European Social Survey

What European Social Survey does

The European Social Survey (ESS) is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) established in 2001 and headquartered in London at City, University of London. It operates as a distributed, academically governed research infrastructure that conducts biennial cross-national probability-based surveys measuring public attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours across more than 30 European countries. Its primary users are academic researchers in social sciences, political science, sociology, and public health, alongside European Commission policymakers and national governments who rely on the data for evidence-based policy formation.

ESS has completed 13 rounds of data collection (2002–present), with Round 11 (2023/24) covering 31 countries. Its core technology stack combines probability sampling, face-to-face interviewing (CAPI), and a transitioning self-completion methodology (web and paper) enabled by the CRONOS (CROss-National Online Survey) panels — described as the world's first large-scale cross-national probability-based input-harmonised web panel. The infrastructure includes the ESS Data Portal (operated by Sikt in Bergen, Norway) for data dissemination in CSV/SPSS/Stata/SAS formats, the Translation Management Tool (TMT) for multilingual questionnaire management, the Variable Viewer for in-browser visualisation, and the ESS LABS innovation hub.

ESS does not commercialise its data. All data and documentation are released under Creative Commons licences (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 for data; CC BY-SA 4.0 for documentation) as a public good. Revenue derives entirely from a hybrid public funding model: country membership fees (a base fee plus a GDP-indexed contribution per country, with each country separately covering fieldwork costs) and competitive European Commission grants (Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe). Distribution and user acquisition occur through the open Data Portal, scholarly conferences (ESRA, the biennial ESS Conference), national coordinators in each member country, and a growing network of international partner surveys (EASS, CGSS, JGSS, KGSS, TSCS, US GSS, EVS).

Name

European Social Survey

Legal name

European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ESS ERIC)

Website

https://europeansocialsurvey.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European Social Survey (ESS ERIC) is a European research infrastructure that conducts biennial cross-national probability-based surveys across 30+ European countries, providing open-access comparative data on public attitudes to academic researchers and policymakers since 2001.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Science Research Infrastructure

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Survey, Panel & Fieldwork Services (BPAHALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Quantitative Research & Survey Analytics (Survey Design, Sampling, Statistical Modeling) (MPAAALAF)

Keywords

• Cross-national survey research
• Social science data infrastructure
• Comparative public opinion research
• Academic research data portal
• Longitudinal survey methodology

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. ERIC Membership Fees: All participating countries contribute to central coordination costs through a basic membership fee plus an additional amount calculated according to national GDP figures. Each country also covers the cost of fieldwork and national coordination.
2. European Commission Research Grants: ESS receives significant EU funding through Horizon 2020 projects (SUSTAIN 2: €4.9 million) and Horizon Europe projects (€3.2 million awarded in 2026 for consolidation and modernisation). Additional funding through SERISS project and Infra4NextGen project (€9.75m).
3. National Government Funding: UKRI-ESRC is the main national funder of ESS ERIC. Prior to ERIC status, ESS was funded through European Commission, European Science Foundation, and national funding councils.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The European Social Survey is a research infrastructure that conducts biennial cross-national social surveys across up to 31 European countries measuring public attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour on topics including politics, health, values, and social issues. Its core deliverable is the ESS Round Data series — comparable, methodologically rigorous survey data freely distributed through the ESS Data Portal in SPSS, Stata, SAS, and CSV formats. Supplementary offerings include the CRONOS cross-national web panel for rapid-response research and a suite of methodological and training resources.

Product overview

The European Social Survey is a research infrastructure providing high-quality open access cross-national survey data. The core offering consists of ESS Round Data collected biennially from up to 31 European countries, accessible primarily through the ESS Data Portal. Supplementary products include the CRONOS web panel for online data collection, the ESS Topline Findings publication series, ESS EduNet training resources, and the ESS User Statistics Portal. Data is available in multiple statistical software formats including SPSS, Stata, SAS, CSV, and through the Variable Viewer visualization tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRONOS (CROss-National Online Survey) Panels: Web panel data collection initiative for cross-national online surveys.
• ESS Data Portal
• ESS LABS

