System of National Accounts

Revision of 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA93)

The System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA93) provides the conceptual framework, definitions and classifications for compiling national accounts. It, also sets out how the national accounts should be presented. The European System of Accounts (ESA95) is based on the SNA93.

The criteria for approving issues to be updated, and recommendations for updating, include:

• There should not be fundamental or comprehensive changes to the 1993 SNA that would impede the process of its implementation, which in many countries has not yet been achieved;
• Candidates for updating are issues that are emerging in the new economic environment;
• Candidates for updating are issues that are widely demanded by users;
• Old issues that have been discussed and rejected before in the 1993 revision process but may need a further look in the new economic environment due either to their economic significance and/or to an advancement in methodological research that may justify a different treatment;
• Old issues that have been discussed and rejected before in the 1993 revision process should not be candidates for updating if no change in the economic environment or progress in methodology research warrant their consideration for updating;
• Any recommendation for change should have its internal consistency and consistency with related manuals such as the Balance of Payments Manual;
• Any recommendation for change should be tested for feasibility of implementation in countries with developed and less developed statistical systems.

Key issues for SNA93 revisions (PDF)
Issues considered important to the UK (PDF)

This page last revised: Tuesday, 7 September 2004