diff --git a/pgis/lib/include/MetaData/CgNodeMetaData.h b/pgis/lib/include/MetaData/CgNodeMetaData.h
index 83c0f0e..b0042f1 100644
--- a/pgis/lib/include/MetaData/CgNodeMetaData.h
+++ b/pgis/lib/include/MetaData/CgNodeMetaData.h
@@ -151,9 +151,7 @@ class PiraOneData : public metacg::MetaData::Registrar<PiraOneData> {
   }
 
   nlohmann::json to_json() const final {
-    nlohmann::json j;
-    j["numStatements"] = getNumberOfStatements();
-    return j;
+    return getNumberOfStatements();
   };
 
   virtual const char *getKey() const final { return key; }
@@ -189,10 +187,6 @@ inline void setPiraOneData(T node, int numStmts = 0, bool hasBody = false, bool
   }
 }
 
-inline void to_json(nlohmann::json &j, const PiraOneData &data) {
-  j = nlohmann::json{{"numStatements", data.getNumberOfStatements()}};
-}
-
 /**
  * This class holds data relevant to the PIRA II anslyses.
  * Most notably it encapsulates the Extra-P peformance models
diff --git a/pgis/test/unit/PIRAPGISMetadataTest.cpp b/pgis/test/unit/PIRAPGISMetadataTest.cpp
index e420eb5..bfa12f6 100644
--- a/pgis/test/unit/PIRAPGISMetadataTest.cpp
+++ b/pgis/test/unit/PIRAPGISMetadataTest.cpp
@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ TEST(PIRAPGISMetadataTest, PiraOneData) {
   const auto &j = origMetadata->to_json();
 
   // Compare all exported values
-  EXPECT_TRUE(j.contains("numStatements"));
-  EXPECT_EQ(j.at("numStatements"), origMetadata->getNumberOfStatements());
+  EXPECT_EQ(j.get<long long int>(), origMetadata->getNumberOfStatements());
 
   // Import Json Object
   // Note: due to historical reasons, PiraOne Data is not a json object, but only a single value
-  const auto &jsonMetadata = new pira::PiraOneData(j.at("numStatements"));
+  const auto &jsonMetadata = new pira::PiraOneData(j);
 
   // Compare all imported values
   EXPECT_EQ(jsonMetadata->getNumberOfStatements(), origMetadata->getNumberOfStatements());