How a standardized geocode helps map the spread of disease
In short: To fight a health crisis, you first need to know exactly where it is happening. The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) provides a universal language for geography, allowing researchers to track everything from economic trends to the specific spread of melanoma across borders.
To categorise administrative areas, Eurostat and the European Union created NUTS, a uniform geocoding framework. It establishes a three-level hierarchy: NUTS 1 represents major socio-economic regions (typically 3 to 7 million inhabitants), NUTS 2 identifies basic regions for regional policies (800,000 to 3 million inhabitants), and NUTS 3 covers small regions for local-level analyses (150,000 to 800,000 inhabitants). These codes allow for precise location tracking in public procurement and, crucially, in epidemiological research.
The system's utility is demonstrated in public health studies, such as a 20-year investigation into melanoma in Hungary. By using NUTS-3 regions (counties), researchers were able to identify specific geographical differences in incidence rates between 2001 and 2019. The data revealed that while melanoma mortality largely stagnated or decreased, incidence rates showed increasing trends in specific areas, such as northern counties with low socioeconomic status and Southern Transdanubia for women.
While NUTS is an EU standard, its influence extends globally. Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU on December 31, 2020, the UK transitioned to a similar system called International Territorial Levels (ITLs). These ITLs align with OECD standards to maintain international comparability. In the UK, these levels are structured differently by nation—for example, England uses counties and Combined Authorities for ITL 2, while Scotland and Wales use combinations of council areas and unitary authorities, respectively.
The system is designed for flexibility; smaller countries like Luxembourg or Cyprus may have the entire country represented at all three NUTS levels. Because the system is reviewed periodically—roughly every three years for the UK's ITLs—it ensures that statistical boundaries remain relevant to actual population thresholds and administrative realities.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: International geographies - Office for National Statistics
- Also: TED ---- NUTS - Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
- Also: Long-term changes in melanoma epidemiology in Hungary: who are the high-risk groups, and where should we concentrate prevention programs?
- Also: Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/health-nomenclature-of-territorial-units-for-statistics.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Epidemiology · More in Health · Latest · A–Z · All topics
