NACE Codes

What is NACE?

Nomenclature of Economic Activities (NACE) is a classification of economic activities developed by the European Union. The NACE is used to identify and group economic activities in order to facilitate statistical analysis. Codes are grouped according to the type of activity, characteristics and its main products of a business.

NACE is used for statistical purposes and is part of a system of macroeconomic accounting. It is useful because it allows the classification of economic activities in a way that is consistent with international standards and it provides a common framework for all countries.

What are NACE codes used for?

The NACE codes are often used by governments to classify businesses into different categories based on what they do. For example, a business that produces goods might be classified as manufacturing under NACE while a business that provides services might be classified as professional services or wholesale trade.

This makes it easier for governments to collect data on different sectors of the economy so they can see how well each sector is performing. It's also useful in developing strategies for economic growth and management.

NACE Format

The NACE code has four digits and it is subdivided into a hierarchical structure with four levels.

The highest level categories are called sections:

• The first two numbers of the code indicate the division
• The third number indicates the group
• The fourth number indicates the class

NACE uses four 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).

Here is a full list of the NACE codes.

Ideal Postcodes

NACE codes are available with our Address Finder solution. Get in touch if you have any questions.