NACEluokitusta

NACE-luokitusta, or NACE classification, is the European Union's standard nomenclature for classifying economic activities. It is used to organize statistical data about companies and other legal entities according to the activity they perform. The term NACE comes from the French Nomenclature statistique des Activités économiques dans la Communauté Européenne (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Communities).

The classification is hierarchical and four-tiered. The top level is Section, denoted by a letter (A to S) that describes a broad economic domain, such as A Agriculture, forestry and fishing or C Manufacturing. Below that are divisions (two-digit codes), groups (three digits) and classes (four digits). The structure allows consistent aggregation of activity data across countries and over time.

NACE Rev. 2, the current EU version, is aligned with the international ISIC Rev. 4 classification to facilitate international comparisons. It is maintained by Eurostat in collaboration with national statistical offices. Enterprises are typically assigned a primary NACE activity based on their main operations, and secondary activities may be coded as well. The system is used in enterprise statistics, national accounts, business registers, and analyses of external trade and economic activity.

NACE has undergone revisions to reflect economic changes, with NACE Rev. 2 introduced in the late 2000s to improve detail and comparability. Ongoing updates address evolving sectors such as information technology, services, and other modern economic activities, ensuring the classification remains relevant for statistical needs.