The Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, commonly referred to as NACE [for the French term "nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne"], is the industry standard classification system used in the European Union. The current version is revision 2 and was established by Regulation [EC] No 1893/2006. It is the European implementation of the UN classification ISIC, revision 4.
There is a correspondence between NACE and United Nations' International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities.
NACE is similar in function to the SIC and NAICS systems:
- Standard Industrial Classification
- North American Industry Classification System
a screenshot of NACE being used in a computer program
NACE uses four hierarchical levels:
- Level 1: 21 sections identified by alphabetical letters A to U;
- Level 2: 88 divisions identified by two-digit numerical codes [01 to 99];
- Level 3: 272 groups identified by three-digit numerical codes [01.1 to 99.0];
- Level 4: 615 classes identified by four-digit numerical codes [01.11 to 99.00].
The first four digits of the code, which is the first four levels of the classification system, are the same in all European countries. National implementations may introduce additional levels. The fifth digit might vary from country to country and further digits are sometimes placed by suppliers of databases.
Level 1 Codes[edit]
The 21 Level 1 codes are:
Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community Rev. 2 [2008]: Level 1 Codes Code Economic Area A Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing B Mining and Quarrying C Manufacturing D Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply E Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities F Construction G Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles H Transportation and Storage I Accommodation and Food Service Activities J Information and Communication K Financial and Insurance Activities L Real Estate Activities M Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities N Administrative and Support Service Activities O Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security P Education Q Human Health and Social Work Activities R Arts, Entertainment and Recreation S Other Service Activities T Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods and Services Producing Activities of Households for Own Use U Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies
References[edit]
Regulation [EC] No 1893/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 establishing the statistical classification of economic activities NACE Revision 2 and amending Council Regulation [EEC] No 3037/90 as well as certain EC Regulations on specific statistical domains. OJ L 393, 30.12.2006, p. 1–39. EurLex
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- NACE Rev. 2 - Statistical classification of economic activities
NACE Rev. 2 - Statistical classification of economic activities - Products Manuals and Guidelines
Publication Details
Back NACE Rev. 2 - Statistical classification of economic activities
The publication contains the structure of the classification, the introductory guidelines containing the main concepts, a historical background and the methodological guidelines for understanding and applying the classification as well as a detailed description of the different items of NACE Rev. 2.