  the  trend  of  the  income  indicator  A  has  been 
positive in the 1990s. Recent data show that this overall trend is continuing. 
However,  the  average  increase  in  income  is  significantly  higher  in  the  new 
Member States than in EU-15. Income indicator A has decreased in 2005, by 
5% in the EU-25, following an increase of 6% in 2004.

1

2006_3669.indd   31

23-01-2007   14:40:30

 
 
 
 
The agricultural economy

Table 2.5: Deflated agricultural price indices

crop output

Animal output

1998

2002

2005

1998

2002

2005

index year 2000 = 100

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

107.8

107.9

109.1

110.6

102.1

109.8

:

101.8

106.6

106.9

112.9

110.7

:

111.8

10.7

110.4

84.5

:

105.6

105.7

112.6

109.5

116.0

119.5

111.6

107.

114.1

106.8

105.

95.5

99.7

100.

101.0

94.4

100.5

:

108.6

94.2

97.7

101.4

105.1

:

106.8

125.1

110.6

82.4

119.0

101.6

101.7

89.9

95.4

98.1

99.0

96.7

99.6

90.7

90.7

96.2

82.9

88.5

91.4

109.4

108.8

96.7

86.7

94.6

96.5

99.7

109.2

115.1

102.5

7.4

92.9

91.4

94.5

87.0

90.6

88.

77.

92.8

94.5

101.5

100.9

102.2

100.9

98.8

109.5

96.7

98.5

:

98.8

102.1

101.2

104.6

100.0

:

112.6

119.7

106.

112.8

:

99.8

100.8

104.5

99.5

109.9

117.1

102.6

10.

106.1

92.5

94.

90.5

90.9

91.7

94.5

84.2

84.2

88.5

89.0

84.2

91.2

:

119.8

97.9

94.2

94.6

90.2

94.7

:

99.1

97.5

91.8

99.6

95.5

87.9

95.7

86.7

92.5

92.5

95.6

100.2

96.4

96.5

90.5

89.4

85.1

88.

116.2

118.

106.8

86.5

85.

81.4

84.

9.1

94.4

8.9

86.1

75.9

92.1

86.7

100.2

102.8

81.4

94.0

71.7

81.

125.9

96.0

81.0

:

125.8

108.9

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural prices and price indices 
Extraction date: 21 Nov 2006

2

2006_3669.indd   32

23-01-2007   14:40:31

The agricultural economy

Deflated price index of goods and services consumed
in agriculture in the EU-25, 1997-2005

0
0
1
=
0
0
0
2

r
a
e
y

x
e
d
n

i

109.0

107.0

105.0

103.0

101.0

99.0

97.0

95.0

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Source: Eurostat

The  agricultural  price  statistics  present  time  series  on  the  producer  prices 
of  the  agricultural  industry  and  on  the  prices  of  the  goods  consumed  by 
agriculture during the production process. Annual as well as infra-annual time 
series are published in the dissemination database at the Eurostat website.

It can be shown that the deflated prices for crop output as well as for animal 
output follow a long-term negative trend. Between 2000 and 2005 the deflated 
price index of animal outputs has decreased by 16% in the EU-25, while the 
price index for crop outputs decreased by 9%. The price index of the goods 
and services consumed by agriculture has also remained relatively stable in 
this period.



2006_3669.indd   33

23-01-2007   14:40:31

 
 
 
 
The agricultural economy

Table 2.6: number of agricultural holdings of at least 1 eSU 

by area class, 2005

≤5ha

5-<10ha

10-<30ha 30-<50ha

50 ha≤

Total

in 1000

eU-25

eU-15

2959.8

1182.1

127.

580.6

462.5

410.0

408.7

55.0

665.0

6542.9

54.5

1562.6

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

14.5

5.9

14.5

109.4

4.9

69.5

188.

108.1

51.5

168.7

1.9

19.2

41.9

0.

26.1

0.0

22.1

55.2

11.7

8.9

1.5

70.6

2.5

458.0

48.

126.5

6.1

6.7

.4

9.5

55.1

2.5

109.5

159.4

5.6

15.9

979.8

198.9

.0

11.

46.6

0.2

27.5

0.2

11.8

27.7

24.

6.2

28.4

0.5

8.8

7.0

2.6

0.7

82.2

142.4

1.0

6.4

6.0

7.5

1.0

17.1

976.9

47.8

298.2

.9

18.4

1.7

8.7

11.0

17.9

8.8

180.

27.

10.4

1.6

27.9

20.1

40.0

5.2

7.4

8.1

2.2

6.7

51.4

1.

11.5

52.0

75.8

28.5

8.6

0.4

.9

5.8

0.

6.4

0.0

1.6

14.7

.9

5.5

0.7

0.6

14.2

9.0

2.8

1.2

.7

8.5

6.4

16.0

84.6

2.

6.5

95.6

202.

2.6

40.4

0.4

4.4

5.9

1.1

11.6

0.0

10.7

8.7

20.7

10.2

0.

2.6

1.

18.7

70.5

5.1

1.5

49.5

26.8

48.1

71.1

1.4

654.9

978.5

566.4

125.5

1426.

29.9

44.9

128.6

2.4

155.4

7.2

81.8

17.0

1082.7

219.

60.9

12.9

70.0

66.

18.2

157.

1211.8

Source: Eurostat, Structure of agricultural holdings 
Extraction date: 1 November 2006

For EL, ES, FR, IT, BG: 200 data; for RO: 2002 data; for BE: preliminary data
For FR: the overseas departments are included

4

2006_3669.indd   34

23-01-2007   14:40:32

The agricultural economy

Agricultural holdings by area size, 2005

10%

6%

20%

46%

Source: Eurostat

≤ 5 ha

5 - < 10 ha

10 - < 30 ha

30 - < 50 ha

50 ha ≤

18%

The farm structure survey (FSS) covers all agricultural holdings with a utilized 
agricultural  area  (UAA)  of  at  least  1 ha  and  those  holdings  with  a  UAA  less 
than 1 ha if their market production exceeds certain natural thresholds (more 
detailed methodological notes on the Eurostat website). Due to the differences 
in  the  thresholds  across  Member  States,  comparison  is  possible  between 
holdings of at least 1 ESU (economic size unit). Thus hereby this limit is taken 
into account.

The FSS of the year 2005 reports that - according to the above given definition 
for  the  statistical  unit  observed  -  6.5 million  agricultural  holdings  exist  in  the 
EU-25. About one fourth of these holdings are located in the 10 new Member 
States of the EU. The farm sector of the EU shows a great variety in terms of 
type and size of farming. For example, almost half of all surveyed farms of the 
EU-25 have an area of less than 5 ha, whereas farms with an area over 0 ha 
account for little more than 16% of all farms. 92% of the farms with over 10 ha 
are located in the old Member States.

