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National Classifications

National Statistics Country Classification
(NSCC)

Country / Area: United Kingdom

Classification category: Other classifications

General information

1 (a)

Name of the current national classification (full name in official national languages and in English with acronyms in brackets, should be given)

National Statistics Country Classification (NSCC)

1 (b)

In which language(s) is the classification available?

English

1 (c)

Can the classification (or information about it) be accessed on the Internet? If yes, please provide the URL.

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/national-statistics-country-classification/index.html

Classification structure

2 (a)

Please describe the structure of the classification: How many levels does the classification have? (Please provide labels, such as “Division”, “Class”) How many categories exist at each level?

NSCC is a flat classification, e.g. it does not have a hierarchy.

• NSCC Index

o Alpha-2
o Alpha-3
o Numeric-3
o Category Title
o Coding Index Entry

Alpha-2 Alpha-3 Numeric-3 Category title Coding index entry
AF AFG 004 Afghanistan Afghanestan
AF AFG 004 Afghanistan Afghanistan
AF AFG 004 Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
AF AFG 004 Afghanistan Republic of Afghanistan
AF AFG 004 Afghanistan Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan

• NSCC Geographical Groupings
• NSCC Other Country Groupings

o Alpha-2
o Alpha-3
o Numeric-3
o NS-CC Category Title

Alpha-2 Alpha-3 Numeric-3 NS-CC Category title
Europe
United Kingdom
XF XFE 921 England
XG XGN 922 Northern Ireland
XH XHS 923 Scotland
XI XIW 924 Wales
XJ XJG 925 Great Britain Not Otherwise Specified
XK XKU 926 United Kingdom Not Otherwise Specified

• NSCC Classification

o Category
o Alpha-2
o Alpha-3
o Numeric-3

Category Alpha-2 Alpha-3 Numeric-3
AFGHANISTAN AF AFG 004
ÅLAND ISLANDS AX ALA 248
ALBANIA AL ALB 008
ALGERIA DZ DZA 012
AMERICAN SAMOA AS ASM 016
ANDORRA AD AND 020

2 (b)

Please provide examples of the coding system used at each level.

See above

Relationship to international standards

3 (a)

Is this classification based on (or linked to) an international standard classification? If yes, please describe.

The NSCC is based on ISO 3166-1 Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries and their Subdivisions, and the United Nations’, Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use. The 2 and 3 character alpha codes of the country classification are made available by ISO 3166-1. The 3-character numeric code is made available by the United Nations and is also provided in ISO 3166-1.

3 (b)

Is the classification structure identical to the international standard or, if not, how does it differ? (e.g. have additional levels been added to the international standard or have changes been made within the level of the international structure, such as aggregations or additional breakdowns)

1. Category title differences
To adhere to the UK government policy on the appropriate British terminology used to refer to countries (outlined in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's document Geographical Names and Information and the Permanent Committee on Geographic Names for British Official Use)

2. Additional categories
To cater to particular types of survey responses, including:
• where not enough detail is provided to enable coding to a country category, but regional information is provided (e.g. "Africa Not Otherwise Specified");
• where a country name is given of a former country in which there is still interest (e.g. "Czechoslovakia"); and
• where there is no country to report, but a response has still been provided (e.g. "In the Air", At Sea")

3. More detailed categories
Existing categories were not sufficiently detailed for United Kingdom statistical data users in four cases. These have been further disaggregated in the following ways:
• United Kingdom - more detailed categories distinguishing the nations of the United Kingdom, i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as a category for Great Britain and a publication only code for England and Wales (combined)
• Spain - distinguishing between Spain and the Canary Islands
• Cyprus - distinguishing between the parts of Cyprus included and not included in the European Union; and
• The Channel Islands – more detailed categories distinguishing the bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey

3 (c)

Please describe deviations from the international standard (in terms of structure, methodology or application rules). Please use examples, if a general statement is not possible.

The National Statistics Country Classification is very similar to other country classifications developed by international organisations, and thus there is a high level of comparability between the country classification and those of international organisations.

