International, North American and European statistical classifications for space economy measurement

The evolution of the space economy is attracting more attention, as space products and services expand their presence in the daily work of public authorities and lives of citizens. In parallel, the emergence of new space systems, as well as public and private investment in space activities, have grown markedly, leading to the creation of new firms and new commercial products. These developments have also increased the demand for reliable and timely statistics on the space economy. Yet, the measurement of the sector’s contribution to, notably, economic growth and employment, remains a challenging exercise due to the scarcity of appropriate data and specific methodologies. Within this context, ESA, Eurostat and the JRC together with the OECD and the U.S. BEA are publishing the first-ever list of statistical codes to measure the space economy. The tables presented in the report provide the first necessary step towards the construction of space economy thematic accounts: a comparable definition of the space economy for statistical purposes.