5

2006_3669.indd   35

23-01-2007   14:40:38

2006_3669.indd   36

23-01-2007   14:40:38

3.  

LAnD USe AnD 
croP ProDUcTS

2006_3669.indd   37

23-01-2007   14:40:39

2006_3669.indd   38

23-01-2007   14:40:39

3. Land use and crop products

The  statistical  sub-collections  land  use  and  crop  products  (within 
the collection agricultural products) refer to the principal categories 
of  land,  the  areas  under  cultivation  (expressed  in  hectares),  the 
production  quantities  (expressed  in  tonnes)  and  the  yields  per 
hectare.  The  supply  balance  sheets  provide  additional  information 
on the quantities imported, domestically used and exported.

The data are obtained by sample surveys supplemented by estimates 
based on expert observations and administrative data. The sources 
are not the same for each Member State but are adapted to national 
conditions and statistical practices.

In the EU-25, around 42% of the total land area is utilised agricultural 
area (UAA) of which 59% is arable land. The most important crops 
on this arable land are cereals. France is the largest cereal producer 
in the EU-25, which has a share of 12% in the world cereal harvest 
(including  rice).  Vegetables  and  fruits  are  important  crops  in  value 
terms.  In  particular,  the  climatic  conditions  in  the  south  of  Europe 
favour this production.

In  this  publication  only  a  small  subset  of  these  data  is  shown.  A 
broader product coverage and detailed breakdown of domestic use 
by  categories  (e.g.  human  consumption,  processing,  feed  use)  is 
available in the dissemination database on the Eurostat website.

9

2006_3669.indd   39

23-01-2007   14:40:39

Land use and crop products

Table 3.1: Land use by eU agriculture, 2005

Total area

1000 ha

972

2465

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

05

7887

410

5705

452

1196

50488

54909

700

012

925

6459

650

259

90

2

76

886

1269

9191

2027

490

815

44847

24410

Utilized 
agricultural 
area

of 
which

Arable 
land

Permanent 
grassland

Permanent 
crops

% of total area

40.7

9.7

45.4

44.6

62.9

47.7

18.4

28.8

50.9

5.9

59.2

48.8

14.7

26.8

4.4

49.9

6.0

2.4

51.5

8.9

50.9

40.7

25.1

9.6

6.7

6.7

61.0

24.4

22.5

27.6

.4

57.6

.

1.0

20.2

25.0

.4

16.

25.7

9.4

16.9

28.7

2.2

48.4

27.6

29.4

16.4

8.6

15.6

8.7

27.7

6.6

6.0

24.5

1.0

1.5

17.0

10.7

5.1

1.8

5.1

0.0

14.4

18.1

42.9

14.6

0.1

9.7

1.6

26.1

11.4

0.0

20.8

21.6

10.8

16.4

15.0

10.7

0.1

0.7

6.4

.1

.6

0.7

0.5

0.2

0.6

0.2

8.6

11.2

2.1

0.0

8.2

4.0

0.2

0.6

0.6

2.2

.4

0.9

0.8

1.1

8.4

1.4

0.5

0.0

0.0

0.1

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products - land use and Structure of agricultural 

holdings

Cyprus: 200 data
Last update: 07 Nov 2006

40

2006_3669.indd   40

23-01-2007   14:40:39

Land use and crop products

Categories of ultilized agricultural area (UAA) in the EU-25, 2005

Permanent
grassland
31.9%

Permanent
crops
7.6%

Other
0.5%

Arable land
60.0%

Source: Eurostat

The  land  use  statistics  are  part  of  the  data  collection  on  crop  products.  It 
provides information on the main categories and allocations of land.

Around 42% of total land in the EU-25 is utilized agricultural area (UAA). This 
share  differs  widely  between  Member  States  from  less  than  10%  in  Finland 
and Sweden to more than 60% in Denmark, Ireland, Hungary and the United 
Kingdom. 59% of the UAA in the EU-25 is arable land. The other part is mainly 
permanent  grassland  and  permanent  crops. About  half  of  the  arable  land  is 
cultivated under cereals.

41

2006_3669.indd   41

23-01-2007   14:40:45

Land use and crop products

Table 3.2: harvested production of cereals (including rice)

1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005 1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005

Ø

eU-25

eU-15

254.2

200.

million t

260.8

209.1

million t

 % of world production

26.2

206.9

12.5

9.8

12.6

10.1

12.0

9.4

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

2.4

6.7

9.

4.0

0.6

4.7

19.0

61.6

1.9

20.1

0.1

0.9

2.5

0.2

2.5

6.9

9.1

45.7

0.5

4.

20.6

65.0

2.1

20.7

0.1

0.9

2.4

0.2

2.8

7.4

9.1

45.5

0.6

4.4

20.0

6.2

2.2

20.9

0.1

1.1

2.8

0.2

12.4

12.0

1.9

:

1.6

4.7

:

1.7

4.7

:

1.9

4.8

0.8

7.9

0.0

0.4

1.0

0.1

4.9

:

0.6

1.9

25.9

25.5

26.7

10.2

1.5

0.5

.5

.4

5.6

1.5

0.5

2.9

.6

5.4

1.1

0.5

.

.8

5.

2.2

22.0

21.6

5.5

17.9

.0

:

6.0

15.2

.2

0.7

5.7

18.9

2.7

0.6

0.6

0.2

1.4

1.

2.2

9.1

-

-

-

-

 % of eU-25 production

1.0

2.6

.7

1.0

2.6

.5

1.1

2.8

.5

16.9

17.5

17.

0.2

1.9

7.5

0.2

1.6

7.9

0.2

1.7

7.6

24.2

24.9

24.0

0.8

7.9

0.0

0.4

0.9

0.1

4.6

:

0.7

1.8

9.8

0.6

0.2

1.1

1.4

2.1

8.4

-

-

-

-

0.8

7.9

0.0

0.4

1.1

0.1

5.

:

0.7

1.8

10.1

0.4

0.2

1.2

1.5

2.0

8.2

-

-

-

-

Source: Eurostat: Agricultural products and FAO(2005): for world production
Extraction date: 07 Nov 2006

42

2006_3669.indd   42

23-01-2007   14:40:46

Land use and crop products

Harvested production of cereals by type of cereals
in the EU-25, 2005

Grain Maize
19%

Barley
20%

Durum
wheat
3%

Source: Eurostat

Rice
1%

Other
12%

Common wheat
45%

The  statistics  on  the  production  of  crops  provide  data  on  the  areas  under 
cultivation,  the  yields  per  hectare  and  the  production  quantities  of  the  crops 
grown in the EU.

