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Thanks------------------------Johnnie
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Country code standards (re: ISO/DIS 3166-1): survey and information
My apologies for the length of this posting: I hope this will be made up for
by the usefulness of the information provided. I would be grateful for any
replies from members of MAPS-L.
1. Introduction
A need for a new version of the International Standard for country codes has
been largely caused through recent geopolitical changes in Europe and Central
Asia, through the break-up into constituent parts of the USSR, Czechoslovakia
and the Former Yugoslavia, and the reunification of Germany. Otherchanges
have also been made.
ISO/DIS 3166-1 (Codes for the names of countries and their subdivisions) has
recently been released for a five-month voting period, to allow interested
parties to get their opinions taken into account, and thus helping national
member bodies of ISO (National standards organisations) determine their votes
and comments, and thus the final outcome of the standard as IS 3166-1.
The DIS stage (Draft International Standard) is supposed to be virtually the
same as the standard - major errors should have been eliminated by that
stage.
2. Survey
As a chair of an ISO subcommittee (not the one responsilble for this
standard, although I still have an interest in representation of names on
maps and in other documents involving place names) I am interested in finding
out how well (or not) ISO technical committees manage to involve end users in
the standardisation process.
-------------------
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John Clews at [log in to unmask] ----Thanks)
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I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions (e.g. Reply
this message back to me quoting the text of the survey, and adding YES or NO
to the question. Only question 10 requires more than a YES/NO answer.
2.1. Do you ever have to use country codes in your work?
2.2. Did you know there was an international standard for country codes?
2.3. Did you know its number?
2.4. Did you know that it might be possible for you as a user to
influence its development through your national standards body?
2.5. Are you represented on a committee of your national standards body?
2.6. Have you ever communicated with your national standards body?
2.7. Are you represented on an ISO committee?
2.8. Have you seen a copy of ISO/DIS 3166-1?
2.9. Have you seen a copy of the earlier versions of the standard?
2.10. If not, what is the source of information you use to refer to country
codes (i.e. what publication?)
2.11. The are other ISO codes for similar entities, e.g. currencies,
languages, etc. that are often used in databases and other situations.
Do you think it would be useful to have a single publication including
all codes of this nature?
2.12. If you have seen a copy of ISO/DIS 3166-1, are you happy with it?
* * * * * * * *
3. My own comments
Below are some of my own (deliberately critical comments on ISO/DIS 3166-1).
There are obviously good points to this standard: I have not bothered to list
them, other than to say that the tables are generally easy to use.
Subscribers to MAPS-L that like their surveys not to be influenced by other
opinions had better not read past this point! However, I would also welcome
any comments on my own impressions.
Please bear in mind that I am not a prime user of country codes, so some of
my comments may be those of an outsider, and also comments of someone closer
to the standards process than to the subject matter.
It may therefore help if you are able to get a copy via your national
standards body. For those who have completed the survey above, I can let you
have the address of your national standards body by return email.
The bulk of the items below are editorial comments to clarify the standard.
Foreword: Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4 states that this is a complete revision of the standard and
replaces the previous (1993) edition. In this case there should be an
informative annex detailing changes from the previous edition.
Tables in sections 3 and 4 show WHERE changes have been made, but there is no
indication of WHAT changes have been made.
Introduction
Part 1 = countries and islands effectively: part 2 = administrative
subdivisions. Section 2 on principles says nothing about why some entities go
in part 1, and some in part 2.
Section 1.2: Normative references
Section 1.2 should also list other ISO standard codes which could get
confused with country codes, e.g. language codes, currency codes.
It should also point out that 3-letter currency codes are derived from
2-letter country codes (e.g. Norwegian Kroner (NOK) derives from the 2-letter
code for Norway (NO) with the addition of K).
Section 2:
Sections 2.1.2 and 2.1.4 (see also comments on section 3)
Although section 2.1.2 states the source of names of countries, this may not
be the best source, judging by the inconsistencies shown in my comments below
under section 3.
2.1.2 states that the form of name is derived from the Terminology Bulletin
issued by the United Nations Department of Conference Services, entitled
"States members of the United Nations..." and those in the "Standard Country
or Area code for statistical use" issued by the UN Statistical Division.
NB: Is this the most readiliy available reference source for users?
A particularly consistent brief form of name is used in the World Development
Report (UNDP, annual). To me, this seems a more readily available source:
there may be better sources still - suggestions are welcome.
ERROR: 2.1.2 states that "Other widely used forms of country name may also be
provided in the remarks column." In fact no alternative forms of country name
appear in this column at all.
ERROR: Section 2.5.1.5
Section 2.5.1.5 should be deleted as it is clearly wrong. This allows 26
codes (AX through ZX) to be used for "mainland" or "main territory" entities.
