The INSEE code is a numeric indexing code that the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) use to identify entities such as French communes and departments. INSEE codes are particularly helpful in uniquely identifying French communes that share the same name, spelling, and pronunciation. Of a five-digit INSEE code for a commune, the first two digits represent the department and the last three denote the commune. INSEE codes are also used as National Identification Numbers for French citizens.

The INSEE-9 code is also known as the IRIS code. IRIS stands for aggregated units for statistical information in French, and represents a demographic group that contains a maximum of 2000 people. France is composed of around 16,100 IRIS units including 650 units in overseas departments.

For example, you receive INSEE code

47001

and INSEE 9 code

470010115

when you validate the following France address:

<InputData>
 <AddressElements>
   <Country Item="1" Type="NAME">FRA</Country>
   <Locality Item="1" Type="COMPLETE">AGEN</Locality>
   <PostalCode Item="1" Type="UNFORMATTED">47000</PostalCode>
   <Street Item="1" Type="COMPLETE">RUE DU PUITS DU SAUMON</Street> 
   <Number Item="1" Type="COMPLETE">6</Number>
 </AddressElements>
</InputData>