Cereals are one of the most important crop groups. With a production quantity 
of  over  260  million  tonnes,  the  EU-25  provides  almost  1%  of  the  world 
production  of  all  cereals  including  rice.  France  is  the  largest  producer  of 
cereals in the EU (about a quarter of the harvest).

Wheat is the most widely grown cereal type in the EU accounting for nearly 
one half of the production quantity in 2004.

4

2006_3669.indd   43

23-01-2007   14:40:53

Land use and crop products

Table 3.3: Supply balance sheets for cereals (excluding rice)

Ø 1995-2000

2001

2002

2003

eU-25

usable production

eU-15

eU-25

imports

eU-15

eU-25

exports

eU-15

eU-25

total domestic use

million t

259.2

21.4

58.2

:

:

:

:

251.1

195.0

:

6.9

:

0.4

:

eU-15

172.8

186.7

eU-25

stock changes

eU-15

eU-25

self sufficiency

eU-15

:

0.6

:

11

:

:

%

:

114

Source: Eurostat,  Supply balance sheets - crops
Extraction date: 07 Nov 2006

256.2

199.4

61.9

1.9

:

22.4

252.4

202.4

:

:

264.4

211.1

6.

16.4

:

1.9

245.5

195.

:

:

102

98

107.7

108.1

Production and domestic use of cereals
(excluding rice) in the EU-15, 1995-2003

t

n
o

i
l
l
i

m

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Source: Eurostat

usable production

total domestic use

44

2006_3669.indd   44

23-01-2007   14:40:54

 
Land use and crop products

Components of domestic use of cereals
(excluding rice) in the EU-15, 1995-2003

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Source: Eurostat

animal feed

seed

human consumption, processing and industrial use

The  supply  balance  sheets  present  a  detailed  breakdown  of  the  resources 
(production  plus  imports)  and  uses  (the  various  categories  of  domestic  use 
plus exports) of agricultural commodities in the EU.

For example, it may be seen from the supply balance sheets for cereals that 
EU production has exceeded total domestic use in most of the years and that 
the EU was a net exporter of cereals. One of the best known indicators derived 
from the balances is the degree of self-sufficiency (here defined as the ratio 
of usable production to total domestic use), which for cereals (excluding rice) 
is over 100% (EU-25).

Over  60%  of  the  domestic  use  of  cereals  in  the  EU-15  is  animal  feed  and 
seed  use.  More  detailed  statistical  information  on  the  breakdown  of  the 
domestic use by use categories is available in the dissemination database at 
the Eurostat website.

45

2006_3669.indd   45

23-01-2007   14:40:55

Land use and crop products

Table 3.4: Production of common wheat, barley and grain 

maize in the eU

Ø

1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005

eU-25

2005

common wheat

production (mio. t)

116.2

110.8

112.8

115.1

area (mio. ha)

yield (100kg/ha)

:

:

Barley

production (mio. t)

59.7

area (mio. ha)

yield (100kg/ha)

grain maize

production (mio. t)

area (mio. ha)

yield (100kg/ha)

:

:

:

:

:

common wheat

production (mio. t)

87.5

area (mio. ha)

yield (100kg/ha)

:

:

Barley

production (mio. t)

50.0

area (mio. ha)

yield (100kg/ha)

:

:

grain maize

production (mio. t)

5.2

area (mio. ha)

yield (100kg/ha)

:

:

19.4

57.2

57.

1.5

42.6

50.

6.2

81.2

EU-15

90.5

1.8

65.8

49.0

10.6

46.1

9.1

4.4

89.2

18.9

59.6

56.4

1.1

42.9

49.1

6.

78.5

91.7

1.7

66.7

47.

10.4

45.6

8.0

4.4

85.9

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products - crop products
Extraction date: 07 Nov 2006

19.2

59.9

52.9

1.1

40.5

51.0

6.1

84.0

9.1

14.0

66.4

4.4

10.2

42.5

7.9

4.2

89.4

Per-hectare yields of common wheat in the EU-25, 2000-2005

0
0
1
=
0
0
0
2

115

110

105

100

95

90

85

Source: Eurostat

46

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006_3669.indd   46

23-01-2007   14:40:55

 
 
Land use and crop products

Ratios of per hectare-yields of barley and grain maize
to per hectare-yields of common wheat in the EU-15, 1995-2005 

1
=

t

a
e
h
w
n
o
m
m
o
C

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.1

0.9

0.7

0.5

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Source: Eurostat

barley

grain maize

Common wheat, barley and grain maize are the main cereal types grown in 
the EU.

Whereas  in  the  second  half  of  the  1990s  production  quantities  of  common 
wheat and barley showed an increase, we observe for the first three years of 
the current decade a lower production quantity for these two cereals due to a 
reduced harvested area and lower per-hectare yields.

In  contrast  to  common  wheat  and  barley,  production  of  grain  maize  has 
increased  over  the  first  three  years  of  the  current  decade  compared  to  the 
preceding periods (EU-15). This development was mainly due to an increase 
in the area under cultivation.

The productivity ratios between the different cereal types strongly determine 
their  relative  profitability  and  therefore  substitutions  between  grain  maize, 
wheat and barley. The data for EU-15 show that the average yield per hectare 
of grain maize is around one third higher than the per-hectare yield of common 
wheat and 90% higher than the per-hectare yield of barley.

47

2006_3669.indd   47

23-01-2007   14:40:55

 
 
 
Land use and crop products

Table 3.5: harvested area of vegetables (excluding kitchen 

gardens)

1995

2000

2002

2003

2004

2005

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

1000 ha

:

:

1808.9

179.

:

:

51.5

2.0

9.9

97.1

.9

17.9

97.8

289.0

6.1

5.8

55.4

:

9.2

98.0

1.4

129.5

402.0

289.8

6.0

:

10.0

10.7

1.9

129.8

88.0

287.9

7.1

:

:

5.4

:

9.9

:

:

:

:

9.8

108.6

106.2

1.6

10.5

:

1.4

:

:

275.4

264.2

7.0

7.7

552.6

480.1

489.4

499.8

494.7

.9

9.7

40.7

0.1

90.2

:

76.

1.0

.7

12.4

:

0.1

.7

14.8

19.4

0.1

.7

1.4

12.7

0.1

114.6

116.5

102.8

:

77.1

1.2

:

81.1

1.

:

80.8

1.6

.8

12.9

1.0

0.1

84.6

:

75.

12.8

:

:

56.1

5.0

12.2

8.8

4.6

12.8

90.8

10.7

:

:

2.6

17.5

25.9

0.1

119.0

:

74.8

12.5

279.2

247.7

171.

198.4

207.8

165.

8.

10.1

7.0

10.0

6.5

41.

