Re: Is there an International Standard Country Code?

Michael Magan wrote:
>
> "Richard Tinker" <tinkerr_at_logica.com> writes:
>
> >Does anyone know if there is an International Standard set
> >of Country codes, and if there is an 'off the shelf' country database
> >table?
>
> Richard,
> ISO standard 3166 (Codes for the representation of names of countries)
> is what you are after. For each country it defines the name and code.
> You can order this document from your country standardisation organisation.
> --
> Michael Magan
> Oracle Netherlands
> --- These opinions (if any) are just mine. I do not represent Oracle ---
> --- Corporation in this Posting ---

...but be wary of using it as a Primary Key! By definition within the standard, it is *not* guaranteed unique...although the text (at least when I last read it) says efforts will be made to avoid reusing a code within 5 years...

Also, 3 standard code sets are defined:

o 2-character alpha code (*loosely* the basis for Internet addressing - see

    ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/iana/assignments/country-codes - but not UK's     ISO Code, for example, is GB rather than the UK one usually sees on     locators therein),
o 3-character alpha code (used at the Olympics), and o 3-digit numeric code (from the U.N. I believe?)

It also defines some codes that will never be used by the standard: [alpha] OO is left as a user-defined 'escape' code, and everything starting with X is reserved...except the ISO 4217 (Codes for the representation of currencies and funds), which is basically the 2-character code + 1 alpha, uses the X range for currencies/funds not owned by a country (XAF: Central African Franc; XDR: SDRs; XAU: Gold; etc.)

I know, more than you ever wanted to know but having dug into this once I just *had* to share... %-)

-- 
Barry Johnson  -  BJohnson_at_WorldBank.Org