ISO/TC 46/WG 2 - Coding of country names and related entities

This document specifies basic guidelines for the implementation and maintenance of country codes. This code is intended for use in any application requiring the expression of current country names in coded form.

This document specifies basic guidelines for the implementation and maintenance of country subdivision codes. This code is intended for use in any application requiring the expression of current country subdivision names in coded form.

This document specifies basic guidelines for the implementation and maintenance of codes for formerly used names of countries. This code is intended to represent non-current country names, i.e. the country names deleted from ISO 3166 since its first publication in 1974.

ISO 3166-2:2013 establishes a universally applicable code for the representation of the names of principal administrative divisions of countries and territories included in ISO 3166-1. It is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 3166-1. Clauses 4 to 7 of ISO 3166-2:2013 provide the structure for a code for the representation of names of principal administrative divisions, or similar areas, of the countries and geopolitical entities included in ISO 3166-1. Clause 8 contains a list of names of subdivisions of countries and geopolitical entities, together with the code element developed for each one of them.

ISO 3166-3:2013 provides principles and maintenance arrangements of a code for the representation of country names removed from editions 1 to 7 of ISO 3166 and the subsequent editions of ISO 3166-1. Clauses 8 and 9 contain lists of all formerly used country names removed from ISO 3166 (now ISO 3166‑1) since 1974, together with the code element for each one of them.

ISO 3166-2:2007 establishes a universally applicable code for the representation of the names of principal administrative divisions of countries and territories included in ISO 3166-1. It is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 3166-1. ISO 3166-2:2007 provides the structure for a code for the representation of names of principal administrative divisions, or similar areas, of the countries and geopolitical entities included in ISO 3166-1. ISO 3166-2:2007 contains a list of names of subdivisions of countries and geopolitical entities, together with the code element developed for each one of them.