Classifications
The Eurostat classifications server RAMON offers you access to a wide range of classification schemes used in official statistics.
The most important classification schemes, used in the production of Eurostat statistics, are included in the section Key Eurostat classification schemes below.
In order to find out more about why classifications are used in statistics read the information on classification schemes below.
Key Eurostat classification schemes
| Classification Scheme | Abbreviation | Available as | |
| Classification of Individual Consumption For harmonized index of consumer prices |
COICOP | MDB | |
| Combined Nomenclature, Version 2010 For external trade statistics |
CN 2011 | MDB | |
| List of products of the European Community, Version 2007 for production statistics (According to NACE Rev. 1.1) |
PRODCOM 2007 | MDB | |
| List of products of the European Community, Version 2010 for production statistics (According to NACE Rev. 2) |
PRODCOM 2010 | Online | |
| Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 1.1 (2002) | NACE Rev.1.1 | MDB | |
| Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2 | NACE Rev.2 | MDB | |
| International Standard Classification of Occupations Version 1988 |
ISCO-88(COM) | XLS | |
| International Standard Classification of Education, 1997 For educational statistics |
ISCED 1997 | ||
| Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics, 2003 For regional statistics |
NUTS | Online | |
Information about statistical classification schemes:
Why are classification schemes used in official statistics?
Compiling statistics generally results in a large amount of data, that needs to be categorised in some way in order to facilitate the presentation and analysis of the data. This requires a set of common and binding categories for the economic or social data gathered. A binding classification is the only way to guarantee that statistical data is grouped according to common principles by a wide range of users.
A number of classification schemes have been developed in order to categorise various aspects of statistics. For instance, the NACE classification scheme categorises economic activities, whilst the ISCO classification scheme categorises a comprehensive range of occupations.
Rather than using national classification schemes for the compilation, processing and analysis of statistical data, international harmonized classification schemes are increasingly being implemented. This means that national statistics are now more and more based upon classification schemes that are used internationally or at least in all EU member states.
Classification schemes can only fulfil their purpose if they are designed to reflect the social reality of the matter in hand as closely as possible. This in turn means that classifications need to be revised on a regular basis or even replaced by an entirely new classifications. Amending classification schemes however also leads to problems as far as the continuity of time series data is concerned. The advantages and disadvantages of adapting a given classification therefore need to be carefully analysed before implementing any changes.
