ISIC

The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) consists of a coherent and consistent classification structure of economic activities based on a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, principles and classification rules. It provides a comprehensive framework within which economic data can be collected and reported in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision-taking and policy-making. The classification structure represents a standard format to organize detailed information about the state of an economy according to economic principles and perceptions.

Since the adoption of the original version of ISIC in 1948, the majority of countries around the world have used ISIC as their national activity classification or have developed national classifications derived from ISIC. ISIC has therefore provided guidance to countries in developing national activity classifications and has become an important tool for comparing statistical data on economic activities at the international level. Wide use has been made of ISIC, both nationally and internationally, in classifying data according to kind of economic activity in the fields of economic and social statistics, such as for statistics on national accounts, demography of enterprises, employment and others. In addition, ISIC is increasingly used for non-statistical purposes.

The United Nations Statistical Commission, at its 54th session in 2023, endorsed revision 5 of ISIC.

This fifth revision, developed by the Task Team on ISIC, enhances the relevance of the classification by better reflecting the current structure of the world economy, recognizing new industries and new activities that have emerged over the past 15 years and facilitating international comparison through increased alignment with existing regional classifications.

The Commission, at its 54th session, also endorsed the establishment of standing task teams for ISIC and CPC. At its meeting in October 2023, the UNCEISC agreed to set up one consolidated standing task team on ISIC and CPC, which will be a permanent task team reporting to the Committee for the ongoing maintenance and revision of both ISIC and CPC.

Publication of ISIC Rev. 5 is forthcoming, but is available in the following formats:

• • Introduction (PDF)
• • Explanatory notes (PDF)
• • Structure only (CSV)
• • Structure and explanatory notes (Excel)

Information on the previous versions of ISIC, including correspondence tables, are available at: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ.

• • ISIC Rev. 4
• • ISIC Rev. 3.1
• • ISIC Rev. 3
• • ISIC Rev. 2
• • ISIC Rev. 1
• • ISIC 1948 (Rev. 0)