EMTAK 2008

What is EMTAK?

EMTAK is a classification of Estonian economic activities, administered by the Centre of Registers and Information Systems. EMTAK is the local Estonian version of the internationally harmonised NACE classification. EMTAK is structured hierarchically and is divided into five levels. The first four levels correspond to NACE and the fifth level is purely local, developed on the basis of the specific characteristics of Estonian economy and the respective legislation.

What is EMTAK needed for?

EMTAK is a basis for determining the activity, which in its turn is an important source for producing different sector statistics. Classification into activities enables also comparison within the respective sector on international basis.

How to use EMTAK?

As the structure of EMTAK is hierarchical, the user should move step-by-step towards the activity code of the final level, i.e. the EMTAK code of the fifth level.

The first step in selecting an activity on the basis of the classification is to determine the sector which is the first level marked by a character code in EMTAK structure; e.g. A Agriculture, forestry and fishing, B Mining and quarrying, etc.

The next level in EMTAK structure is the second level which provides an overview of the activities within the respective sector.

When determining the activity, it is important to reach the fourth level of EMTAK, on which basis it is already possible to make a choice. In many cases the activity of the fourth EMTAK level is still very general, and therefore the additional, i.e. the fifth level of EMTAK was developed – the local Estonian level. The fifth level is also a basis for making a final choice of a correct activity code.

Explanatory notes are very useful in using the EMTAK, as the text of every activity has been explained and defined there.

EMTAK (economic activities) info line:

Mo-Fr 09.00 - 16.00

Phone: +372 636 6604
Phone: +372 663 6332
e-mail:

EMTAK 2008 structure in English
NACE Rev.2 Explanatory notes