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Data extracted in April 2025

Planned article update: May 2026

Highlights

Around 954 000 enterprises operated in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, accounting for 3.0% of the total number of enterprises active in the EU's business economy in 2022.

In 2022, businesses in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector generated €109.4 billion of value added and €280.7 billion of net turnover (compared to €207.8 billion net turnover in 2021).

This article presents an overview of statistics for the European Union's (EU) arts, entertainment and recreation sector, as covered by NACE Rev. 2 Section R. It belongs to a set of statistical articles on 'Business economy by sector'. Since the entry into force of the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation, Eurostat reports structural business statistics (SBS) data about the arts, entertainment and recreation sector. Additional information is also available from other data collections such as culture and sport.


Structural profile

In 2022, around 954 000 enterprises operated in the EU's arts, entertainment and recreation sector (Section R), with a share of 3.0% of the total number of enterprises active in the business economy (Sections B to N and P to R, as well as Divisions S95 and S96). These enterprises employed 2.2 million persons, contributing to 1.4% of the persons employed in the business economy in 2022. The arts, entertainment and recreation sector accumulated a net turnover of €280.7 billion in 2022 and generated €109.4 billion in value added, representing 1.1% of the EU's business economy value added.

Table showing the value of key indicators in Arts, entertainment and recreation in the EU for the year 2022.
Table 1: Key indicators: Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)

In 2022, the EU's arts, entertainment and recreation sector recorded apparent labour productivity and average employee benefits expense below the business economy averages. The apparent labour productivity in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector stood at €49 000 per person employed, representing a difference of €13 700 compared with the business economy average of €62 700 per person employed. Similarly, the average employee benefits expense within the arts, entertainment and recreation sector amounted to €32 800 per employee, indicating a difference of €8 300 from the business economy average of €41 100 per employee.

Combining these 2 ratios into the wage-adjusted labour productivity ratio shows the extent to which value added per person employed covers average personnel costs per employee. In 2022, the arts, entertainment and recreation sector demonstrated a wage-adjusted labor productivity ratio of 149.2%, a ratio close to the business economy average of 152.6%. The gross operating rate, which indicates the share of turnover remaining after paying for purchased goods and services as well as employee benefits expense (in other words, the gross operating surplus) stood at 20.8% for the EU's arts, entertainment and recreation sector in 2022. This figure surpassed the 11.8% average of gross operating rate for the business economy.

Sectoral analysis

The arts, entertainment and recreation sector is organised into 5 NACE divisions at 2 digits level: creative, arts and entertainment activities (Division 90.0), libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities (Division 91.0), gambling and betting activities (Division 92.0), sports activities (Division 93.1) and amusement and recreation activities (Division 93.2).
This subsector of sports activities, which includes the operation of sports facilities and activities of sports teams or clubs, like football, hockey, cricket, rugby stadiums, swimming pools and winter sport arenas and stadiums, among others comprised 190 000 enterprises, contributing to the EU's business economy with a value added of €29.0 billion.

Horizontal bar chart showing sectoral analysis of the Arts, entertainment and recreation sector as percentage share of sectoral total. Five sectors are shown, namely creative, arts and entertainment activities, libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities, gambling and betting activities, sports activities and amusement and recreation activities. Each sector has two bars representing value added and employment for the year 2022.
Figure 1: Sectoral analysis of Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)

The subsector of creative, arts and entertainment activities which covers operation of arts facilities, production of live theatrical presentations, concerts, opera and dance productions, as well as activities of individual artists such as sculptors, painters, individual writers and independent journalists employed a quarter of the sector's workforce in 2022 and registered the highest number of enterprises, 554 600. In 2022, these enterprises generated a net turnover of around €50 billion compared to €29.4 billion in 2021.
The highest net turnover among the available data was recorded in the subsector of gambling and betting activities (€130 billion), which includes the operation of casinos, bingo halls, video gaming terminals and the sale of lottery tickets. Despite the high turnover, a relatively low number of enterprises operated in this subsector (37 300 enterprises).

