Moderator Note: A short note has been added to this message to tell Maps-L readers NOT to use the "reply to" function as that will send the reply to the list and not to the author of the message. Please forward your replys to the author, John Clews, at [log in to unmask] Thanks------------------------Johnnie ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------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. ------------------- (Maps-L Moderator note: Please do NOT use the reply function as suggested below. As this message has been sent out over Maps-L, a reply will go to the Maps-L list and not the author of the message. Forward your reply to John Clews at [log in to unmask] ----Thanks) --------------- 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]