1

International Family of Economic International Family of Economic and Social Classificationsand Social Classifications

United Nations Statistics DivisionUnited Nations Statistics Division

2

OverviewOverview

• Programme on Statistical ClassificationsProgramme on Statistical Classifications• Bodies of International Classifications Bodies of International Classifications

• Statistical CommissionStatistical Commission• Expert Group / Technical SubgroupExpert Group / Technical Subgroup

• International Family of ClassificationsInternational Family of Classifications• Types of ClassificationsTypes of Classifications• History of Economic/Trade ClassificationsHistory of Economic/Trade Classifications• Relationships between ClassificationsRelationships between Classifications

• Role of CustodiansRole of Custodians

3

Programme on Statistical Programme on Statistical ClassificationsClassifications

• To To develop and maintaindevelop and maintain economic and social classifications economic and social classifications approved as guidelines by the United Nations approved as guidelines by the United Nations Statistical Statistical CommissionCommission

• To provide To provide technical supporttechnical support for development, implementation, for development, implementation, interpretation, maintenance, updating and revision of these interpretation, maintenance, updating and revision of these classificationsclassifications

• To prepare and To prepare and disseminatedisseminate classifications methods and materials, classifications methods and materials, i.e., statements of best practice, explanatory notes, indexes, i.e., statements of best practice, explanatory notes, indexes, correspondence tables, coding strategies and methodscorrespondence tables, coding strategies and methods

• To To coordinatecoordinate international international cooperationcooperation in the area of statistical in the area of statistical classifications through the classifications through the Statistical CommissionStatistical Commission and through and through activities of the United Nations activities of the United Nations Expert GroupExpert Group on International on International Economic and Social Classifications. Economic and Social Classifications.

4

Statistical CommissionStatistical Commission

• Established: 16Established: 16thth February 1946 February 1946• 24 members, according to geographical 24 members, according to geographical

distribution pattern:distribution pattern:• 5 members from Africa5 members from Africa• 4 members from Asia4 members from Asia• 4 members from Eastern Europe4 members from Eastern Europe• 4 members from Latin America & Caribbean4 members from Latin America & Caribbean• 7 members from Western European and other States7 members from Western European and other States

• 4 years membership4 years membership• 1 meeting per year (since 1999)1 meeting per year (since 1999)

5

Statistical CommissionStatistical CommissionCommission shall assist the Economic & Commission shall assist the Economic &

Social Council:Social Council:• ““In promoting the In promoting the development of national statisticsdevelopment of national statistics and the and the

improvement of their comparability;improvement of their comparability;• In the In the coordinationcoordination of the statistical work of specialized of the statistical work of specialized

agencies;agencies;• In the development of the In the development of the central statistical servicescentral statistical services of the of the

Secretariat; Secretariat; • In In advising the organsadvising the organs of the United Nations on general of the United Nations on general

questions relating to the collection, analysis and questions relating to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information; dissemination of statistical information;

• In promoting the In promoting the improvement of statisticsimprovement of statistics and statistical and statistical methods generally.”methods generally.”

6

Expert Group on Statistical Expert Group on Statistical ClassificationsClassifications

• Central Central coordinatingcoordinating body for classification body for classification mattersmatters

• Ensures harmonization and Ensures harmonization and convergenceconvergence among classifications in the familyamong classifications in the family

• Recommends, Recommends, examinesexamines changes/updates changes/updates• Adopts schedules for updatesAdopts schedules for updates• Can install Can install subgroupssubgroups

7

Technical Subgroup (TSG)Technical Subgroup (TSG)

• carries out technical, analytical or exploratory carries out technical, analytical or exploratory tasks tasks

• reports back to Expert Group reports back to Expert Group • currently there’s one TSG, concerned with currently there’s one TSG, concerned with

revisions of ISIC, CPC revisions of ISIC, CPC • Installed by Expert Group in 1999Installed by Expert Group in 1999• Revision work now completed – currently Revision work now completed – currently

working on developing implementation working on developing implementation materialsmaterials

9

Family of ClassificationsFamily of Classifications• What is the Family of International What is the Family of International

Classifications?Classifications?• Classification, whose custodians follow the “best practices”Classification, whose custodians follow the “best practices”

• What’s the purpose?What’s the purpose?• Enforce cooperation, coordination and improve qualityEnforce cooperation, coordination and improve quality

• Which Classifications belong to the Family?Which Classifications belong to the Family?• Subject matter areas:Subject matter areas:

• Activities Products Expenditures• Trade Health Education• Employment Environment

• International & (multi-)nationalInternational & (multi-)national

10

Types of ClassificationsTypes of Classifications

• Within each area there are:Within each area there are:• Reference ClassificationsReference Classifications• Derived ClassificationsDerived Classifications• Related ClassificationsRelated Classifications

11

Example: Activity classificationsExample: Activity classifications

• Reference classificationReference classification• ISIC Rev.4ISIC Rev.4

• Derived classificationDerived classification• NACE Rev.2NACE Rev.2

• Related classificationsRelated classifications• NAICS, ANZSICNAICS, ANZSIC

ISIC Rev. 4

NAICS

NACE Rev. 2

ANZSIC

National VersionsNational Versions

12

Reference ClassificationsReference Classifications

• Product of Product of international agreementinternational agreement• Approved by UN Statistical Commission (or other Approved by UN Statistical Commission (or other

international board) and recommended as “model international board) and recommended as “model classification”classification”

