ISIC Lookup

The International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) is the global gold standard for categorizing economic activities. Developed and maintained by the United Nations, ISIC provides a universal language for governments, international organizations, and global enterprises to classify data by the type of productive activity.

While systems like SIC or NAICS are specific to North America, ISIC is designed for international comparability. It ensures that a manufacturing entity in Brazil can be accurately compared to one in Japan or France. Use the tool below to navigate the hierarchy—from broad sections down to detailed classes—and find the specific code that represents your business’s primary activity.

If you operate in global B2B marketing, international trade, or cross-border data analysis, you have likely encountered ISIC codes. They are the backbone of global economic statistics and are increasingly essential for businesses navigating the complexities of a connected global marketplace.

What ISIC Codes Represent

The ISIC system organizes all economic activities into a four-level structure: Sections, Divisions, Groups, and Classes. This hierarchy allows for both high-level economic overviews and granular industry analysis.

• Sections: Identified by alphabetical letters (A–U), representing broad sectors like Manufacturing or Information and Communication.
• Divisions: The first two digits narrow the sector into specific industries.
• Groups: The third digit provides more detail on the industry branch.
• Classes: The fourth digit identifies the specific activity.

For example, a company specializing in software publishing falls under Section J (Information and Communication). Its specific code is 5820. The 58 represents Publishing activities, while the 20 pins it specifically to Software publishing.

ISIC Codes in Global Marketing

For marketing teams, ISIC is the key to international segmentation. When building a global Account-Based Marketing (ABM) strategy, using a localized system like SIC becomes inefficient. Data providers use ISIC to normalize global company lists, enabling marketers to target Automotive Manufacturing across 50 countries with a single, unified code.

In digital advertising, ISIC codes help bridge the gap between regional datasets. By mapping internal customer data to ISIC, global brands can ensure their messaging is consistent across continents while respecting the unique industrial landscape of each region.

ISIC in International Business & Sales

Sales leaders use ISIC codes to perform Global Market Sizing. If a company wants to expand its SaaS product into Southeast Asia or the European Union, ISIC provides a framework for estimating the Total Addressable Market (TAM) using UN-compliant economic data.

Within a global CRM, ISIC serves as the ultimate source of truth. It prevents the fragmentation that occurs when regional offices use different local classification standards. By normalizing all accounts to ISIC, a VP of Sales can get a bird’s-eye view of global performance across specific verticals.

The Evolution of ISIC

The ISIC system is not static; it is periodically updated to reflect the evolving global economy. The current version, ISIC Rev. 4, introduced significant improvements to capture the growth of the service sector and the digital economy.

Because it is a UN standard, ISIC serves as the parent to many other regional systems. For instance, the European NACE system and the United Nations’ Central Product Classification (CPC) are closely aligned with ISIC, making it the most versatile system for firms with a footprint outside of the United States.

ISIC vs. NAICS and SIC

While the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard for the US, Canada, and Mexico, ISIC is the standard for the rest of the world.

• SIC/NAICS: Best for domestic US operations, federal filings, and local prospecting.
• ISIC: Best for international business, global economic research, and cross-border supply chain management.

Most sophisticated data platforms now provide crosswalks or mapping tools that allow you to convert a US NAICS code into its international ISIC equivalent.

Choosing the Right System

If your business is confined to the United States, NAICS remains your primary tool for government compliance and domestic marketing. However, the moment your strategy involves international expansion or global data normalization, ISIC becomes indispensable.

By auditing your database for ISIC compliance, you can ensure your business is ready for the global stage—enabling better decisions in territory planning, international lead scoring, and global market analysis.