CAE Portugal: Classificação Portuguesa das Actividades Económicas - Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities

CAE Rev. 4 took effect in Portugal on 1 January 2025. It is identical to the European Union's NACE Rev. 2.1 up to the four-digit (Class) level.

Changes Between CAE Rev. 3 and CAE Rev. 4

The changes between CAE Rev. 3 and CAE Rev. 4 from the first to the fourth level of the system mirror the changes between NACE Rev. 2 and NACE Rev. 2.1 with major revisions across the system. There was an increase in the number of industries in all but the second level of the system with several new activities reflecting industrial changes in the period between the publication of CAE Rev. 3 and CAE Rev. 4.

Structure of CAE Rev 4

CAE Rev 4 is structured into five levels, as follows:

• Section: 22 Sections identified by letters A to V.

• Division: 87 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (01-99).

• Group: 287 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 651 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9900).

• Subclass: 915 Subclasses identified by five-digit codes (0111-99000).

The table below shows the number of industries in the Divisions, Groups, Classes, and Subclasses under each Section of CAE Rev. 4. At the Subclass level, the Section B (Manufacturing) is the most detailed with 333 Subclasses followed by Section G (Wholesale and retail trade) with 131 Subclasses and Section A (Agriculture, fishing and forestry).

The Subclasses of CAE Rev. 4 serve to adapt NACE Rev 2.1 to the Portuguese context. Out of the 915 Subclasses in CAE Rev. 4, 414 provide further differentiation from their parent class in terms of distinctly named industries. For example, Class 5520 (Holiday and other short-stay accommodation) has seven Subclasses: 55201(Short-stay furnished accommodation), 55202 (Accommodation in rural tourism establishments, except rural hotels), 55203 (Accommodation in residential tourism establishments), 55204 (Lodging establishments, except hostels), 55205 (Hostels), 55206 (Holiday camps), and 55207 (Other short-stay accommodation). On the other hand, Class 0116 (Growing of fiber crops) has only Subclass 01160 (Growing of fiber crops). In some cases, there is no differentiation from the Division level down to the Subclass level as is the case in the Section F (Construction) with the Division 41, Group 410, Class 4100, and Subclass 41000, all of which are titled Construction of residential and non-residential buildings. In other cases, there's no differentiation from the Group level to the Subclass level as is the case in Section R (Human health and social work activities) with the Group 861, Class 8610, and Subclass 86100 all titled Hospital activities. In Belgium's NACE-BEL 2025, which like CAE Rev. 4 is based on NACE Rev. 2.1, Class 8610 (Hospital activities) has Subclasses 86101 (Activities of general hospitals, except geriatric and specialized hospitals), 86102 (Activities of geriatric hospitals), 86103 (Activities of specialized hospitals), 86104 (Activities of psychiatric hospitals), and 86109 (Other hospital activities). In this example, the difference likely reflects varying national priorities and administrative needs. Belgium's detailed subclasses likely serve specific policy, regulatory, or analytical purposes, while Portugal's simpler structure may align with its administrative and healthcare system characteristics.

Resources

• CAE Rev. 4 (Current) - Codes with their titles (in Portuguese)

• CAE Rev. 4 (Current) - Interactive list

CAE Rev. 3 was in effect from 2008 to 2024. It is identical to the European Union's NACE Rev 2 up to the three-digit (Group) level. CAE Rev. 3 was amended in 2018 to add three industries.

Changes Between CAE Rev. 2.1 and CAE Rev. 3

The changes between CAE Rev. 2.1 and CAE Rev. 3 reflect the changes between NACE Rev 1.1 and NACE Rev. 2, particularly at the first four levels of the system. At the highest level of the system, four new sections were established in CAE Rev. 3 each bringing together activities from different other sections in CAE Rev. 2.1. At the highest level of the system, a new and more detailed agricultural sector was established in section A (Agriculture, forestry and fishing) by combining the CAE Rev. 2.1 sections A (Agriculture, hunting and forestry) and B (Fishing). CAE Rev. 3 also added the sections E (Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities) and J (Information and communication) in line with the rise of activities related to recycling and information technology. At the finest level of the system, there was also a significant increase in detail, from 719 subclasses in CAE Rev. 2.1 to 850 subclasses in CAE Rev 3. The addition of new and reorganized sections also led to the recoding of activities across the system.

Structure of CAE Rev 3

CAE Rev 3 is structured into five levels, as follows:

• Section: 21 Sections identified by letters A to U.

• Division: 88 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (01-99).

• Group: 272 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 616 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9900).

• Subclass: 853 Subclasses identified by five-digit codes (01111-99000).

Resources

• CAE Rev. 3 - Manual (in Portuguese)

• Amendment of CAE Rev. 3 in 2018 adding three Subclasses.

• CAE Rev. 3 - Codes with their titles (Interactive list)

CAE Rev. 2.1 was in effect from 2003 to 2007. It is identical to the European Union's NACE Rev 1.1 up to the three-digit (Group) level.

Changes Between CAE Rev. 2 and CAE Rev. 2.1

The changes between CAE Rev. 2 and CAE Rev. 2.1 reflect the changes between NACE Rev. 1 to NACE Rev. 1.1 which was a minor update. The structure of CAE Rev. 2 was largely maintained in CAE Rev 2.1 which focused on updating and clarifying the description of industries in line with changes in Portugal's industrial structure at the time.

Structure of CAE Rev 2.1

CAE Rev 2.1 is structured into five levels, as follows:

• Section: 17 Sections identified by letters A to Q. Two Sections are further split into a total of 31 Subsections identified by two letters, e.g. CA or CB.

• Division: 62 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (01-99).

• Group: 224 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 515 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9900).

• Subclass: 719 Subclasses identified by five-digit codes (01111-99000).

Resources

• CAE Rev. 2.1 - Manual (in Portuguese)

• CAE Rev. 2.1 - Codes with their titles

• CAE Rev. 2.1 - Codes with their titles (Interactive list)

CAE Rev. 2 was in effect from 1994 to 2002. It is identical to the European Union's NACE Rev. 1 up to the four-digit (Class) level.

Structure of CAE Rev. 2

CAE Rev. 2 is structured into five levels, as follows:

• Section: 17 Sections identified by letters A to Q. Two Sections are further split into a total of 31 Subsections identified by two letters, e.g. CA or CB.

• Division: 60 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (01-99).

• Group: 222 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).f

• Class: 503 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9900).

• Subclass: 715 Subclasses identified by five-digit codes (01111-99000).

Classifications Prior to CAE Rev. 2

Before the release of CAE Rev. 2 which introduced the NACE-based system, industrial classification in Portugal was based on CAE Rev. 1 which operated from 1973 to 1993. CAE Rev. 1 was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 2 and had a different arrangement and coding format.

Resources

• CAE Rev. 2 - Codes with titles (interactive list)