Table showing sectoral analysis of key indicators of the Arts, entertainment and recreation sector in the EU for the year 2022 based on number of enterprises, number of persons employed, net turnover, value added and employee benefits expense.
Table 2a: Sectoral analysis of key indicators: Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)


Table showing sectoral analysis of key indicators of the Arts, entertainment and recreation sector in the EU for the year 2022 based on apparent labour productivity, average employee benefits expense, wage adjusted labour productivity and gross operative rate.
Table 2b: Sectoral analysis of key indicators: Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)

Country overview

Across EU countries, the SBS data on the arts, entertainment and recreation sector showed varying contributions to the value added of the business economy, with an average of 1.1% at EU level - see Figure 2. In 2022, the shares varied from 0.2% in Luxembourg, 0.6% in Poland and 0.7% both in Belgium and Ireland - to 2.3% in Spain, 2.3% in Hungary and 4.0% in Slovakia. Malta was an outlier reaching the highest share of value added (12.0%), as well as the highest share of employment (5.4%). In terms of employment, at the higher end of the scale, Sweden stood at 2.5%, Spain at 2.3% and Denmark at 2.2%. At the lower end of the scale, with shares in employment lower than 1.0%, were Czechia (0.9%), Poland (0.6%), and Luxembourg (0.5%).

Horizontal bar chart showing relative importance of Arts, entertainment and recreation as percentage share of value added and employment in the business economy total in the EU, individual EU countries, Norway and Switzerland. Each country has two bars representing value added and employment for the year 2022.
Figure 2: Relative importance of Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)

The share of the value added of Division R92 'Gambling and betting activities' in NACE Section R 'Arts, entertainment and recreation' varied strongly among EU countries. The EU average was estimated around 37.0%, with the lowest value in the Netherlands (11.0%) and the highest in Malta (95.0%). In Malta, gambling and betting activities generated over 26.7% of the value added of the whole business economy.

The contribution of the top 5 countries in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector accounted for 70.1% of the value added and 63.3% of employment. Among the 5 largest EU countries, Germany accounted for 24.4% of the EU valued added of market activities in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector in 2022. Spain recorded the second-highest share, accounting for 16.0% of the value added in the EU's arts, entertainment and recreation sector. France, Italy and the Netherlands recorded the following highest shares of value added. In terms of employment, the arts, entertainment and recreation sector had the highest share in the whole business economy in Germany (20.4%), being followed by Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands - see Figure 3.

Stacked vertical bar chart showing concentration of value added and employment in Arts, entertainment and recreation based on the cumulative share of the five principal countries as a percentage of the EU total for the year 2022. Four columns represent value added in Arts, entertainment and recreation sector, value added in business economy, employment in Arts, entertainment and recreation sector and employment in business economy. Each column contains five named country stacks.
Figure 3: Concentration of value added and employment: Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)


Table showing highest value added and most specialised (named) EU countries in Arts, entertainment and recreation and per arts, entertainment and recreation sector based on percentage share of EU value added and percentage share of the business economy value added for the year 2022.
Table 3: Largest and most specialised EU countries in Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)

In value added terms, in 2022, Germany was the largest EU country in creative, arts and entertainment activities, gambling and betting activities and sports activities subsectors in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector. Spain was the largest in value added terms in the subsector of libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities and France for the amusement and recreation activities. (see Table 3). As seen in Table 4, in absolute terms, Spain recorded the highest level of turnover (€49.9 billion) within the arts, entertainment and recreation sector in 2022. The second and third highest values in net turnover for the arts, entertainment and recreation sector were recorded in Germany (€46.7 billion), Italy (€33.4 billion) and France (€32.7 billion). The same 4 countries also dominated the employment, Germany recording the highest number of persons employed within the arts, entertainment and recreation sector in 2022, with around 457 000 persons. Among the EU countries, Belgium recorded the highest level of average employee benefits expense within the arts, entertainment and recreation sector in 2022, €56 700 per employee. Above the EU average of €32 800 per employee, were situated also France, Luxembourg, Malta, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden. On the other hand, average employee benefits expenses were below €12 000 per employee in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, where the lowest levels were recorded.

Table showing key indicators in education in the EU, individual EU countries, Norway and Switzerland for the year 2022.
Table 4: Key indicators: Arts, entertainment and recreation EU, 2022
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)

Source data for tables and graphs

Data sources and availability

Coverage

The arts, entertainment and recreation sector includes a wide range of activities to meet varied cultural, entertainment and recreational interests of the general public, including live performances, operation of museum sites, gambling, sports and recreation activities.

