Country

Classification criteria

The principal criterion used to classify a country is the country name or title stated by the survey respondent. To group countries, the principal criterion is geographic proximity. All countries are grouped into progressively broader geographic areas on the basis of their similarity in terms of social, cultural, economic and political characteristics.

Classification

The country classification is a 4 numeric code. Statistics New Zealand maintains the classification in accordance with numeric codes and names assigned by the United Nations Statistical Division and the International Organization for Standardization.

The 4 numeric classification of country is a hierarchical classification with three levels. There are nine Major Groups in level 1, 27 Minor Groups in level 2 and 244 countries in level 3. There are no residual categories, however supplementary codes are used instead.

Alternatively there is a 2 alpha classification of country that is a flat classification containing 246 countries.

The full classification for the 4 numeric and 2 alpha code is available on the main page.

Supplementary codes

The supplementary codes are used to process inadequately described responses in statistical collections. The supplementary codes, listed are of two types:

• Codes commencing with zero are used to code responses which cannot be allocated a country, minor group or major group code (operational codes).
• Codes ending with zero are used to code responses which cannot be coded to the detailed level of the classification but can be coded to a higher level of the classification structure (not further defined codes).

The full listing of supplementary codes can be found within the full classification on the main page.

Coding process

In developing the coding index a number of rules were followed in assigning index entries the correct classification code. It is recommended these rules be adhered to when coding any response which does not appear in the coding index provided. The coding rules are:

• Responses relating directly to a country separately identified in the classification are, of course, coded to that country.
• Responses relating to places, towns, regions, states, etc, which lie wholly within the boundaries of a country separately identified in the classification, and which are part of that country, are coded to that country.
• Responses relating to places, regions, etc, which cannot be identified as lying wholly within the boundaries of a country separately identified in the classification are assigned a 'not further defined' code, or the code of a residual category, as described above.
• Changes in national boundaries create particular difficulties for coding country of birth responses to a classification of countries.
• Responses relating to countries which have changed name, without changing boundaries, are coded to the latest name in the classification. Thus the response “Upper Volta” is coded to “Burkina Faso”.
• In instances where a country no longer exists, if the geographic area the defunct country previously occupied is wholly contained within the boundaries of an existing contemporary country, then responses for this defunct country are coded to the contemporary country.
• If the area of a country no longer in existence is not wholly contained within the boundaries of one of the separately identified countries of the classification, responses relating to the defunct country are assigned an appropriate 'not further defined' code. For example, a response relating to a country no longer in existence, the previous area of which is not wholly contained within a contemporary country, but is wholly contained within a minor group, is allocated the code of the minor group followed by '00'.
• Where multiple responses are given to a question, the first response is taken.

A codefile is used to code responses to the classification. A codefile is a comprehensive list of probable survey responses and the categories to which they are coded. The codefile for country contains in addition to country titles, regions and provinces where appropriate.

A two character alpha code is provided for the processing of overseas trade, migration and balance of payments information.

Specific supplementary categories are used for economic and other entities. These are applied in the processing of overseas trade, migration and balance of payments information. The supplementary categories are detailed under the the full classification listings on the main page.