2901.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Census Dictionary, 2016  
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2016 Census Dictionary >> Glossary >> Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC)

Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC)

The 2016 Census uses the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), 2016 (cat. no. 1269.0) to code Country of Birth of Person (BPLP), Country of Birth of Father (BPMP) and Country of Birth of Mother (BPFP).

The SACC is based on the concept of geographic proximity. It groups neighbouring countries into progressively broader geographic areas based on similar social, cultural, economic and political characteristics.

The classification contains three levels:
    • The first level comprises major groups which are formed by aggregating geographically proximate minor groups.
    • The second level comprises minor groups, which are groups of neighbouring countries similar in terms of social, cultural, economic and political characteristics.
    • The third level consists of the base units (countries).

The following example illustrates the hierarchical structure of the classification:

Major Group:8Americas
Minor Group:82South America
Country Unit:8203Brazil

The term countries is used to describe the base-level units. Not all of the units classified are fully independent countries. The base-level units of the classification include:
    • fully independent countries (sovereign nation states)
    • administrative subdivisions of the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
    • external territories and dependencies of independent countries. In general, they are physically isolated from the country to which they are dependent, for example, Falkland Islands, Martinique
    • units which are recognised geographic areas, the ownership or control of which is in dispute, for example, Gaza Strip and West Bank and
    • residual categories (not elsewhere classified or nec) comprised of geographic areas which are not separately identified in the classification and which are not part of one of the separately identified base-level units.

For further information refer to the SACC publication on the ABS website: Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1269.0).

See also Country of Birth.





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