Definition: Statistical territory

Category: External trade

The statistical territory is the territory with respect to which data on international merchandise trade statistics are being collected. In the majority of countries, data collection is based on customs procedures and many of these countries adopt their customs boundary as their statistical boundary. In this case the statistical territory coincides with the customs territory.
 
The statistical territory of the European Union (and its Member States) corresponds generally to its customs territory. However, the statistical territory (but not the customs territory) of Germany includes Heligoland and until 31 December 1996, the statistical territories of France and Spain did not include the French overseas departments - Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and Réunion - and the Canary Islands respectively (which are part of the customs territories of the two Member States). Statistics on the trading of goods - User guide 2002