The example given is FX for "mainland" France: this contradicts Tables in
sections 3 and 4 where it states that FX is deleted from ISO 3166:1993. The
note at the very end of Section 3 and the note at the very end of Section 4
do indicate that FX might be possible at some future date: however, Tables 3
and 4 and section 2.5.1.5 need to be coordinated.
Even more importantly, allowing Section 2.5.1.5 provides ambiguous codes that
have two meanings, and therefore Section 2.5.1.5 should go.
For instance AX as provided for could mean either Angola excluding the
Benguela enclave etc, and Armenia excluding the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.
Statements about entity AX (and in principle any other entities from AX to
ZX) which were misinterpreted could lead to major problems for any of the
countries concerned.
Section 3: Alphabetical list of country names
Inconsistent names
There appear to be inconsistencies in country naming: most have a brief name
in capitals followed by a longer official country name. Some countries lack
the latter for no apparent reason.
Examples of inconsistencies (ISO/DIS 3166-1 shown first: my preferred form
shown second)
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (the word LAOS or Laos appears nowhere in
the tables)
rather than
LAOS
Lao People's Democratic Republic
MOLDOVA, REPUBLIC OF
rather than
MOLDOVA
Republic of Moldova
LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
rather than
LIBYA
Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
A simple accepted short form is better for the main name as forms of
governments may change. An example is MONGOLIA, which changed from
People's Republic of Mongolia to Republic of Mongolia.
This applies where there is a single entity: however, the well accepted names
of the two parts of Korea should stay, until the time that a single country
exists.
Alternative codes
This is a tendentious query by John Clews, unrelated to the standard:
in standards, should the United Kingdom ALSO use the code UK - IN ADDITION
to GB? This would recognise the use of this "unofficial" country code in most
email address names.
Alternative names
It may also be useful for the tables to provide references from alternative
names for geographical entities to the preferred term. These could also
include names which had not found complete interenational acceptance, for a
variety of reasons, thus their SEE status rather than their entry in the list
against the code. Examples of various categories of SEE name smight be:
Great Britain SEE United Kingdom
FYROM SEE Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia SEE Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of
(or even vice versa from the Greek point of view)
This would also help provide a single alphabetic sequence which would render
Annex A unnecessary, as this could be incorporated too.
Former names might also be useful, as in Upper Volta see Burkino Faso;
Burma see Myanmar
Moldavia see Moldova
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) might be questionable in some circles, in the UK:
however, this may be an established practice - to include (Malvinas) in
brackets in UN circles - I do not know.
East Timor and Western Sahara seems to be included as a Provisional name by
comparison.
Non-inverted forms of name may also be useful, particularly for users whose
native language is not English or French, e.g.
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA SEE MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
(Entering the place name as the first part of the string seems to be useful
in helping users find most countries)
Annex A: Index (mainly of Islands, in column 5 of tables in sections 3 and 4)
The list appears to be incomplete. For example, the South Sandwich Islands
(part of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) do not have an index
entry in Annex A.
This compares with Futuna in Wallis and Futuna.
END OF COMMENTS FROM J CLEWS
4. General reference lists of country codes
Finally, just because I have them to hand, I include a list that I have in
machine-readable form of Country names and codes used in some Internet
sources (a) in Country name order and (b) in country code order, in the hope
that these may be of some use to readers of this email.
These are not taken from the latest ISO/DIS 3166-1 (Codes for the names of
countries and their subdivisions) but are generally expected to correspond to
it. There are certainly differences - for instance the use of both
GB Great Britain
UK United Kingdom
rather than the single
GB United Kingdom in ISO/DIS 3166-1.
(a)
AF Afghanistan
AL Albania
DZ Algeria
AS American Samoa
AD Andorra
AO Angola
AI Anguilla
AQ Antarctica
AG Antigua and Barbuda
AR Argentina
AM Armenia
AW Aruba
AU Australia
AT Austria
AZ Azerbaijan
BS Bahamas
BH Bahrain
BD Bangladesh
BB Barbados
BB Barbados
BY Belarus
BE Belgium
BZ Belize
BJ Benin
BM Bermuda
BT Bhutan
BO Bolivia
BA Bosnia-Herzegovina
BW Botswana
BV Bouvet Island
BR Brazil
IO British Indian O. Territories
BN Brunei Darussalam
BG Bulgaria
BF Burkina Faso
BI Burundi
KH Cambodia
CM Cameroon
CA Canada
CV Cape Verde
KY Cayman Islands
CF Central African Republic
TD Chad
CL Chile
CN China
CX Christmas Island
CC Cocos (Keeling) Islands
CO Colombia
KM Comoros
CG Congo
CK Cook Islands
CR Costa Rica
HR Croatia
CU Cuba
CY Cyprus
CZ Czech Republic
CS Czechoslovakia
DK Denmark
DJ Djibouti
DM Dominica
DO Dominican Republic
TP East Timor
EC Ecuador
EG Egypt
SV El Salvador
GQ Equatorial Guinea
ER Eritrea
EE Estonia
ET Ethiopia
FK Falkland Isl.(Malvinas)
FO Faroe Islands
FJ Fiji
FI Finland
FR France
FX France (European Territories)
TF French Southern Territories
GA Gabon
GM Gambia
GE Georgia
DE Germany
GH Ghana
GI Gibraltar
GB Great Britain (UK)
GR Greece
GL Greenland
GD Grenada
GP Guadeloupe (Fr.)