.2

4.8

9.5

6.2

4.9

.2

1.8

9.2

5.5

45.2

4.0

1.5

9.

:

:

.6

11.0

8.8

:

:

.6

9.2

:

:

148.7

120.7

121.8

119.2

108.5

111.6

209.0

259.5

:

:

:

280.2

5.9

:

70.2

282.8

70.4

946.0

74.

287.1

71.2

945.9

61.7

28.8

:

:

922.2

:

:

:

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products (fruits and vegetables)
Extraction date: 07 Nov 2006

48

2006_3669.indd   48

23-01-2007   14:40:56

Land use and crop products

Harvested production of tomatoes and onions in the EU,
average 2000-2003

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

t

n
o

i
l
l
i

m

Tomatoes

Onions

Source: Eurostat

Spain

Italy

Other EU

The statistics on agricultural products also comprise a collection on vegetables. 
It  presents  data  on  the  area  under  cultivation,  the  harvested  production  and 
per-ha yields of the most important vegetable items.

In the EU-25, about 2.1 million ha of land are cultivated with vegetables. The 
most important producer countries in terms of harvested area are Spain and 
Italy. These two countries together have a share of 50% in the EU’s harvested 
area of vegetables and account for two thirds of the tomato harvest.

49

2006_3669.indd   49

23-01-2007   14:40:56

 
Land use and crop products

Table 3.6: harvested area of fruit trees

fruit trees (excluding 
citrus and olives)

citrus fruits

total olives

2000

2005

2000

2005

2000

2005

eU-25

eU-15

:

:

:

:

:

559.

1000 ha

16.0

17.9

:

4.6

55.0

8.2

17.5

:

:

4.0

48.0

1.5

:

:

195.8

164.

0.0

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

59.8

288.0

2.

0.0

:

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

:

1.8

0.0

:

4798.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

765.2

2486.2

16.8

0.0

:

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

:

18.

0.0

461.0

448.9

181.8

170.4

1161.6

1168.6

6.

10.4

6.4

2.2

95.4

:

19.8

:

9.0

11.5

19.5

2.1

92.7

:

17.4

7.7

276.9

10.0

256.7

10.2

4.5

5.1

0.5

1.9

4.4

5.0

0.7

1.9

22.0

16.7

:

194.7

:

:

58.2

21.9

0.0

199.6

5.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

5.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

7.2

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

12.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

27.4

27.1

69.2

76.

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

:

:

:

:

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

:

:

0.6

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

:

15.6

0.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

:

:

:

110.7

:

662.0

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products - fruits and vegetables
Extraction date: 07 Nov 2006

50

2006_3669.indd   50

23-01-2007   14:40:57

Land use and crop products

Harvested production of apples and citrus fruits in the EU,
average 2000-2003 

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

t

n
o

i
l
l
i

m

Apples

Citrus fruits

Source: Eurostat

Spain

Italy

France

Poland

Other EU

The statistics on agricultural products also cover time series on fruit production. 
Data on the area under cultivation, the harvested production and the per-ha 
yields  of  the  most  important  fruit  items  are  presented.  In  the  EU-25,  around 
7. million ha of land is cultivated with fruits trees (including citrus fruits and 
olives). The most important producers in terms of area are Spain and Italy.

Production of fruits includes a large variety of products: stone fruits (peaches, 
apricots, cherries, plums), apples and pears, nuts, soft fruits and citrus fruits. 
Among fresh fruits, apples and citrus fruits account for about one half of the 
harvested production. More than 50% of the EU’s citrus harvest is picked in 
Spain. 

In addition to the data in the statistical domain agricultural products, Eurostat 
has published the results of the basic survey on plantations of certain species 
of fruit trees carried out in 2002 (Statistics in focus (No. 2/2005): EU-15: 1% 
decline in area under fruit trees, downloadable from the Eurostat website).

51

2006_3669.indd   51

23-01-2007   14:40:57

 
2006_3669.indd   52

23-01-2007   14:40:57

4.  

AnImAL
ProDUcTS

2006_3669.indd   53

23-01-2007   14:40:58

2006_3669.indd   54

23-01-2007   14:40:58

4. Animal products

This chapter presents information on meat production and demand 
as well as on milk production in the EU.

The  data  are  extracted  from  the  statistical  collections  agricultural 
products (sub-collections meat, milk and milk products) and supply 
balance sheets. More detailed statistical data on meat and milk are 
available  in  the  dissemination  database  at  the  Eurostat  website. 
Metadata describing the scope of the statistical collections as well as 
short  descriptions  of  the  methodological  background  can  be  found 
on this website, too.

The  meat  sector  has  undergone  various  crises  connected  to  food 
safety  and  health  problems  during  the  past  decade.  In  1996,  the 
first  BSE  crisis  depressed  the  bovine  sector.  Gradually,  consumer 
confidence  returned  and  cattle  production  recovered.  A  second 
BSE  crisis  occurred  in  November  2000  resulting  in  a  decline  of 
production,  which  then  partially  recovered.  The  pigmeat  market 
also saw a turbulent period. In contrast to the meat sector, the dairy 
sector  has  shown  relative  stability,  which  is  a  consequence  of  the 
quota system of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). 

55

2006_3669.indd   55

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Animal products

Table 4.1: Slaughterings of bovines

Ø

1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005 1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005

million t

 % of world slaughterings

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

8.7

7.9

0.

0.2

0.2

1.4

0.0

0.1

0.6

1.7

0.5

1.2

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.6

0.2

0.4

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.8

0.1

0.2

0.0

0.

8.1

7.5

million t

0.

0.1

0.2

1.

0.0

0.1

0.7

1.6

0.6

1.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.4

0.2

0.

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.7

0.1

0.2

0.0

0.

8.0

7.4

0.

0.1

0.1

1.2

0.0

0.1

0.7

1.6

0.6

1.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.4

0.2

0.

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.7

0.0

0.2

0.0

0.

15.1

1.6

1.6

12.5

12.7

11.8

 % eU-15 

%eU-25

4.2

1.9

2.2

.8

1.5

2.1

.4

1.2

1.8

18.1

17.9

15.

0.

0.9

7.4

21.5

6.9

14.7

0.1

0.4

1.1

0.1

0.7

0.0

7.2

2.6

5.2

1.

0.7

0.8

1.2

1.8

9.8

0.8

2.2

0.

4.2

0.2

0.8

8.8

21.

7.5

15.4

0.1

0.

0.8

0.1

0.6

0.0

5.8

2.8

4.4

1.

0.5

0.4

1.2

2.0

9.1

0.7

2.1

0.

4.6

0.2

0.8

9.0

20.0

7.0

14.2

0.1

0.

