isicV4

isicV4 · Optional

Appears in

Organization

What is it?

ISIC stands for International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities. Revision 4 (ISIC Rev. 4) is the United Nations classification system for categorizing economic activities. It is maintained by the UN Statistics Division and serves as the global equivalent of country-specific industry codes like NAICS (North America) or SIC (UK). Every economic activity, from agriculture to financial services to software development, maps to a 4-character ISIC code. Schema.org uses isicV4 to let organizations and places attach their UN industry classification to structured data.

Why this matters for AEO

AI answer engines operating globally need industry classification signals that work across jurisdictions. ISIC Rev. 4 codes provide that universal layer: a code like 6201 (computer programming activities) means the same thing to a knowledge graph whether the company is based in Germany, Brazil, or Japan. For AI systems that aggregate organizational data across countries, an ISIC code is a more portable disambiguation signal than a country-specific code. Organizations that operate internationally benefit from including isicV4 alongside or instead of naics.

What the specs say

Schema.org:isicV4 expects a Text value. The International Standard of Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), Revision 4 code for a particular organization, business person, or place. [Source: https://schema.org/isicV4]

Google: Not mentioned. This field does not appear in Google's structured data documentation for Organization. It has no current rich result treatment but contributes to entity context in the knowledge graph. [Source: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/organization]

How to find your value

The UN Statistics Division publishes the complete ISIC Rev. 4 classification at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/isic. To find your code:

1. Visit the UN ISIC page and download or browse the Rev. 4 structure.
2. ISIC codes are hierarchical: 1-digit sections, 2-digit divisions, 3-digit groups, and 4-digit classes. Use the most specific 4-digit class.
3. Many national statistical offices publish crosswalk tables mapping local codes (NAICS, SIC, NACE) to ISIC. If you already know your NAICS code, use a crosswalk to find the equivalent ISIC code.
4. For software companies: 6201 (computer programming activities) or 6202 (computer consultancy and computer facilities management activities).
5. For retailers: section G covers wholesale and retail trade.

Format and code

ISIC Rev. 4 codes are 1 to 4 characters. Use the most specific 4-character class code where available:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "SAP SE",
  "isicV4": "6201"
}

6201 maps to computer programming activities. For a bank:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Deutsche Bank AG",
  "isicV4": "6419"
}

6419 covers other monetary intermediation. Invalid formats:

{
  "isicV4": "ISIC:6201"
}

{
  "isicV4": "62.01"
}

Use only the bare numeric code without labels, dots, or colons.

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add to your homepage or About page via Page Settings > Custom Code > Head Code:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Your Company",
  "isicV4": "6201"
}
</script>

CMS template pages

isicV4 is an organization-level field that does not vary per page. Include it once in the site-wide organization schema.

In Schema HQ

The Organization schema editor includes isicV4 in the Disambiguation section alongside naics. Enter the 4-digit ISIC code directly. The field is published as part of the organization JSON-LD block on every page where the schema is enabled.

Real examples

SAP SE (enterprise software) falls under ISIC 6201. HSBC Holdings plc (banking) falls under 6419. Volkswagen AG (motor vehicle manufacturing) falls under 2910. These codes are derived from the official UN ISIC Rev. 4 classification:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "HSBC Holdings plc",
  "url": "https://www.hsbc.com",
  "isicV4": "6419"
}

Related fields

• naics
• taxID
• leiCode
• iso6523Code
• globalLocationNumber

FAQ

What is the difference between ISIC and NAICS?

ISIC is the United Nations global standard. NAICS is the North American standard developed jointly by the US, Canada, and Mexico. Both classify economic activities, but NAICS codes are not interchangeable with ISIC codes. If your organization operates primarily in North America, naics may be more directly useful. For global organizations, isicV4 is the more portable choice.

Should I use all four digits or can I use a shorter code?

Use the most specific code available for your industry. A 4-digit class code (6201) is more precise than a 2-digit division code (62). More specific codes give AI and search systems a sharper classification signal.

Is ISIC Rev. 4 the current version?

As of 2026, ISIC Rev. 4 is the current in-use version that schema.org references. A revision process (ISIC Rev. 5) is in development at the UN Statistics Division, but Rev. 4 remains the standard for structured data purposes. The schema.org property name isicV4 is specific to this revision.