GU Guam (US)
GT Guatemala
GF Guiana (Fr.)
GN Guinea
GW Guinea Bissau
GY Guyana
HT Haiti
HM Heard & McDonald Isl.
HN Honduras
HK Hong Kong
HU Hungary
IS Iceland
IN India
ID Indonesia
IR Iran
IQ Iraq
IE Ireland
IL Israel
IT Italy
CI Ivory Coast
JM Jamaica
JP Japan
JO Jordan
KZ Kazakhstan
KE Kenya
KI Kiribati
KP Korea (North)
KR Korea (South)
KW Kuwait
KG Kyrgyz Republic
LA Laos
LV Latvia
LB Lebanon
LS Lesotho
LR Liberia
LY Libya
LI Liechtenstein
LT Lithuania
LU Luxembourg
MO Macau
MK Macedonia (former Yuguslavia)
MG Madagascar
MW Malawi
MY Malaysia
MV Maldives
ML Mali
MT Malta
MH Marshall Islands
MQ Martinique (Fr.)
MR Mauritania
MU Mauritius
YT Mayotte
MX Mexico
FM Micronesia
MD Moldova
MC Monaco
MN Mongolia
MS Montserrat
MA Morocco
MZ Mozambique
MM Myanmar
NA Namibia
NR Nauru
NP Nepal
AN Netherland Antilles
NL Netherlands
NC New Caledonia (Fr.)
NZ New Zealand
NI Nicaragua
NE Niger
NG Nigeria
NU Niue
NF Norfolk Island
MP Northern Mariana Islands
NO Norway
OM Oman
PK Pakistan
PW Palau
PA Panama
PG Papua New Guinea
PY Paraguay
PE Peru
PH Philippines
PN Pitcairn
PL Poland
PF Polynesia (Fr.)
PT Portugal
PR Puerto Rico (US)
QA Qatar
RE Reunion (Fr.)
RO Romania
RU Russian Federation
RW Rwanda
LC Saint Lucia
WS Samoa
SM San Marino
SA Saudi Arabia
SN Senegal
SC Seychelles
SL Sierra Leone
SG Singapore
SK Slovakia (Slovak Rep)
SI Slovenia
SB Solomon Islands
SO Somalia
ZA South Africa
GS South Georgia and
South Sandwich Islands
SU Soviet Union
ES Spain
LK Sri Lanka
SH St. Helena
PM St. Pierre & Miquelon
ST St. Tome and Principe
KN St.Kitts Nevis Anguilla
VC St.Vincent & Grenadines
SD Sudan
SR Suriname
SJ Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands
SZ Swaziland
SE Sweden
CH Switzerland
SY Syria
TJ Tadjikistan
TW Taiwan
TZ Tanzania
TH Thailand
TG Togo
TK Tokelau
TO Tonga
TT Trinidad & Tobago
TN Tunisia
TR Turkey
TM Turkmenistan
TC Turks & Caicos Islands
TV Tuvalu
UG Uganda
UA Ukraine
AE United Arab Emirates
UK United Kingdom
US United States
UY Uruguay
UM US Minor outlying Islands
UZ Uzbekistan
VU Vanuatu
VA Vatican City State
VE Venezuela
VN Vietnam
VG Virgin Islands (British)
VI Virgin Islands (US)
WF Wallis & Futuna Islands
EH Western Sahara
YE Yemen
YU Yugoslavia
ZR Zaire
ZM Zambia
ZW Zimbabwe
(b)
AD Andorra
AE United Arab Emirates
AF Afghanistan
AG Antigua and Barbuda
AI Anguilla
AL Albania
AM Armenia
AN Netherland Antilles
AO Angola
AQ Antarctica
AR Argentina
AS American Samoa
AT Austria
AU Australia
AW Aruba
AZ Azerbaijan
BA Bosnia-Herzegovina
BB Barbados
BB Barbados
BD Bangladesh
BE Belgium
BF Burkina Faso
BG Bulgaria
BH Bahrain
BI Burundi
BJ Benin
BM Bermuda
BN Brunei Darussalam
BO Bolivia
BR Brazil
BS Bahamas
BT Bhutan
BV Bouvet Island
BW Botswana
BY Belarus
BZ Belize
CA Canada
CC Cocos (Keeling) Islands
CF Central African Republic
CG Congo
CH Switzerland
CI Ivory Coast
CK Cook Islands
CL Chile
CM Cameroon
CN China
CO Colombia
CR Costa Rica
CS Czechoslovakia
CU Cuba
CV Cape Verde
CX Christmas Island
CY Cyprus
CZ Czech Republic
DE Germany
DJ Djibouti
DK Denmark
DM Dominica
DO Dominican Republic
DZ Algeria
EC Ecuador
EE Estonia
EG Egypt
EH Western Sahara
ER Eritrea
ES Spain
ET Ethiopia
FI Finland
FJ Fiji
FK Falkland Isl.(Malvinas)
FM Micronesia
FO Faroe Islands
FR France
FX France (European Territories)
GA Gabon
GB Great Britain (UK)
GD Grenada
GE Georgia
GF Guiana (Fr.)
