What is ISIC and how does it enable global economic comparison?

ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification) is the UN's global standard for classifying economic activities, maintained by the UN Statistics Division since 1948. It enables consistent GDP comparisons, employment statistics alignment, and trade flow analysis across 200+ countries and territories.

How does ISIC Rev.4 compare to NAICS 2022?

ISIC Rev.4 provides broader international comparability with 21 sections versus NAICS 2022's 20 sectors. While ISIC focuses on global standardization for UN member states, NAICS offers more granular detail for North American markets. ISIC is updated every 10 years versus NAICS 5-year cycle.

Which international organizations and countries use ISIC classification?

ISIC is used by over 200 countries and territories through national statistical offices, the World Bank, IMF, OECD, and other international organizations. It's the foundation for national accounts compilation, development indicators, and cross-country economic policy analysis.

ISIC Code Lookup, Search, Classify, Map

Instantly categorize economic activities using the UN's ISIC

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"Manufacture of motor vehicles"

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How to find ISIC codes

1

Enter Description

Type a description of your product or service into the search box above. Be specific (e.g., "wireless mouse" instead of "mouse").

2

Click Find Code

Press the "Find code" button. Our search will analyze your description and match it against the ISIC standard in about 1 second.

3

Review Results

Browse the ranked list of codes. The most relevant match is usually at the top. Click any code to copy it.

ISIC: UN's Global Economic Classification

UN Statistics Division Role

Developed and maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division:

• Global standard since 1948
• Used by 200+ countries and territories
• Foundation for national accounts compilation
• International comparability standard
• Regular 10-year revision cycles

International Comparability

ISIC enables cross-country economic analysis:

• GDP comparison across nations
• Employment statistics alignment
• Trade flow analysis
• Development indicator measurement
• Policy impact assessment

ISIC vs NAICS Comparison

While ISIC provides global standardization, NAICS offers more detailed industry breakdowns for North America. ISIC Rev.4 has 21 sections compared to NAICS 20 sectors, with ISIC focusing on international comparability versus NAICS regional specificity.

ISIC Classifier

Instantly categorize economic activities using the UN's ISIC

How to find ISIC codes

Enter Description

Click Find Code

Review Results

ISIC: UN's Global Economic Classification

UN Statistics Division Role

International Comparability

ISIC vs NAICS Comparison

UNSPSC

ETIM

NAICS

HS

HTS

CN

NACE

CPV

NSN