0.6

0.1

0.5

0.0

4.8

2.6

.9

1.4

0.5

0.4

1.1

1.8

9.2

0.4

2.1

0.4

4.

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products and FAO(2005): world production
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

56

2006_3669.indd   56

23-01-2007   14:40:58

Animal products

Bovine slaughtering by category
(in % of slaughtering weight) in the EU-25, 2005

adult cattle
90%

calves
10%

heifers
15%

cows
27%

bulls and
bullocks
48%

Source: Eurostat

The statistics on meat production comprise data on the slaughter of animals of 
the bovine, porcine, equine, ovine and caprine species, the meat of which is 
certified for human consumption. Data are available on the number of heads 
and the product weight. 

The total slaughter weight of all bovines amounts to 7.4 million tonnes for the 
EU-15  (average  of  the  years  200-2005)  representing  about  12%  of  world 
production.  Taking  into  account  the  slaughtering  in  the  ten  new  Member 
States,  the  EU-25  net  production  of  beef  and  veal  is  estimated  at  8  million 
tonnes.

France, Germany and Italy together account for almost 50% of the slaughtering 
in  the  EU.  The  largest  producer  country  for  bovine  meat  amongst  the  new 
Member States is Poland.

10%  of  the  bovine  meat  production  results  from  slaughtering  of  calves. The 
major share (48%) comes from slaughtering of male adult cattle. Bovine meat 
production  in  the  EU  is  also  strongly  linked  to  milk  production.  Cows  (dairy 
cows and cows of the meat breeds) therefore contribute with more than one 
quarter of total bovine slaughterings in carcass weight.

57

2006_3669.indd   57

23-01-2007   14:40:59

Animal products

Table 4.2: Slaughterings of pigs

Ø

1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005 1995-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005

million t

 % of world slaughtering

eU-25

eU-15

19.9

16.5

21.0

17.7

21.2

17.8

24.0

20.0

22.9

19.

21.1

17.8

million t

 % eU-15

% eU-25

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

1.0

0.5

1.5

.7

0.0

0.1

2.4

2.2

0.2

1.4

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.4

0.0

1.6

0.5

2.0

0.

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.

1.1

0.2

0.7

0.1

:

1.0

0.5

1.7

4.1

0.0

0.1

.0

2.

0.2

1.5

0.1

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.5

0.0

1.5

0.5

1.9

0.

0.0

0.2

0.2

0.

0.9

0.2

0.5

0.1

:

1.0

0.4

1.8

4.

0.0

0.1

.1

2.

0.2

1.6

0.1

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.5

0.0

1.

0.5

2.0

0.

0.0

0.2

0.2

0.

0.7

0.

0.4

0.1

:

6.

2.9

9.2

22.1

0.2

0.9

14.6

1.4

1.

8.4

0.

0.

0.6

0.1

2.2

0.1

9.6

2.9

5.9

2.6

9.5

2.0

0.2

0.8

16.8

1.2

1.

8.5

0.

0.2

0.5

0.1

2.7

0.1

8.7

2.9

11.9

10.9

1.8

0.4

1.5

1.1

1.9

6.4

1.5

4.0

0.7

:

1.9

0.

1.0

1.0

1.6

5.0

1.4

2.9

0.5

:

4.8

2.0

8.4

20.5

0.2

0.6

14.9

10.9

1.0

7.4

0.

0.2

0.5

0.1

2.

0.0

6.0

2.4

9.4

1.5

0.2

0.8

0.9

1.4

.4

1.2

2.0

0.

:

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products and FAO(2005), world production
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

58

2006_3669.indd   58

23-01-2007   14:41:00

Animal products

Average slaughtering weights of pigs
in the EU Member States, 2005 

d
a
e
h

d
e
r
e

t

h
g
u
a
s

l

r
e
p
g
k

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

IT AT DE BE SK HU NL CZ FR SE PL FI ES MT CY DK SI LT EE IE UK LV LU PT EL

Source: Eurostat

The  total  slaughtering  of  pigs  amounts  to  17.8 million  tonnes  in  carcass 
weight in the EU-15 (average of years 200-2005) representing 18% of world 
production. Taking into account the production in the ten new Member States 
of the EU-25, slaughtering is estimated at about 21 million tonnes. Although 
the  pig  market  is  more  volatile,  the  overall  EU  picture  reveals  a  steady 
level  of  production.  However,  compared  to  the  second  half  of  the  1990s  pig 
slaughtering has increased by more than 6% (EU-15).

The  largest  producer  countries  are  Germany,  Spain  and  France,  which 
together  account  for  over  46%  of  the  EU’s  net  production  of  pig  meat.  The 
largest  producer  of  pig  meat  among  the  new  Member  States  is  Poland 
occupying  rank  four  in  the  EU.  Some  Member  States  show  particular 
fluctuations:  the  Netherlands  and  the  United  Kingdom  have  both  suffered  a 
dip in production since 2002.

The data show that in most Member States pigs are fattened until an average 
carcass weight of about 80-100 kg per head.

59

2006_3669.indd   59

23-01-2007   14:41:00

 
 
 
Animal products

Table 4.3: Supply demand balances for total meat

Ø 1997-2001

2002

2003

2004

million t

gross indigenous production

8.4

9.1

e) 8.5

e) 8.6

imports of live animals

exports of live animals

slaughterings

eU-15

imports

exports

total domestic use

stock changes

0.2

0.

0.

0.4

:

:

:

:

8.

9.0

e) 8.4

e) 8.6

1.5

.8

2.4

4.

:

:

:

:

5.9

7.1

e) 7

e) 6.8

67.0

-21.0

e) -187

e) -107

%

self sufficiency

107

106 e) 104.1 e) 105.1

Source: Eurostat, Supply balance sheets - meat 
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

Production and domestic use of meat
in the EU-15,1995-2004

t

n
o

i
l
l
i

m

40

39

38

37

36

35

34

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003 e)

2004 e)

Source: Eurostat

gross indigenous production

total domestic use

60

2006_3669.indd   60

23-01-2007   14:41:00

 
Animal products

Meat consumption in the EU-15, 1995-2004

e
s
u

c
i
t
s
e
m
o
d

)
t
a
e
m

l
l

a

f

o
%

(

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

n
a
m
u
h

s
s
o
r
g

n
o
i
t
p
m
u
s
n
o
c

)
d
a
e
h

r
e
p

g
k
(

100

98

96

94

92

90

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003 e)

2004 e)

Source: Eurostat

bovine meat

pigmeat

poultry

other meats

per capita gross human consumption

The  supply  balance  sheets  are  intended  to  summarise  data  from  different 
sources in order to show the various flows and uses of a specific product in a 
specific reference area over a specific period of time. 

