Convert NACE to NAICS Code
Convert European NACE Rev.2 activity codes to their NAICS equivalents. Free NACE to NAICS crosswalk tool powered by Veridion.
What is NACE? (Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne)
NACE (Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne) is the European standard for classifying economic activities. Mandated by EU regulation, NACE is used across all 27 EU member states plus EEA countries for statistical reporting, business registration, VAT classification, and economic analysis. NACE is derived from the UN's ISIC system but provides additional European-specific detail at the 4-digit level. The code format uses a letter prefix for the section (e.g. J = Information and Communication), followed by two numeric digits for the division, a dot, and up to two more digits for group and class. For example, J62.01 represents Computer programming activities. NACE is critical for any company operating in Europe, as it determines statistical obligations, industry benchmarks, and regulatory compliance. When expanding to or analyzing North American markets, NACE-to-NAICS conversion is essential for consistent cross-border industry analysis.
| Full Name | Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne |
| Maintained By | Eurostat (European Commission) |
| Current Revision | NACE Rev. 2.1 (2025) |
| Region | European Union & EEA |
| Code Format | Alphanumeric with dots (e.g. 62.01) |
| Total Industries | ~615 4-digit classes |
NACE vs NAICS: Key Differences
NACE and NAICS serve different geographic regions and follow different hierarchical structures, though both aim to classify economic activities comprehensively.
| Attribute | NACE | NAICS |
|---|---|---|
| Region | European Union / EEA | US, Canada, Mexico |
| Maintained by | Eurostat | U.S. Census Bureau / Statistics Canada |
| Based on | ISIC (UN) | Independent (trilateral) |
| Code format | Letter + digits with dot (J62.01) | 6-digit numeric (541511) |
| Hierarchy levels | 4 (section, division, group, class) | 5 (sector to national industry) |
| Number of classes | ~615 | ~1,012 (6-digit) |
| Current revision | Rev. 2.1 (2025) | 2022 |
| Services detail | Moderate | Very detailed |
| Manufacturing detail | Very detailed | Detailed |
Frequently Asked Questions: NACE to NAICS
What is a NACE code?
A NACE code is an alphanumeric classification code used across the European Union to categorize business activities. NACE stands for 'Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne'. It is mandatory for statistical reporting, business registration, and regulatory compliance in all EU and EEA countries.
How do I convert a NACE code to NAICS?
Enter your NACE code (e.g. 62.01) in the converter above and click "Convert to NAICS". The tool will display the matching NAICS 2022 code(s) with their official titles and all related crosswalk mappings.
What is the NACE code format?
NACE codes use a hierarchical alphanumeric format: a letter for the section (A–U), two digits for the division, and optionally a dot followed by one or two digits for the group and class. For example, C10.11 means 'Processing and preserving of meat' under section C (Manufacturing), division 10 (Food products).
How is NACE different from ISIC?
NACE is derived from the UN's ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification) and is identical to ISIC at the top two levels. However, NACE adds additional European-specific detail at the 3- and 4-digit levels. Think of NACE as a European refinement of the international ISIC standard.
Why convert NACE to NAICS?
NACE-to-NAICS conversion is essential when comparing European and North American economic data, conducting cross-border market research, harmonizing global company databases, or entering the US market with a European business classification. Many global data providers and CRM systems require NAICS codes for US-oriented workflows.
Is there a direct NACE to NAICS mapping?
There is no official direct concordance between NACE and NAICS. Our crosswalk uses an intermediate mapping through ISIC and the U.S. Census Bureau's concordance tables. Some NACE codes map to multiple NAICS codes and vice versa, so we display all possible matches.
Which version of NACE does this tool support?
Our crosswalk database covers NACE Rev. 2 codes. NACE Rev. 2.1 was published in 2025 with minor updates; the vast majority of Rev. 2 mappings remain valid for Rev. 2.1.
How many NACE codes are there?
NACE Rev. 2 contains 21 sections (A–U), 88 divisions, 272 groups, and approximately 615 classes. The sections range from A (Agriculture) to U (Activities of extraterritorial organisations).
Is NACE used outside the EU?
NACE is mandatory within the EU and EEA. However, many countries outside the EU use NACE-derived systems: for example, the UK used SIC 2007 (based on NACE Rev. 2) before Brexit, and many African and Asian countries have developed national classifications based on NACE or its parent ISIC.
Can I convert NAICS back to NACE?
This tool is designed for NACE-to-NAICS conversion. However, when you convert a NACE code, the results show all crosswalk mappings for each matched NAICS code — including NACE, SIC, and ISIC — so you can see reverse relationships in context.
Is this NACE to NAICS tool free?
Yes. trueNAICS provides free, unlimited NACE-to-NAICS conversions. No registration, payment, or API key is required.
How do European companies get classified under NAICS?
European companies are typically classified under NACE through their national statistical office or business register. To find the NAICS equivalent, you can use this converter with the company's NACE code. Alternatively, trueNAICS's company search can identify a company's NAICS classification directly from its name and website.