Australian System of National Accounts: Concepts, Sources and Methods

Latest release

This publication outlines the major concepts, definitions, data sources and methods used to prepare the National Accounts estimates

Reference period
2020-21 financial year

Preface

The national accounts explain how the Australian economy operates, and how it evolves over time, by measuring, classifying, and aggregating these transactions. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the highest profile estimate, but the Australian System of National Accounts (ASNA) cover a range of other economic measures. These include a full set of flow accounts for each sector of the economy (income, capital and financial), input-output tables, supply and use tables, satellite accounts, state-based estimates, balance sheets and reconciliation accounts, and productivity estimates.

This publication is a guide to the Australian System of National Accounts. It outlines the major concepts and definitions, describes the data sources and methods used to prepare the estimates, and discusses the accuracy and reliability of the national accounts.

It is designed for both intensive users, such as economic and financial analysts, as well as less intensive users looking to gain a better understanding of national accounts, or the Australian economy in general.

This is the seventh edition of Australian System of National Accounts: Concepts, Sources and Methods. The chapters released in this edition have been updated to reflect changes made to the sources and methods used to compile the Australian System of National Accounts undertaken since the sixth edition.

This is consistent with the following ABS publications, inclusive of the most recent releases:

The first edition of the Australian System of National Accounts: Concepts, Sources and Methods, in its current format, was published in July 2012. This was timed to reflect implementation of the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA 2008), the Sixth Edition of the IMF’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) and the 2006 Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC06).

The second edition was published in September 2012, and included the chapter on the concepts, sources and methods that underpin the Australian Input-Output tables.

The third edition was published in December 2012 and included five additional chapters covering productivity and analytical measures; state accounts; satellite and environmental-economic accounts; and the quality of the national accounts.

The fourth (December 2013) and fifth (January 2015) and sixth (March 2015) editions reflected changes to the sources and methods used to compile the Australian System of National Accounts. None of these editions included new chapters.

Michael Smedes

Program Manager, Production, Income and Expenditure

Updates

The ABS is currently embarking on a program of updating the Australian System of National Accounts from March 2024 onwards.

Updates are listed below by chronological order. The specific details of the changes are provided under the relevant section along with previous content for comparison.

March 2024

Chapter 9: Gross Domestic Product - Production approach (GDP(P))

Adjustments made to intermediate use (Link to page change is on)

  • Paragraph 9.76 

Sources and methods – Annual 

  • Table 9.22 Annual gross value added by industry - Finance (ANZSIC Subdivision 62)
  • Table 9.29 Annual gross value added by industry - Education and training (ANZSIC Division P)
  • Table 9.30 Annual gross value added by industry - Health care and social assistance (ANZSIC Division Q)
  • Table 9.33 Annual gross value added by industry - Ownership of dwellings

Chapter 10: Gross Domestic Product - Expenditure approach (GDP (E))

Adjustment made to HFCE 

  • Net expenditure overseas paragraphs 10.26 and 10.38
  • Housing is now included in HFCE COICOP categories. Paragraphs 10.26 and 10.38

Government final consumption expenditure

  • Changes to information regarding COFOG and GPC. Paragraphs 10.70 and 10.71
  • Removed paragraph 10.72

Sources and methods - Annual

  • Table 10.7 Annual household final consumption expenditure - Health

Chapter 21: State accounts - Gross fixed capital formation

Gross fixed capital formation

  • Dwelling rent- Changes made to average rent paid. Paragraph 21.114

Chapter 22: Input output tables

Sources and methods

  • Table 22.6 Supply and use tables data sources

The I-O compilation process

  • Table 22.7 Disaggregation of S-U level to I-O level—GDP(P)
  • Table 22.8 Disaggregation of S-U level to I-O level—GDP(E)

Abbreviations

Abbreviations

  • Update made to the list of abbreviations

Appendix 1 Classifications

Appendix 1 Classifications

  • Changes to information regarding COFOG and GPC. Paragraph A1.15
  • Use of COICOP and COFOG to classify household and government expenditures. Paragraph A1.16

     

Data Download - Printable version

To view a printable version of the Australian System of National Accounts: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2020-21 financial year click here.

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