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The classification criteria

13. The Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) (cat. no 1269.0) is used when collecting, aggregating and disseminating data relating to the variable Country of Birth of Person.

14. Three classification criteria are used to form the categories of the main classification structure in the SACC:

• the geographic proximity of countries (the basic criterion);

• the similarity of countries in terms of social, cultural, economic and political characteristics, and;

• the desirability that groups of countries lie within a single geographic continent (conventionally defined).

17. As mentioned above, the SACC (cat.no 1269.0) is used when collecting, aggregating and disseminating data relating to the variable Country of Birth of Person. The term 'country' is used in the SACC to describe fully independent countries (sovereign nation states), administrative subdivisions of the United Kingdom (ie. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), external territories and dependencies of independent countries, and recognised geographic areas of which the ownership or control is in dispute.

18. The classification has a three-level hierarchical structure. At the time of writing the:

• third and most detailed level of the classification consists of 252 base or third-level units which are discrete countries. Included in the 252 third-level units are five 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) categories, which contain entities that are not listed separately in the classification.

• second level of the classification comprises 27 minor groups, which are groups of neighbouring countries similar in terms of social, cultural, economic and political characteristics. Each minor group lies wholly within the boundaries of a geographic continent. On average, minor groups contain nine countries, with individual minor groups containing between 1 and 27 countries.

• first and most general level of the classification comprises nine major groups which are formed by aggregating geographically proximate minor groups and, therefore, comprise countries which are broadly similar in terms of social, cultural, economic and political characteristics.

20. One, two and four digit codes are assigned to the first, second and third level units of the classification respectively. The first digit identifies the Major Group in which each Country or Minor Group is contained. The first two digits taken together identify the Minor Group in which each Country is contained. The four digit codes represent each of the Countries.

21. 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

Residual categories and codes

24. Any geographic area within the region described by a minor group, which is not separately identified in the classification, and not part of one of the separately identified countries, can be included in the residual or 'not elsewhere classified' category. These 'not elsewhere classified' categories have codes ending with the digits '99'. Note that residual categories are part of the standard classification.

25. Because of the comprehensive coverage of the SACC, it has been necessary to create residual categories in five instances only. An example of a residual category and code is:

1599 - Polynesia (excludes Hawaii), not elsewhere classified (nec)

(Note that Baker Island is Polynesia and has the code 1599, but is not listed separately in the classification.)

Supplementary codes

27. In the SACC, supplementary codes have a more complex structure than many of the other standard variables. The supplementary codes include 'not further defined' (nfd), 'inadequately described' and 'not stated' responses.

28. An example of a 'not further defined' category and code (which forms part of the code structure in paragraph 21 above) is:

3100 - Southern Europe, not further defined (nfd)

31. The variable Country of Birth of Person applies to all persons.


Application of the classification to other variables

32. In addition to Country of Birth of Person, the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) can be used to classify a variety of variables such as Country of Birth of Mother, Country of Birth of Father, Country of Residence, Country of Future Residence, Country of Citizenship, Country of Embarkation, Country of Disembarkation and Country of Last Residence (for immigration and overseas travel statistics). To ensure comparability of data for a range of related variables, the classification should be used in all cases where Australian social, labour and demographic statistics are classified by country.


Coding procedures

33. All Country of Birth responses are coded to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) (cat.no 1269.0) using the guidelines detailed in that publication. Responses are matched with entries in the SACC coding index to determine the correct code.


Coding indexes

34. A coding index has been developed to assist in the implementation and use of the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) and should be used when coding responses to questions relating to Country of Birth. It contains a comprehensive list of the most probable responses to questions relating to countries and their correct classification codes. Use of the coding index enables responses to be coded accurately and quickly to the appropriate category of the classification.

35. Copies of the coding index sorted in alphabetical and numerical (code) order can be found in the SACC publication (cat.no 1269.0) on the ABS website.