LEI vs DUNS Number: What's the Difference?
Both the LEI and the DUNS number identify a business — but one is an open global standard and the other a private commercial product.
What a DUNS number is
The DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number is a nine-digit identifier created and owned by Dun & Bradstreet, a private commercial data company. It's used mainly for credit reporting, B2B risk assessment, and supplier and procurement systems. Because it's proprietary, the DUNS number and its data sit within Dun & Bradstreet's commercial ecosystem.
What an LEI is
The LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a 20-character code defined by ISO 17442 and governed by GLEIF, a not-for-profit foundation. It identifies legal entities in the financial markets, and its reference data is openly published and searchable. (See What is an LEI code?)
The key differences
- Ownership: DUNS is privately owned; LEI is an open, public-interest standard.
- Purpose: DUNS = credit and commercial data; LEI = financial-market identity and regulation.
- Data access: DUNS data is largely commercial; LEI data is public.
The two coexist comfortably, but they answer different questions for different audiences.
See also LEI vs VAT number and LEI vs BIC/SWIFT.