The NSCC including the definition, groupings and coding index do not replace or supersede classifications that have to be used to meet international reporting requirements, for example Geonomenclature (GEONOM) for Eurostat trade statistics.

3 (d)

At what level of the international standard can data be reported for international comparison? (Please provide examples of programmes / indicators if reporting takes place at different levels of the classification.)

The NSCC can be mapped to the ISO standard at the lowest level. We supply the classification for others to use so we are unaware of its uses and the level to which other departments/organisations report to.

3 (e)

If no links to international classifications exist or no international standard is used, please state if there are plans to use international norms in the future.

Not applicable

Classification uses

4 (a)

Please state for which statistical purposes (surveys etc.) this classification is used and if there are users outside of the Statistical Office. Please indicate at which level the classification is used for data collection and for data publishing.

The National Statistics Country Classification (NSCC) is a key variable for determining a range of social and economic statistics including country of birth, country of residence, migration, international trade and balance of payments.

Data is collected and published at country level.

4 (b)

Please give the names of institutions that use the classification for non-statistical purposes (as opposed to statistical purposes in question 4(a)). Also indicate the kind of use (e.g. tax offices, social security, customs, enterprise register, employment services, work permits etc.)

We supply the classification, we do not monitor who uses it and for what purpose.

4 (c)

Please indicate if alternative classifications are used by other institutions of the economy. Are these classifications available and useful for the Statistical Office?

Not known.

Implementation / revision status

5 (a)

Please state the date of the official adoption of the classification. If not yet adopted, please indicate the current state (e.g. in development, sent for approval, in printing, ready to be distributed etc.)

The NSCC was launched in 2006. The dates at which it was adopted by users is not known.

5 (b)

Please state the date of use of the classification for individual statistical programmes.

Not known.

5 (c)

Are there existing plans for revision or update of the current classification?

There are no plans for revision, but the classification is updated when notification of changes to the underlying ISO 3166-1 classifications are received.

5 (d)

Name of former (previous) national classification (full name in both national tongue and in English with acronyms in brackets, should be given)

5 (e)

Please describe the link of the former classification to international classifications

5 (f)

Please describe the structure of the former classification and indicate the number of items at each level of the classification. (similar to question 2(a))

5 (g)

Do conversion tables exist between the former and current classification?

5 (h)

When was the former classification implemented?

5 (i)

Are statistical data still collected or published according to the former classification? Please indicate if this statistical data is collected or published by the Statistical Office or elsewhere.

Supporting documents

6 (a)

Have national explanatory notes and/or guidelines been elaborated?

Yes – they are supplied on the Country Classification webpages (see link above)

6 (b)

Do correspondence tables exist between the national and the international classifications (if applicable)?

NSCC groupings and correspondences with ISO & GEONOM are available

6 (c)

Are correspondence tables between alternative and current classification available (if applicable)?

See above.

6 (d)

Does a national coding index exist?

A coding index in Excel format is supplied on the Country Classification webpages (see link above)

6 (e)

Is the classification available in electronic form? If yes, in which formats is it available?(e.g. PDF, TXT, Excel, XML)

Pdf and Excel

6 (f)

Are the correspondence tables or indexes available in electronic form?

Yes - in Excel is supplied on the Country Classification webpages (see link above)

Contact information

7 (a)

Name of institution / office responsible for the development and maintenance of the classification

Office for National Statistics
Quality Classifications and Harmonisation and Training Unit.

7 (b)

Contact address, phone number, e-mail or website for public information and inquiry

Office for National Statistics
Classifications and Harmonisation Unit
Segensworth Road
Titchfield
Fareham
Hampshire
PO15 5RR
Email: Country.classification@ons.gsi.gov.uk
Tel +44 (0)1329 444388

Other comments

9 (a)

Please provide any other information on this classification that you consider relevant

Source: UN questionnaire, 01/09/2012

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National Classifications

National Statistics Country Classification(NSCC)

National Statistics Country Classification
(NSCC)