Gross indigenous production (GIP) of meat is defined as slaughtering plus the 
net  exports  (exports  minus  imports)  of  live  animals. The  data  show  that  the 
annual EU-15 production of meat reaches 8.6 million tonnes and that the EU 
is a net exporter of meat. Both production and total domestic use have shown 
a slight tendency to grow over the past 10 years.

One of the best known indicators derived from the balances is the degree of 
self-sufficiency  (here  defined  as  the  ratio  of  the  GIP  to  total  domestic  use), 
which is approximately 105% for the EU-15.

An  important  indicator  is  the  per-capita  gross  human  consumption.  This 
indicator has shown noticeable fluctuations during the past 10 years which can 
be attributed to the various health crises and scandals in the meat sector. The 
demand  for  poultry  may  be  seen  to  increase  at  the  expense  of  the  demand 
for bovine meat.

61

2006_3669.indd   61

23-01-2007   14:41:01

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Animal products

Table 4.4: Production of cow’s milk

Ø

1995-1998 1999-2002 2002-2005 1995-1998 1999-2002 2002-2005

million t

 % of eU-25 production

14.6

121.2

.4

.0

4.6

14.6

121.5

.

2.8

4.6

14.2

121.7

.1

2.7

4.6

100.0

84.4

2.

2.1

.2

100.0

84.6

2.

1.9

.2

100.0

85.0

2.2

1.9

.2

28.6

28.2

28.4

19.9

19.6

19.8

0.7

0.8

6.1

25.0

5.

10.8

0.1

0.9

1.9

0.

2.0

0.0

11.1

.0

12.0

1.8

0.6

1.2

2.5

.

0.6

0.8

6.4

25.0

5.2

10.8

0.1

0.8

1.7

0.

2.1

0.0

11.0

.2

12.0

2.0

0.7

1.1

2.5

.

0.6

0.8

6.6

24.6

5.

10.8

0.2

0.8

1.8

0.

2.0

0.0

10.9

.2

11.9

2.0

0.7

1.1

2.5

.2

0.5

0.5

4.2

0.4

0.5

4.4

0.4

0.5

4.6

17.4

17.4

17.2

.7

7.5

0.1

0.7

1.

0.2

1.4

0.0

7.7

2.1

8.4

1.

0.4

0.8

1.7

2.

.7

7.5

0.1

0.6

1.2

0.2

1.5

0.0

7.7

2.

8.

1.4

0.5

0.8

1.8

2.

.7

7.6

0.1

0.6

1.

0.2

1.4

0.0

7.6

2.2

8.

1.4

0.5

0.8

1.7

2.

14.7

14.8

14.7

10.2

10.

10.

1.2

5.4

0.6

9.1

1.

5.0

0.6

8.4

1.

5.0

0.7

9.5

0.8

.8

0.4

6.4

0.9

.5

0.4

5.9

0.9

.5

0.5

6.7

eU-25

eU-15

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

eL

eS

Fr

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

Se

UK

Bg

ro

hr

Tr

Source: Eurostat, Agricultural products and FAO(2005), world production
Extraction date: 1 Oct 2006

62

2006_3669.indd   62

23-01-2007   14:41:01

Animal products

Dairy cows in the EU

26

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

s
d
a
e
h

n
o

i
l
l
i

m

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Source: Eurostat

EU-25

EU-15

The  milk  production  statistics  contain  monthly  and  annual  data  on  the 
production,  collection  and  processing  of  milk. They  cover  the  different  types 
of  raw  milk  (e.g.  cow  milk,  milk  of  sheep  and  goats)  as  well  as  the  major 
processed  dairy  products  (e.g.  drinking  milk,  butter,  milk  powder,  cheese). 
Also qualitative aspects like the protein and fat contents of dairy products are 
dealt with. The data are collected in monthly, annual and three-yearly surveys 
conducted by the EU Member States.

Production of cows’ milk has been rather stable in the EU due to the production 
quota  system  of  the  CAP  (14  million  tonnes  in  the  EU-25).  85%  of  the 
Union’s cow milk production is located in the 15 old Member States. Although 
milk production remained stable, the number of dairy cows in the EU-15 has 
decreased by 1.8% p.a. over the past decade. Milk production per dairy cow 
has increased by about 2% p.a. mainly due to bio-technological progress.

6

2006_3669.indd   63

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2006_3669.indd   64

23-01-2007   14:41:02

5.  

LABoUr  
In rUrAL AreAS

2006_3669.indd   65

23-01-2007   14:41:02

2006_3669.indd   66

23-01-2007   14:41:02

5. Labour in rural areas

This  chapter  presents  some  rural  development  statistics  based  on 
the degree of urbanisation concept dividing the EU territory in thinly 
populated areas, intermediate areas and densely populated areas.

The  definition  of  the  “degree  of  urbanisation”  is  based  on  the 
following criteria:

•	

•	

•	

densely populated area: contiguous set of local areas with each 
of  these  local  areas  having  a  density  >500  inhabitants  per  km2 
and a population of at least 50.000 inhabitants for the whole set,

intermediate area: contiguous set of local areas not belonging to 
a densely populated area with each of these local areas having 
a density >100 inhabitants per km2 and either a population of at 
least 50.000 inhabitants for the whole set or located adjacent to 
a densely populated area.

thinly  populated  area:  contiguous  set  of  local  areas  neither 
belonging to a densely populated area nor to an intermediate 
area.

A set of local areas totalling less than 100 km2 and not reaching the 
required density but entirely enclosed within a densely-populated or 
intermediate area, is to be considered to form part of that area. If it is 
enclosed within a densely populated area and an intermediate area 
it is considered to form part of the intermediate area. 

It  is  noted  that  a  “local  area”  corresponds  to  the  communes  or 
municipalities  in  most  of  the  cases  in  all  Member  States.  This 
concept  is  also  used  for  the  Labour  Force  Survey  (LFS)  and  the 
Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC).

Data  presented  in  this  publication  are  extracted  from  the  Labour 
Force Survey collection (2005) of Eurostat.

Data from the following Member States were not available: France, 
Poland  and  Slovakia. Therefore,  the  terms  EU-14  and  EU-22  are 
used.

67

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Labour in rural areas

Table 5.1: Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation, 

2005

Densely populated area

Intermediate area

total women men

♀-♂

total women men

♀-♂

%

%

eU-22

eU-14

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

gr

eS

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PT

SI

FI

Se

UK

8.6

8.7

9.0

9.1

10.5

11.

7.4

5.4

8.6

5.5

12.8

11.9

9.8

10.4

8.8

4.8

8.2

5.9

9.8

7.9

5.

5.5

7.6

5.

7.

8.4

15.6

10.7

.8

10.0

6.8

9.9

8.2

6.2

6.1

8.6

5.4

6.5

10.0

10.5

7.