The activities covered by the arts, entertainment and recreation sector are categorised as follows:

  • Creative, arts and entertainment activities (Division 90.0)

This division includes the operation of facilities and provision of services to meet the cultural and entertainment interests of their customers. This includes the production and promotion of, and participation in, live performances, events or exhibits intended for public viewing; the provision of artistic, creative or technical skills for the production of artistic products and live performances.

  • Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities (Division 91.0)

This division includes the activities of libraries and archives; the operation of museums of all kinds, botanical and zoological gardens; the operation of historical sites and nature reserves activities. It also includes the preservation and exhibition of objects, sites and natural wonders of historical, cultural or educational interest (e.g. world heritage sites, etc.)

  • Gambling and betting activities (Division 92.0)

This division includes the operation of gambling facilities such as casinos, bingo halls and video gaming terminals and the provision of gambling services, such as lotteries and off-track betting.

  • Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities (Division 93)
    • Sports activities (Division 93.1)

This group includes the operation of sports facilities; activities of sports teams or clubs primarily participating in live sports events before a paying audience; independent athletes engaged in participating in live sporting or racing events before a paying audience; owners of racing participants such as cars, dogs, horses, etc. primarily engaged in entering them in racing events or other spectator sports events; sports trainers providing specialised services to support participants in sports events or competitions; operators of arenas and stadiums; other activities of organising, promoting or managing sports events, n.e.c.

    • Amusement and recreation activities (Division 93.2)

This group includes a wide range of units that operate facilities or provide services to meet the varied recreational interests of their patrons. It includes the operation of a variety of attractions, such as mechanical rides, water rides, games, shows, theme exhibits and picnic grounds. This group excludes sports activities and dramatic arts, music and other arts and entertainment.

Data sources

Structural business statistics cover the 'business economy', which includes industry, construction and many services (NACE Rev. 2 sections B to N, P to R as well as division S95 and S96). Structural business statistics do not cover agriculture, forestry and fishing, nor public administration.
Structural business statistics describe the business economy through the observation of units engaged in an economic activity; the unit in structural business statistics is generally the enterprise. An enterprise carries out one or more activities, at one or more locations, and it may comprise one or more legal units. Enterprises that are active in more than one economic activity (plus the value added and turnover they generate, the people they employ, and so on) are classified under the NACE heading corresponding to their principal activity; this is normally the one which generates the largest amount of value added.
The analysis presented in this article is based on the main dataset for structural business statistics (SBS), size class data and regional data, all of which are published annually. SBS only cover the activities of market producers, meaning those acting under market conditions. Contrary to most activities covered by SBS, non-market producers represent a significant part of the arts, entertainment and recreation sector.

The main series provides information for each EU Member State as well as a number of non-EU member countries at a detailed level according to the activity classification NACE. Data are available for a wide range of variables.
In structural business statistics, size classes are generally defined by the number of persons employed. A limited set of the standard structural business statistics variables (for example, the number of enterprises, turnover, persons employed and value added) are analysed by size class, mostly down to the 3-digit (group) level of NACE. The main size classes used in this article for presenting the results are:

  • small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): with 1 to 249 persons employed, further divided into
    • micro enterprises: with less than 10 persons employed;
    • small enterprises: with 10 to 49 persons employed;
    • medium-sized enterprises: with 50 to 249 persons employed;
  • large enterprises: with 250 or more persons employed.

Structural business statistics also include regional data. Regional SBS data are available at NUTS levels 1 and 2 for most of the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway, mostly down to the 2-digit (division) level of NACE. The main variable analysed in this article is the number of persons employed. The type of statistical unit used for regional SBS data is normally the local unit, which is an enterprise or part of an enterprise situated in a geographically identified place. Local units are classified into sectors (by NACE) normally according to their own main activity, but in some EU Member States the activity code is assigned on the basis of the principal activity of the enterprise to which the local unit belongs. The main SBS data series are presented at national level only, and for this national data the statistical unit is the enterprise. It is possible for the principal activity of a local unit to differ from that of the enterprise to which it belongs. Hence, national SBS data from the main series are not necessarily directly comparable with national aggregates compiled from regional SBS.

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