INSEE is the French abbreviation for the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (French: Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques).
It collects and publishes information on the French economy and French society, carrying out the periodic national census.
INSEE Codes are given to various administrative units, notably the French communes, but also to people in the form of Social Security codes, and to businesses (SIREN and SIRET codes).
INSEE also maintains indicies of inflation, construction costs, etc., that are sometimes used to revalue the charges made under certain contracts.