What Is a NACE Code? European Industry Classification (NACE)

Structure of NACE Codes

NACE is organized as a four-level hierarchy that supports analysis from broad economic groupings down to specific activity classes.

• Section: broad economic coverage identified by a letter
• Division: two-digit activities within a section
• Group: three-digit refinements inside a division
• Class: four-digit activity definitions

Visual Hierarchy

NACE codes are not flat strings. Each level nests into the next, moving from section to class.

Global Context

NACE is the EU’s activity classification. It is designed to align with ISIC for international comparability, while adding EU-specific detail for European statistical and administrative use.

Worked Hierarchy Example

NACE Revisions: Rev. 2 and Rev. 2.1

NACE Rev. 2 remains the baseline still seen in many datasets and systems, while NACE Rev. 2.1 is now the official updated classification and is being progressively rolled out across European statistical domains. Rev. 2.1 introduces new concepts and restructures some headings, while preserving continuity where change was not necessary. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Applications of NACE Codes

• European and national statistical reporting
• Business registers and administrative datasets
• Economic policy and sectoral analysis
• Environmental, regulatory, and compliance frameworks that reference activity categories
• Market research and comparative industry analysis

NACE and ISIC Alignment

NACE is structurally aligned with the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). ISIC provides the global reference framework, while NACE provides the EU’s aligned implementation with more European detail. Eurostat’s guidance explicitly positions NACE Rev. 2.1 as aligned to ISIC while preserving its own EU structure and explanatory notes. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Countries Using NACE

NACE is used across the European Union for official statistics and is also used or mirrored by aligned European systems and national variants based on the NACE framework. A simple way to present it on this page is to focus on representative examples rather than imply a closed list. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}