7.5

8.0

5.4

6.9

7.1

7.7

4.8

8.4

8.5

9.9

6.4

5.

1.6

11.2

6.6

7.

5.6

6.9

5.2

9.7

7.6

4.6

4.9

7.2

5.1

8.0

9.5

7.7

7.9

8.2

6.0

0.6

0.6

1.

2.

0.2

-1.7

-2.8

9.0

.5

-1.8

.1

1.7

0.2

0.5

1.6

1.2

1.4

0.

-1.5

1.0

-0.8

-0.7

-0.5

-1.2

7.4

7.

5.9

8.7

4.7

8.9

8.4

9.6

9.8

7.

4.2

8.5

4.1

7.2

5.4

.9

4.6

6.5

7.0

9.0

7.7

.4

8.5

8.4

7.2

11.0

4.5

9.0

9.1

16.

1.4

10.0

6.2

12.2

5.5

7.1

9.4

4.4

5.4

8.0

7.5

9.6

7.8

.0

6.5

6.4

4.9

7.0

4.8

8.8

7.7

5.5

7.4

5.6

2.7

5.0

.1

7.

.5

.5

.8

5.

6.5

8.5

7.6

.8

2.0

2.0

2.2

4.0

-0.

0.2

1.4

10.9

6.0

4.

.4

7.2

2.4

-0.2

5.9

0.9

1.6

2.7

0.9

1.1

0.2

-0.8

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey
Extraction date:  Nov 2006
FR, PL and SK: data not available

68

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Labour in rural areas

Thinly populated area

Total

total women men

♀-♂

total women men

♀-♂

%

%

8.1

8.1

8.4

7.

4.7

9.

9.5

11.0

9.0

5.8

7.1

7.0

6.5

6.0

.7

11.8

12.

11.4

6.5

9.0

9.7

4.2

8.2

5.2

8.5

8.7

.7

8.7

5.9

4.0

.7

6.6

6.2

8.8

7.5

.5

5.8

14.2

14.7

4.2

10.9

6.1

7.6

8.7

5.7

8.9

1.5

4.7

4.5

8.2

7.1

9.

7.2

.5

7.1

5.8

6.5

4.2

6.4

4.5

9.

8.8

2.4

8.6

2.

.4

.1

5.

5.5

8.4

7.6

.5

2.2

2.4

4.5

.0

2.1

0.9

-1.2

8.5

8.1

-0.0

4.5

1.7

-1.7

-0.1

.

0.

11.2

1.

1.4

2.9

1.6

0.9

-0.4

-0.0

8.1

8.2

8.5

8.0

4.9

8.9

9.0

9.5

9.9

5.

7.5

7.6

7.7

6.6

4.5

11.

11.0

11.6

8.2

10.0

9.2

4.4

7.8

5.5

9.2

8.4

4.5

7.2

7.4

4.8

5.2

8.1

6.7

8.5

7.6

4.8

7.2

15.4

12.2

4.0

10.1

6.6

8.8

8.4

5.8

7.4

8.9

5.1

5.5

9.2

7.2

8.7

7.4

4.

9.1

6.

7.1

4.7

6.

4.6

9.5

8.

.5

7.1

6.6

4.5

5.0

7.1

6.2

8.

7.8

5.2

1.4

1.4

1.9

.

0.8

-0.6

-1.9

9.2

5.1

-0.7

.8

2.0

-0.6

0.1

2.

0.4

2.2

0.6

0.5

2.0

1.0

0.4

-0.

-0.9

eU-22

eU-14

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

gr

eS

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PT

SI

FI

Se

UK

69

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Labour in rural areas

In 16 out of 22 Member States, total unemployment rates are higher 
in densely populated areas. Only in 6 Member States the difference 
of  the  total  unemployment  rate  between  the  different  areas  is 
%  and  more.  Two  Member  States  (LT,  HU)  show  highest  total 
unemployment rates in thinly populated areas. 

Women  unemployment  rates  are  generally  higher  than  men 
unemployment rates across the different types of areas. A tendency 
that women unemployment is higher in thinly populated areas than 
in other areas can not be observed.

If  one  looks  at  gender  differences  in  unemployment  rates  inside 
the  different  types  of  areas,  women  unemployment  is  obviously 
higher (% or more) than unemployment of men especially in some 
Mediterranean  Member  States  (Greece,  Spain,  Italy,  Malta)  and 
Czech Republic, but only in few cases this effect is more pronounced 
in thinly populated and intermediate areas than in densely populated 
areas (Spain, Italy, Czech Republic). In densely populated areas of 
8 Member States the unemployment rate of men is higher than that 
of women.

70

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Labour in rural areas

Figure 5.1: Unemployment rates, 2005

EU-22 unemployment rates by gender
and by degree of urbanisation - 2005

10.0

%

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

Thinly populated
areas

Intermediate
areas

Densely populated
areas

Source: Eurostat

Women

Men

Total

Figure  5-1  shows  that  gender  differences  in  unemployment  rates  tend  to  be 
bigger  in  thinly  populated  and  intermediate  areas  than  in  densely  populated 
areas.

71

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Labour in rural areas

Table 5.2: employment rates by degree of urbanisation, 2005 

Looking at EU-22 data, employment rates for men are considerably 
higher  than  those  for  women  across  all  Member  States  and  all 
different  areas  (14,5  –  16,2%  points).  Almost  no  differences  are 
visible when employment rates for men or for women are compared 
between the different types of areas. 

However,  if  one  looks  at  the  Member  States  individually,  in  some 
of  them  the  gender  difference  in  employment  rates  in  all  types 
of  areas  is  very  big  especially  in  the  Mediterranean  countries  
(21  –  40%  points)  excluding  Portugal.  Another  group  of  Member 
States  where  this  difference  is  big  is  the  BENELUX.  In  contrast, 
smallest differences can be observed in the Baltic and Scandinavian 
Member States (up to 8% points). 

The  difference  in  employment  rates  between  men  and  women  is 
slightly lower in densely populated areas compared to intermediate 
and thinly populated areas.

72

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Labour in rural areas

Figure 5.2: employment rates, 2005

EU-22 Employment rates by gender and
by degree of urbanisation - 2005 

100.0

80.0

60.0

%

40.0

20.0

0.0

Thinly populated
areas

Intermediate
areas

Densely populated
areas

Source: Eurostat

Women

Men

Total

Fig.  5-2  illustrates  that  in  2005  employment  rates  in  all  types  of  areas  were 
very similar and that the gender differences in employment rates are almost 
the same across the different areas.