Products and services

• ESS Data Portal The primary online platform for accessing, browsing, and downloading European Social Survey data and documentation. Provides variable visualization, data filtering, multi-format export capabilities (CSV, SPSS, Stata, SAS), a Datafile Builder Wizard for bespoke data files, and is accessible globally via self-serve registration. Operated by Sikt in Norway.
• ESS Round Data Biennial cross-national survey data collected across multiple rounds (currently through Round 11) from up to 31 European countries, measuring attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour on topics including politics, health, values, social issues, democracy, climate, immigration, and gender. Distributed via the ESS Data Portal.
• CRONOS Web Panel Data CROss-National Online Survey (CRONOS) — a web-first cross-national probability-based input-harmonised panel survey collecting data on attitudes and behaviours across multiple waves and countries (CRONOS-1: 3 countries; CRONOS-2: 12 countries). Provides rapid-response research capability complementing biennial Round Data.
• Variable Viewer Visualization tool on the ESS Data Portal allowing users to view weighted results for individual survey questions as bar charts, maps, and data tables without the need to download raw data files.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,060 academic publications based on ESS data (2002-23)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Monitoring Electoral Democracy (MEDem)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025ESS signed Memorandum of Understanding with new research infrastructure Monitoring Electoral Democracy (MEDem) in April 2025.
• Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2024Four-year formal partnership agreement signed in January 2024. CGSS is part of EASS and will replicate ESS questions as part of the global collaboration.
• East Asian Social Survey (EASS) Research NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2024MoU signed with EASS collectively, which includes Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), Japanese General Social Surveys (JGSS), Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), and Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS). At the 2023 EASS Conference, all four members agreed to field ESS Round 12 wellbeing module for first-time European-East Asian comparison.
• European Values Study (EVS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2024Landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed between ESS and EVS in July 2024 to formalize cooperation. The partnership includes consideration of whether EVS questions could be included in ESS data collection. Both infrastructures aim to bridge their datasets to study social attitudes, norms and values across Europe.
• Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MoU agreed ending January 2028, signed in January 2024. TSCS is part of EASS research network and replicates ESS questions.
• General Social Survey (United States)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Four-year formal partnership signed in November 2023. GSS replicated ESS wellbeing questions from 2008-12 and will work on methodology exchange regarding transition to self-completion modes. MoU aims to improve survey methodology of both organisations.
• CenterdatacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2023Centerdata joined the ESS Core Scientific Team to help coordinate the survey. Contributed to SUSTAIN 2 project providing CAPI software and support to national teams.
• Korean General Social Survey (KGSS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2023Four-year agreement signed at EASS conference in February 2023. ESS questions on personal and social wellbeing and gender have been replicated in KGSS. Data available through KOSSDA.
• Japanese General Social Survey (JGSS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2021Four-year MoU signed in May 2021. JGSS conducted ESS Round 10 COVID-19 module in JGSS 2021. JGSS data is available through their data archive. MoU extended in June 2026 with revised memorandum.
• Sikt - Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and ResearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationSikt operates the ESS Data Portal for data archiving and access. Previously known as NSD. Provides data support services and developed the new Data Portal architecture.
• GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social SciencescoreTechnology or IntegrationGESIS is part of the ESS Core Scientific Team linked third party, contributing to data processing and methodological support.
• Social Research Centre, Australian National UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted Australian European Social Survey 2020 replicating ESS Round 9 questions via Life in Australia probability panel. Data harmonized with main ESS dataset.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Latinobarómetro: Annual cross-national public opinion survey covering 18 Latin American countries. Functionally parallel to ESS in mission (regional public-attitude measurement), but geographically distinct and privately operated.
• Afrobarometer: Cross-national survey measuring African public attitudes across 30+ countries — comparable in cross-national methodology and public-attitude scope but serving Sub-Saharan Africa rather than Europe.
• East Asian Social Survey (EASS): Regional network of East Asian general social surveys (CGSS, JGSS, KGSS, TSCS) — ESS's formal MoU partner for cross-continental comparison. Operates the same cross-national survey model in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofound (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions): EU tripartite agency producing cross-national European surveys on working conditions, employment, and quality of life — comparable mission (European-wide social evidence) but government-internal rather than academically governed.
• Pew Research Center: Large U.S. nonpartisan research organization producing global and U.S. public opinion surveys. Overlaps with ESS in cross-national attitudinal research but operates at much larger scale, with broader topic scope and a different governance/funding model.
• Eurobarometer (European Commission): EU's official public-opinion polling instrument covering all member states. Overlaps with ESS on cross-national European attitudinal measurement but is administered by the Commission rather than an independent research consortium.

Direct peers

• European Values Study (EVS): Direct peer and recent MoU partner (July 2024). EVS conducts cross-national European surveys on values, beliefs, and attitudes using comparable methodology — the most functionally similar infrastructure to ESS in Europe.
• World Values Survey (WVS): Global cross-national survey measuring values and beliefs across 100+ countries using comparable probability sampling — closely comparable in mission and methodology, including partnership on Schwartz Human Values data.
• International Social Survey Programme (ISSP): Cross-national collaboration running annual modules on social science topics since 1985; ESS is a member and ISSP modules are integrated into ESS rounds — directly comparable in cross-national survey architecture.
• General Social Survey (GSS) - NORC: U.S. counterpart to ESS; formal MoU partner (Nov 2023). GSS collects nationally representative cross-sectional social science data with replicated ESS questions — closest methodological analogue outside Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ess_survey
• YouTubeyoutube.com/EuropeanSocialSurveyERIC
• Facebookfacebook.com/EuropeanSocialSurvey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-social-survey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Social Survey