Both tables have ISO codes-- Although this is the easiest linkage
to deal with--it can be complex. The ISO provides three code options --the
ISO three character code, the ISO two character code and the ISO three
character numeric code. To deal with this issue a lookup table which links
the three different code types is necessary. For example, linking UN data
and World Bank data requires linking the numerical code used by the UN to
the three character code used by the World Bank-- but even this is
complicated. The UN numerical code is a three digit code but in text
format--to achieve a consistent three character code the ISO uses leading
zeroes --for example "005". Conceptually this is not a problem, but
spreadsheets invariably drop the leading zeros when data is downloaded,
and depending on the circumstances, can format the result either as a text
or a number if the code is formatted as a text the data will appear on the
left hand side of the cell and if it is formatted as a number it will be
on the left hand side of the cell-- so even when both data sets have ISO
codes some trial and error may be involved.
The ISOlink table, which has the following structure, can be used to
link two data tables which use different versions of the ISO code.:
- COUNTRY--The country name-- this field is for information only and
should not be used in trying to link the data. The names are
combination of UN and ISO usage.
- ISO3--This is the three character alphabet code.
- ISO2--This is the ISO two character alphabet code
- ISON-- This is the three character numerical code with leading zeros
and is in text format.
- ISON_T--This is the text version of ISON without leading zeroes and
will be on the left hand side of a spreadsheet cell.
- ISON_N-- This is the numerical version of ISON without leading
zeroes and will be on the right hand side in a spreadsheet cell.
To download the table click ISO_LU.
The lookup table was updated May 21, 2019.The lookup table includes a
few countries with codes that are not part of the ISO standard but which
are commonly used by some organizations.