6.3% of all businesses in Europe are involved in culture
San Fermin Pamplona - Navarra, Unsplash
According to the latest Eurostat data, 2.03 million cultural enterprises were active in the European Union in 2022, representing 6.3% of the total number of enterprises in the business economy (including industry, construction and market services). These enterprises generated 2% of the total value added - €199 billion.
The highest share of cultural enterprises was recorded in the Netherlands (11% of all enterprises in the country), Sweden (10.8%), Slovenia and Lithuania (8.9% each), and Austria (8.1%). In contrast, in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Greece, Denmark and Romania this indicator was below 5%.
In terms of activities, "creativity, arts and entertainment" is the most represented, accounting for 27.4% of all cultural enterprises. This is followed by the sectors of architecture and engineering (20.5%), publishing (16.5%) and photo/video production.
However, when it comes to contribution to the economy, the publishing industry (14.9% of value added) and architecture (14.6%) lead the way. Creativity and art provide 13.3% and information and cultural services 13%.
The sector remains characterised by its structure: 78% of employees are employed in micro-enterprises (up to 10 people), while large companies with more than 250 employees account for less than 1% of enterprises and only 3.9% of cultural jobs. This emphasises the importance of individual initiatives and small teams in Europe's creative economy.
Overall, the report confirms that culture remains not only an expression of identity, but also a sustainable economic driver, underpinned by flexibility, innovation and diversity.
