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 2.1 and was established by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/137 of 10 October 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006. This revision takes effect from 2025. It is the European implementation of the UN classification ISIC, revision 5.

There is a correspondence between NACE and United Nations' International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities.

The NACE system is similar to the SIC and NAICS systems in function.

a screenshot of NACE being used in a computer program

NACE uses four hierarchical levels:

  • Level 1: 22 sections identified by alphabetical letters A to V;
  • 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

The 22 Level 1 codes are:

Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community Rev. 2.1 (2023): Level 1 Codes
CodeEconomic Area
AAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing
BMining and Quarrying
CManufacturing
DElectricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply
EWater Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities
FConstruction
GWholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles
HTransportation and Storage
IAccommodation and Food Service Activities
JPublishing, Broadcasting, and Content Production and Distribution Activities
KTelecommunication, Computer Programming, Consulting, Computing Infrastructure, and other Information Service Activities
LFinancial and Insurance Activities
MReal Estate Activities
NProfessional, Scientific and Technical Activities
OAdministrative and Support Service Activities
PPublic Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security
QEducation
RHuman Health and Social Work Activities
SArts, Sports and Recreation
TOther Service Activities
UActivities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods and Services Producing Activities of Households for Own Use
VActivities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies

External links

For an overview of NACE and full list of NACE Codes, please refer to: