The United Nations, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and other international bodies use ISIC when publishing and analysing statistical data. A number of countries have utilized ISIC as the basis for developing their national industrial classifications. Many countries have adapted their national industrial activity classifications based on ISIC. With the fourth revision of ISIC, considerable effort was made in strengthening its relevance and comparability with other classifications; such as the
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), the General Industrial Classification of Economic Activities within the European Communities (NACE), and the
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).