• Means of Means of harmonizationharmonization of international statistics of international statistics• GuidelinesGuidelines for the preparation of (multi-)/national for the preparation of (multi-)/national

classificationsclassifications• Used for data collection and Used for data collection and comparisoncomparison at the at the

international levelinternational level• DefineDefine structure and building blocks structure and building blocks

13

Requirements for Reference Requirements for Reference ClassificationsClassifications

• Have to be Have to be generalgeneral enough to enough to• be applicable to all countriesbe applicable to all countries• provide room for national adaptation and provide room for national adaptation and

specificationsspecifications• Have to be Have to be specificspecific enough to enough to

• allow for useful data collectionallow for useful data collection• provide reasonable guidelines for creation of provide reasonable guidelines for creation of

national classificationsnational classifications

14

Requirements for Reference Requirements for Reference ClassificationsClassifications

• orchestrated updates within the familyorchestrated updates within the family• Long-term schedule of updatesLong-term schedule of updates

• Example: activity and product classification Example: activity and product classification recommended to be reviewed in 5 year recommended to be reviewed in 5 year intervals (2002, 2007, etc.)intervals (2002, 2007, etc.)

15

Derived ClassificationsDerived Classifications

• Based on the Reference ClassificationBased on the Reference Classification• Adopt structureAdopt structure

• consistency of aggregatesconsistency of aggregates• Respect building blocksRespect building blocks

• additional detail where necessaryadditional detail where necessary• Tailored for use at national or multinational levelTailored for use at national or multinational level

16

Related ClassificationsRelated Classifications

• Only partial concordanceOnly partial concordance• Differ in structure and/or building blocks from Differ in structure and/or building blocks from

reference classificationsreference classifications• Linked mainly through correspondence tablesLinked mainly through correspondence tables

• many links will refer to partial correspondencesmany links will refer to partial correspondences

Economic activity classification

Reference International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC Rev.1, Rev.2, Rev.3, Rev.3.1, Rev.4)

Derived Standard Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev.1, Rev.2)

RelatedThe North American Industry Classification System (NAICS-Canada 1997, 2002, 2007; NAICS-Mexico 1997, 2002, 2007; NAICS-US 1997, 2002, 2007)

Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 1993, 2006)Product Classification

ReferenceCentral Product Classification (CPC Provisional, Ver.1, Ver.1.1, Ver.2)Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS 1988, 1996, 2002, 2007)

Derived Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, Rev.1, Rev.2, Rev.3, Rev.4)

Expenditure According to Purpose Classification

Reference

Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG)Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)Classification of the Purposes of Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (COPNI)Classification of the Outlays of Producers According to Purpose (COPP)

Employment, occupation or education classification

Reference

International Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93)

International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88, 08)

International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 1997)

Social or Health Classification

Reference

International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)

International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH)

International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICIDH-2)

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

Country and Area Classification

Reference Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use (M49, Rev.4)

Other Classifications

Reference

Balance of Payments Manual (BPM5)Government Finance Statistics (GFS)

Classification of Environmental Protection Activities and Expenditure (CEPA)

Other Trial International Classification of Activities for Time-Use Statistics (ICATUS)

18

Economic ClassificationsEconomic Classifications

19

Economic ClassificationsEconomic Classifications

20

Links between classificationsLinks between classifications

• Within subject matter areas (e.g. Products)Within subject matter areas (e.g. Products)• e.g. CPC e.g. CPC HS HS

• Between subject matter areas (e.g. Products, Activities)Between subject matter areas (e.g. Products, Activities)• e.g. ISIC e.g. ISIC HS ; ISIC HS ; ISIC CPC CPC

• Between types of classifications only (e.g. Activities)Between types of classifications only (e.g. Activities)• e.g. ISIC e.g. ISIC NACE NACE NAICS NAICS

• Between types of classifications and subject matter areas Between types of classifications and subject matter areas (e.g. Activities, Products)(e.g. Activities, Products)

• e.g. ISIC e.g. ISIC SITC SITC

21

Links between classificationsLinks between classificationsCan generally be of the form (from Can generally be of the form (from

A to B):A to B):• One-to-oneOne-to-one

• Results can be transformed in both Results can be transformed in both waysways

3120

4403.41

4403.49

4403.91

4403.99

31104403.2

AB

• One-to-manyOne-to-many• Results of B can be compared in terms of AResults of B can be compared in terms of A

• Many-to-manyMany-to-many• Results can’t be compared in any directionResults can’t be compared in any direction

• Many-to-oneMany-to-one

• Results of A can be compared in terms of BResults of A can be compared in terms of B

8838.514161

4163

22

More linksMore links

23

More linksMore links

24

More linksMore links

25

More linksMore links

26

More linksMore links

27

Roles of CustodiansRoles of Custodians

• Maintenance, update and revision of “their” Maintenance, update and revision of “their” classificationclassification

• Follow family obligationsFollow family obligations• Collaborate with other custodiansCollaborate with other custodians• Willing to exchange information and work transparentlyWilling to exchange information and work transparently• Contribute their experience for advancement of Reference Contribute their experience for advancement of Reference

Classification (guidelines, definitions, interpretations,…)Classification (guidelines, definitions, interpretations,…)• Coordinate timing of changes/updatesCoordinate timing of changes/updates• Develop guidance and training materialsDevelop guidance and training materials

28

Resources and contactsResources and contacts

UN Classifications Hotline• E-mail:E-mail: CHL@un.org • Snail Mail:Snail Mail: Classifications Hotline Classifications Hotline

Room DC2-1522 United Nations Statistics Division 2, UN Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA

• Fax:Fax: (+1-212)-963-1374 (+1-212)-963-1374• UN Classifications Website:UN Classifications Website:

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/class

37

EndEnd

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!