1269.0 - Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), 1998 (Revision 2.03)

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/09/1998

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Contents >> Chapter 1. Introduction >> Standard code scheme

In the main classification structure, a single-digit code represents each major group. For example, the code 1 represents the Major Group Oceania and Antarctica, the code 2 represents the Major Group North-West Europe, etc.

In the main classification structure, a two-digit code represents each minor group. The first digit is the code of the major group in which that minor group is included. For example, the code 13 represents the Minor Group Melanesia which is included within Oceania and Antarctica, the code 24 represents the Minor Group Northern Europe which is included within North-West Europe, etc. Minor groups are numbered sequentially within major groups. For example, the codes of the minor groups included within Oceania and Antarctica are numbered 11, 12, 13, etc.

In the main classification structure, a four-digit code represents each country. The first two digits are the code of the minor group in which that country is included. For example, the code 1301 represents the country New Caledonia which is included within Melanesia, the code 2401 represents the country Denmark which is included within Northern Europe, etc. Countries are numbered sequentially within minor groups. For example, the codes of the countries included within Melanesia are numbered 1301, 1302, 1303, etc.

It should be noted that countries are not allocated codes ending with the digits '0' or '9'. These are special purpose codes used to denote residual (not elsewhere classified) categories in the case of '9', and supplementary (not further defined) codes in the case of '0'.

The following example demonstrates the code scheme for the countries included within the Minor Group Southern Europe which is one of three minor groups of the Major Group Southern and Eastern Europe.

	3 SOUTHERN AND EASTERN EUROPE
	31 Southern Europe
	3101	Andorra
	3102	Gibraltar
	3103	Holy See
	3104	Italy
	3105	Malta
	3106	Portugal
	3107	San Marino
	3108	Spain

The countries are listed in alphabetical order within minor groups. However, this ordering of units is more expedient than necessary and it is not considered that the addition of any new units, which could disrupt the alphabetical order, will affect the usefulness of the classification.

Because of political change in the world, it may be necessary from time to time to add countries to, or delete countries from, the classification. If a country needs to be added to the classification, it will be allocated the next available four-digit code of the minor group to which it is being added.

If a country ceases to exist as a separate entity, and is, consequently, deleted from the classification, its code will not be re-allocated to another country as this would complicate the storage of time series data. If it is necessary to move a country from one minor group to another, it will be allocated the next available code of the minor group to which it is moved. Its previous code will not be re-allocated.

The SACC code scheme is devised so that any future changes to the classification structure can be easily accommodated. However, in order that the classification remain a standard, users should not make changes to the structure. Users should contact the ABS and identify any apparent problems they encounter in the course of implementation, data collection or data analysis.

It should be noted that the structural changes between the SACC and the previous standard country classification (ASCCSS) have resulted in code changes for most countries and country groupings. Concordances providing a link between the SACC and the ASCCSS codes are provided in Appendixes 2 and 3.

The alternative standard country groupings (country groupings which are not part of the main classification structure) have been allocated codes commencing with '06'. For instance, APEC has been allocated code 0601, ASEAN 0602, etc. (see Supplementary Codes and Appendix 1). The member countries of each of the alternative groups retain the code they are allocated in the main classification structure. For example, the following codes are used for APEC and its members:

0601 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
	1101	Australia
	5201	Brunei Darussalam
	8102	Canada
	8204	Chile
	6101	China (excludes SARs and Taiwan Province)
	6102	Hong Kong (SAR of China)
	5202	Indonesia
	6201	Japan
	6203	Korea, Republic of (South)
	5203	Malaysia
	8306	Mexico
	1201	New Zealand
	1302	Papua New Guinea
	8213	Peru
	5204	Philippines
	5205	Singapore
	3308	Russian Federation
	6105	Taiwan
	5104	Thailand
	8104	United States of America
	5105	Viet Nam