GH Ghana
GI Gibraltar
GL Greenland
GM Gambia
GN Guinea
GP Guadeloupe (Fr.)
GQ Equatorial Guinea
GR Greece
GS South Georgia and
South Sandwich Islands
GT Guatemala
GU Guam (US)
GW Guinea Bissau
GY Guyana
HK Hong Kong
HM Heard & McDonald Isl.
HN Honduras
HR Croatia
HT Haiti
HU Hungary
ID Indonesia
IE Ireland
IL Israel
IN India
IO British Indian O. Territories
IQ Iraq
IR Iran
IS Iceland
IT Italy
JM Jamaica
JO Jordan
JP Japan
KE Kenya
KG Kyrgyz Republic
KH Cambodia
KI Kiribati
KM Comoros
KN St.Kitts Nevis Anguilla
KP Korea (North)
KR Korea (South)
KW Kuwait
KY Cayman Islands
KZ Kazakhstan
LA Laos
LB Lebanon
LC Saint Lucia
LI Liechtenstein
LK Sri Lanka
LR Liberia
LS Lesotho
LT Lithuania
LU Luxembourg
LV Latvia
LY Libya
MA Morocco
MC Monaco
MD Moldova
MG Madagascar
MH Marshall Islands
MK Macedonia (former Yuguslavia)
ML Mali
MM Myanmar
MN Mongolia
MO Macau
MP Northern Mariana Islands
MQ Martinique (Fr.)
MR Mauritania
MS Montserrat
MT Malta
MU Mauritius
MV Maldives
MW Malawi
MX Mexico
MY Malaysia
MZ Mozambique
NA Namibia
NC New Caledonia (Fr.)
NE Niger
NF Norfolk Island
NG Nigeria
NI Nicaragua
NL Netherlands
NO Norway
NP Nepal
NR Nauru
NU Niue
NZ New Zealand
OM Oman
PA Panama
PE Peru
PF Polynesia (Fr.)
PG Papua New Guinea
PH Philippines
PK Pakistan
PL Poland
PM St. Pierre & Miquelon
PN Pitcairn
PR Puerto Rico (US)
PT Portugal
PW Palau
PY Paraguay
QA Qatar
RE Reunion (Fr.)
RO Romania
RU Russian Federation
RW Rwanda
SA Saudi Arabia
SB Solomon Islands
SC Seychelles
SD Sudan
SE Sweden
SG Singapore
SH St. Helena
SI Slovenia
SJ Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands
SK Slovakia (Slovak Rep)
SL Sierra Leone
SM San Marino
SN Senegal
SO Somalia
SR Suriname
ST St. Tome and Principe
SU Soviet Union
SV El Salvador
SY Syria
SZ Swaziland
TC Turks & Caicos Islands
TD Chad
TF French Southern Territories
TG Togo
TH Thailand
TJ Tadjikistan
TK Tokelau
TM Turkmenistan
TN Tunisia
TO Tonga
TP East Timor
TR Turkey
TT Trinidad & Tobago
TV Tuvalu
TW Taiwan
TZ Tanzania
UA Ukraine
UG Uganda
UK United Kingdom
UM US Minor outlying Islands
US United States
UY Uruguay
UZ Uzbekistan
VA Vatican City State
VC St.Vincent & Grenadines
VE Venezuela
VG Virgin Islands (British)
VI Virgin Islands (US)
VN Vietnam
VU Vanuatu
WF Wallis & Futuna Islands
WS Samoa
YE Yemen
YT Mayotte
YU Yugoslavia
ZA South Africa
ZM Zambia
ZR Zaire
ZW Zimbabwe
--
John Clews (Chair ISO/TC46/SC2 & BSI/IDT/2/5: Conversion of Written Langauges)
SESAME Computer Projects, 8 Avenue Road tel: +44 (0) 1423 888 432
Harrogate, HG2 7PG, United Kingdom email: [log in to unmask]
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