The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) is a United Nations industry classification system. Wide use has been made of ISIC in classifying data according to kind of economic activity in the fields of employment and health data.

It is maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division.^[1]

ISIC classifies entities by activity. The most detailed categories are defined by combinations of activities described in statistical units, considering the relative importance of the activities included in these classes.

ISIC Rev.4 continues to use criteria such as input, output and use of the products produced, but places additional emphasis on production processes.

Revision history

The United Nations Statistics Division has published the following revisions of the ISIC standard:

• Revision 1 - Published in 1958^[2]
• Revision 2 - Published in 1968^[2]
• Revision 3 - Published in 1989^[2]
• Revision 3.1 - Published by the United Nations in 2002^[3]
• Revision 4 - Published by the United Nations in 2008^[4]

ISIC Revision 4 broad structure

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Mining and quarrying
• Manufacturing
• Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
• Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
• Construction
• Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
• Transportation and storage
• Accommodation and food service activities
• Information and communication
• Financial and insurance activities
• Real estate activities
• Professional, scientific and technical activities
• Administrative and support service activities
• Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
• Education
• Human health and social work activities
• Arts, entertainment and recreation
• Other service activities
• Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use
• Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies