Classification of Economic Activities

The Classification of Economic Activities (WZ) is compiled by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. It has been continuously developed since its publication in 1950. The latest edition is the WZ 2008.
The aim of the classification is to "standardise economic [...] activities of statistical units in all official statistics" (Federal Statistical Office 2008: 3; this is a translated quote). The Classifications of the Economic Activities are organised hierarchically.