INTRODUCTION

The SDMX technical standards are sufficiently generic to allow institutions to adopt and implement any specific representation. However, the use of common code lists would facilitate users to work even more efficiently as it eases the maintenance of, and reduces the need for, mapping systems and interfaces delivering data and metadata to users. Therefore, a choice over code lists has a great impact on the efficiency of data sharing.

For more general information about code lists, please refer to the “Introduction to the Content-oriented Guidelines”. For information about the construction of code lists, please refer to the “Guidelines for the Creation and Management of Cross-Domain Code Lists”. Both documents can be found under the “Guidelines” section of this site.

LIST OF AVAILABLE CROSS-DOMAIN CODE LISTS

This section lists the cross-domain code lists that have been officially adopted so far by the SDMX Secretariat based on proposals from the Statistical Working Group (SWG). The files below are generally made available in MS-Word or MS-Excel formats. The code lists can also be downloaded in SDMX-ML format from the following address: https://registry.sdmx.org/overview.html

Currently available SDMX cross-domain code lists:

• Activity (CL_ACTIVITY)

  These code lists provide lists of values for describing the economic activity, defined as the combination of actions that result in the production, distribution and consumption of goods or services.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.1, formally adopted on 19 October 2023)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted on 24 March 2014)
  • ISIC Rev. 4: International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted on 24 March 2014)
  • NACE Rev. 2: Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted on 24 March 2014)
  • ANZSIC 2006: Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted on 24 March 2014)
• Age (CL_AGE)

  This code list provides a set of building blocks to be used for creating simple or complex code identifiers relating to the concept of “age”, i.e. the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted 7 February 2014)
  • Predefined code lists for most frequently used age categories (MS-Excel format)
• Break Reason (CL_BREAK_REASON)

  This code list provides coded information about breaks in time series occurring when there is a change in the standards for defining and observing a variable over time.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted 27 May 2022)
• Civil (or marital) status (CL_CIVIL_STATUS)

  This code list provides a list of values for describing the civil (or marital) status of an individual, i.e. the legal, conjugal status of an individual in relation to the marriage laws or customs of the country.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted 4 December 2013)
• Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) (CL_COICOP)

  This code list provides a set of building blocks to be used for classifying the household expenditure by purpose (e.g. food, health and education services).

  • Introduction (MS-Word format)
  • CL_COICOP_2018 (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted on 16 May 2024)
  • CL_COICOP_1999 (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.1, formally adopted on 16 May 2024)
• Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) (CL_COFOG)

  This code list provides a set of building blocks to be used for classifying final consumption expenditures of general government by function or purpose.

  • Introduction (MS-Word format)
  • Code list (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted 27 June 2014)
• Classification of the Outlays of Producers According to Purpose (COPP) (CL_COPP)

  This code list provides a set of building blocks to be used for classifying outlays of enterprises by purpose.

  • Introduction (MS-Word format)
  • Code list (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted 27 June 2014)
• Classification of the Purposes of Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (COPNI) (CL_COPNI)

  This code list provides a set of building blocks to be used for classifying individual outlays of Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISHs) according to the purpose they serve.

  • Introduction (MS-Word format)
  • Code list (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted 27 June 2014)
• Confidentiality status (CL_CONF_STATUS)

  This code list provides coded information about the sensitivity and confidentiality status of the data.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.3, formally adopted 3 February 2022)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.2, formally adopted 6 April 2018)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.1, formally adopted 26 June 2014)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)
• Currency (CL_CURRENCY)

  This code list provides coded values for currencies.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)
• Decimals (CL_DECIMALS)

  This code list provides a list of values showing the number of decimal digits used in the data.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)
• Degree of Urbanisation (CL_DEG_URB)

  This code list provides coded information about the degree to which area is urbanised.

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in August 2020)
• Frequency (CL_FREQ)

  This code list provides a set of values indicating the “frequency” of the data (e.g. weekly, monthly, quarterly)..

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.1, formally adopted in February 2021)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.0, formally adopted 4 December 2013; updated April 2015 with addition of an explanatory paragraph, with no impact on the code list as such, on how to represent “n times every [frequency]”)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in January 2009)
• Geographical areas (CL_AREA)

  This code list provides code values for geographical areas, defined as areas included within the borders of a country, region, group of countries, etc.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.0, formally adopted in March 2019)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)
• Observation status (CL_OBS_STATUS)

  This code list provides coded information on 1) the quality of a value or 2) unusual or missing values.

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.2, formally adopted 15 March 2019)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.1, formally adopted 15 September 2016)
  • See also under “Guidelines” section for document “Possible Ways of Implementing CL_OBS_STATUS Code List”.
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.0, formally adopted 18 June 2014)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.1, formally adopted 20 September 2013)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)
• Occupation (CL_OCCUPATION)

  This code list provides a list of values for describing the job or position held by an individual.
  

  • Introduction (MS-Word format)
  • Code list (based on ISCO-08, International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 version) (MS-Excel format) (Version 1.0, formally adopted 14 March 2014)
• Organisation (CL_ORGANISATION)

  This guideline describes a method to build and maintain code lists for “organisations” in a broad sense.
  

  • Guideline in MS-Word format (Version 1.1, formally adopted in September 2023)
  • Guideline in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in April 2021)
• Reliability (CL_RELIABILITY)

  This code list provides coded information about the “quality” of an observation (with respect to events such as the ones reflected in the codes composing the code list).

  Code list in MS-Word format
  (Version 1.0, formally adopted 24 June 2022)

• Seasonal adjustment (CL_SEASONAL_ADJUST)

  This code list provides a list of values for describing seasonal adjustment.

  Code list in MS-Word format
  (Version 1.0, formally adopted 4 July 2014)

• Sex (CL_SEX)

  This code list provides coded information about the state of being male or female. .

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.1, formally adopted in September 2017)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 2.0, formally adopted 18 October 2013)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in January 2009)
• Statistical operation (CL_STATISTICAL_OPERATION)

  This code list represents common statistical operations for calculated values.
  

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted 09 June 2023)
• Time format (CL_TIME_FORMAT)

  This code list provides coded information (based on the ISO 8601 standard) indicating the type of time references used in the data.

  Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)

• Time period – collection (CL_TIME_PER_COLLECT)

  This code list provides a list of values for representing dates or periods during which the observations have been collected in order to compile the indicator for the target reference period.

  Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted 15 April 2015)

• Unit multiplier (CL_UNIT_MULT)

  This code list provides code values for indicating the magnitude in the units of measurement.

  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.1, formally adopted in September 2017)
  • Code list in MS-Word format (Version 1.0, formally adopted in 2009)

Further code lists, either shared code lists or domain-specific code lists, can be found in dedicated SDMX registries (e.g. EURO-SDMX Registry, etc.).

LICENSE

The SDMX cross-domain codelists and their related methodology are subject to the CC BY-SA 4.0 (Attribution-Share-Alike) license. You are free to:

• Share— copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
• Adapt— remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

These are the terms of the license:

• Attribution— You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
• ShareAlike— If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
• No additional restrictions— You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

The full license text is here.