7

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Labour in rural areas

Table 5.2: employment rates by degree of urbanisation, 2005

Densely populated area

Intermediate area

total women men

♀-♂

total women men

♀-♂

%

%

eU-22

eU-14

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

gr

eS

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PT

SI

FI

Se

UK

64.9

64.9

58.9

66.6

75.2

6.

68.0

59.4

65.0

67.9

57.7

68.1

65.9

66.2

66.2

62.9

5.9

72.9

66.

65.6

64.0

72.0

72.6

70.1

57.7

57.6

51.8

59.9

72.6

58.2

66.2

46.

54.9

60.8

46.5

59.4

61.9

6.4

57.9

57.9

.9

66.7

61.8

61.5

60.2

70.8

70.8

64.2

72.

-14.6

72.4

-14.7

66.0

-14.

7.6

-1.8

77.8

-5.2

68.4

-10.2

70.1

-.9

7.1

-26.8

75.1

-20.2

75.2

-14.4

69.2

-22.7

77.8

-18.4

70.4

69.4

-8.5

-6.0

74.4

-16.6

68.6

-10.8

7.7

-9.8

79.0

-12.

71.0

69.8

68.0

7.2

74.4

76.2

-9.1

-8.2

-7.8

-2.

-.6

-11.9

65.

65.6

6.9

6.5

76.7

67.7

64.2

60.6

61.9

58.1

69.6

68.2

61.8

56.9

56.8

7.9

69.0

68.8

65.

68.0

72.

75.

56.

56.5

56.7

54.6

72.6

60.8

60.

4.8

48.4

45.0

57.4

5.6

51.8

50.8

4.6

65.7

61.8

61.7

61.1

65.9

70.

70.2

74.

-18.0

74.7

-18.2

70.9

-14.2

72.

-17.8

80.8

-8.2

74.5

-1.8

68.5

-8.

76.8

-.0

75.0

-26.5

71.1

-26.0

82.0

-24.6

89.4

-5.8

71.7

-19.9

6.2

-12.4

78.4

-4.8

81.7

-15.9

76.4

-14.5

76.1

-14.4

69.

70.1

74.

-8.2

-4.2

-4.1

80.6

-10.

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey
Extraction date:  Nov 2006
FR, PL and SK: data not available

74

2006_3669.indd   74

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Labour in rural areas

Thinly populated area

Total

total women men

♀-♂

total women men

♀-♂

%

%

65.1

66.2

61.

65.6

75.9

67.2

61.2

62.4

61.1

67.5

55.7

68.6

61.0

60.1

62.7

52.5

49.1

7.9

70.5

69.4

67.1

66.6

72.1

74.2

56.7

57.4

51.7

56.

70.6

61.1

58.

46.9

45.8

56.9

42.2

56.6

57.0

56.5

50.

45.7

28.9

66.5

62.2

61.9

61.9

64.2

70.0

67.7

7.4

-16.7

74.8

-17.5

70.4

-18.7

74.6

-18.

80.9

-10.2

7.1

-12.0

64.

-6.0

76.6

-29.6

75.6

-29.8

77.8

-20.9

68.9

-26.7

80.

-2.7

65.0

6.9

-7.9

-7.4

74.4

-24.1

59.

-1.6

69.2

-40.

81.0

-14.6

78.7

-16.5

76.8

-14.8

72.0

-10.0

68.8

74.2

-4.6

-4.2

80.9

-1.2

65.1

65.4

61.1

64.8

75.9

65.4

64.4

60.1

6.

67.6

57.6

68.5

6.

62.6

6.6

56.9

5.9

7.2

68.6

67.5

66.0

68.4

72.

71.6

57.1

57.2

5.8

56.

71.9

59.6

62.1

46.1

51.2

58.

45.

58.4

59.

59.4

5.7

51.0

.7

66.4

62.0

61.7

61.

66.5

70.2

65.8

7.1

-16.0

7.5

-16.

68.

-14.5

7.

-17.0

79.8

71.2

67.0

-7.9

-11.7

-5.0

74.2

-28.1

75.2

-24.0

76.9

-18.5

69.9

-24.7

79.2

-20.8

67.6

66.1

-8.2

-6.7

7.

-19.6

6.1

-12.1

7.8

-40.2

79.9

-1.5

75.4

-1.4

7.4

70.4

70.

74.

77.6

-11.7

-9.1

-.7

-4.1

-11.8

eU-22

eU-14

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

gr

eS

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PT

SI

FI

Se

UK

75

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Labour in rural areas

Table 5.3: youth unemployment ratio by degree of 

urbanisation, 2005

Densely 
populated area

Intermediate 
area

Thinly 
populated area

Total

%

eU-22

eU-14

Be

cZ

DK

De

ee

gr

eS

Ie

IT

cy

LV

LT

LU

hU

mT

nL

AT

PT

SI

FI

Se

UK

8.1

8.

8.1

6.5

5.6

8.1

7.4

7.9

9.5

4.9

8.4

6.1

6.

4.1

4.7

4.0

9.5

6.

8.6

7.7

6.1

9.4

11.

8.6

7.

7.4

6.

6.8

6.4

6.9

2.6

10.

9.9

7.7

4.1

14.0

.

5.1

6.7

4.9

5.1

6.1

7.4

11.2

11.9

6.4

7.4

7.9

10.2

6.1

5.7

8.2

4.1

11.4

8.7

4.4

8.1

6.9

4.1

.8

4.0

6.1

6.

5.6

4.6

6.7

6.0

10.

10.5

5.7

7.9

8.1

7.5

6.5

5.9

7.7

5.5

8.8

9.4

4.6

8.1

5.9

5.1

.9

.9

5.2

9.1

5.8

6.1

6.9

6.5

10.2

10.9

8.8

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey
Extraction date:  Nov 2006
FR, PL and SK: data not available
Youth unemployment ratio: unemployed aged 15-24 as a percentage  
of the total population of this age group

76

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Labour in rural areas

The youth unemployment ratio represents unemployed aged 15-24 
years as a percentage of the total population of this age group.

EU-22 data suggest that the problem of youth unemployment is almost 
equally  distributed  across  the  different  types  of  areas.  Significant 
differences  by  degree  of  urbanisation  can  not  be  detected.  Only  in 
four  Member  States  the  youth  unemployment  ratio  is  significantly 
higher  in  thinly  populated  areas  than  in  the  other  areas  (Belgium, 
Greece, Cyprus and Hungary). More often it is the other way round 
i.e. lowest ratios can be found in thinly populated areas.

77

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2006_3669.indd   78

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European Commission

Agricultural statistics — Data 1995-2005

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2007 — 77 pp. — 21 x 10.5 cm

Theme: Agricultue and fisheries
Collection: Pocketbooks

ISBN 92-79-02955-X
ISSN 1830-463X

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2006_3669.indd   80

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