Classifications
A wide range of statistical classifications is used at European level. It depends on the statistical domain or data collection which classifications are used.
Definition
A statistical classification is
- an exhaustive and structured set of mutually exclusive and well-described categories
- often presented in a hierarchical format reflecting the numerical or alphabetical codes assigned to them
- used to standardise concepts and compile statistical data.
Use
Some classifications are used in a multidisciplinary manner, meaning in different statistical domains, such as the statistical classification of economic activities (NACE). Other classifications are specific for their domain, like the European short list for causes of death.
The classifications to be used in a data collection are specified in regulations or gentlemen's agreements. This ensures that the data that is collected is comparable between EU members. For their national purposes, EU members may use a different, nationally adapted version of a classification.
Access to classifications
ShowVoc
Classifications are now available as linked open data (LOD) and have been modelled using the XKOS ontology, the extension of SKOS for modeling statistical classifications.
Eurostat's most widely used statistical classifications as LOD can be accessed by using ShowVoc. This is an online platform which allows users to search and browse Eurostat's classification, providing a rich description, such as self-explanatory texts, supplementary units or classification levels.
To help you using ShowVoc for browsing Eurostat's classification please consult the following guide and videos/recordings on our CROS portal.
Below you can see the full list of statistical classifications and their correspondence tables available in ShowVoc.
Details on the ACL can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: Time use survey
- ACL 2018
- Agricultural products (AGRIPROD) and Integrated Farm Statistics (IFS2020 Core)
- Farm Structure Survey (FSS_2010_2016)
- Farm Structure Survey (FSS_2005_2007)
Details on the CBF can be found under the following links:
- United Nations Statistical Division: Classification of business functions
- CBF 1.0
Details on the CEP can be found under the following links:
- European environmental economic accounts: Technical note (April 2024, PDF)
- CEP
Details on the CEPA can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: Monetary environmental accounts
- Explanatory notes for CEPA and CreMA (PDF)
- Statistics Explained glossary
- CEPA 2000
Details on the ESA 2010 S can be found under the following links:
- European System of Accounts (ESA 2010): Chapter 23 - Classifications
- ESA 2010 S
Details on the CReMa can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: Monetary environmental accounts
- Explanatory notes for CEPA and CreMA (PDF)
- Statistics Explained glossary
- CReMA 2008
Details on the ECOICOP can be found under the following links:
Details on the ESeG 2016 classification can be found under the following links:
Details on the Waste classification can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: Waste
- EWC-Stat Rev. 4
- Waste categories
Details on the ICST-COM classification can be found under the following links:
- Glossary for transport statistics (5th edition, 2019)
- ICST-COM
Details on the GEONOM can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: International trade in goods
- GEONOM 2024
- GEONOM 2023
- GEONOM 2022
- GEONOM 2021
Details on LUCAS can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: Land cover/use statistics
- LUCAS 2022
Details on the NABS can be found under the following link:
Details on the Prodcom list can be found under the following links:
Details on the NST can be found under the following link:
- Thematic section: International trade in goods
- NST 2007
Details on the NACE can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: NACE
- NACE revision 2.1
- NACE revision 2 and aggregates Main industrial groupings (MIGS 2007)
Details on the CPA can be found under the following links:
- Thematic section: CPA
- CPA revision 2.1
- CPA 2008
Other locations
Eurostat's statistical classifications are also accessible via the page EU vocabularies in different formats, such as RDF, XML, CSV. EU vocabularies also offers a SPARQL endpoint that allows programmatic access to the classifications.
In addition, Eurostat's statistical classifications can be retrieved from the Euro SDMX registry in SDMX-compliant formats. Additional proprietary formats, older versions of the classifications and further related material may also be available on the Circabc website under Eurostat classifications (RAMON archives).
The Statistics Explained glossary on classifications presents short descriptions of the content of each statistical classification with examples.