The names of countries can change, but country codes don't. Like recently, when Micronesia became the Federated States of Micronesia in 2023 or when the Republic of Iceland changed to Iceland in 2022 – it happens constantly. That's where standardized country abbreviations come in, meaning important things like mail get to the right places, no matter what country you're sending to. Don't worry, though; here is a full directory of country codes, ISO, FIPS, ITU, and much more!

What are country abbreviations?

Country abbreviations are short codes used to represent the names of countries. For example, the United States of America is often abbreviated as "USA," while Canada is abbreviated as "CAN." They are usually made up of two or three letters, making them a pretty quick and easy way to refer to a specific country. 

Country codes are used in various contexts, including international trade, diplomacy, and bilateral communication. Organizations, including governments, use them, especially the United Nations, International Olympic Committee, and the International Air Transport Association, to standardize communication and avoid confusion.

In the past, before standardized abbreviations existed, organizations would refer to countries using their long names, which over time became cumbersome and time-consuming, so think of them as the convenient shorthand way to identify countries while saving everyone time and energy.

Types of country codes

There are several country code systems in use around the world, but some of the most important ones include:

ISO Country Codes

List of two-letter codes developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to identify countries and dependent territories. These codes are internationally used in finance, commerce, and domain name systems. There are three main types and a few less commonly used:

• ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes (most common) - US: United States, GB: United Kingdom, CA: Canada, DE: Germany
• ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes (3 letters) - USA: United States, GBR: United Kingdom, CAN: Canada, and DEU: Germany.
• ISO 3166-1 (numerical code for statistics) - 840: United States, 826: United Kingdom, 124: Canada, and 356: India

ITU Calling Country Codes

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) developed its country code system to identify countries, regions, and territories in telecommunications. These codes are commonly used in international dialing codes, mobile networks, and satellite communications.

• 1: United States and Canada
• 33: France
• 44: United Kingdom
• 81: Japan

FIPS Codes

The FIPS or Federal Information Processing Standards are two-letter codes developed by the United States Government to identify countries and regions easily. Thee are mostly used in government and private sector activities, like emergency response systems, financial transactions, and transportation systems. Some of them are the same as the ISO.

• US - United States
• CA -  Canada
• MX -  Mexico
• FR - France
• DE - Germany

Other

Other organization-specific country code systems that you might see include the UN M49 Codes developed by the United Nations Statistics Division to identify countries and regions for statistical purposes, the IOC Country Codes by the International Olympic Committee for identifying countries and regions in the Olympic games, and the FIFA Country Codes, Fédération Internationale de Football Association to identify countries and regions in international soccer and football.

• UN M49 - North America: 021, African Continent: 002, Europe: 150, and Asia:142.
• IOC Country Codes - USA: United States, CAN: Canada, MEX: Mexico, and FRA: France
• FIFA - USA: United States, CAN: Canada, MEX: Mexico, FRA: Franc, and GER: Germany

Complete Directory List of Letter Country Codes & ITU Country Calling Codes

This is the complete list of the most important letter country codes according to the most important systems.

Directory of ISO Country Codes

To find the country code you need, use the finder on your browser and type in the country name you want to find or sort through by continent.

Europe ISO Codes

All of the ISO codes for Europe.

Africa ISO Abbreviations

There are 54 recognized African countries, and each country has a unique two-letter country code assigned by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO.) Here's the list.

Asia ISO Codes

Asia is by the largest continent, and the countries that comprise it are contested. Nevertheless, here is the list of the county codes for 53 of them.

South America ISO Codes

South America is a continent with 12 countries. However, a few other countries are also part of it.

Antarctic ISO Codes

Antarctica is just one country, despite being a continent. Though several islands are considered a part of the continent with their own ISO abbreviation.

Australia & Oceania ISO Codes

Australia and Oceania are home to many countries and territories, each with its own unique ISO country code.

Directory of ITU Country Calling Codes 

List of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) country recommended assigned codes to identify countries, regions, and territories in telecommunications. These particular codes are used when you want to call a telephone number in a country or region different from your own, but the ITU also has codes for radio.

Europe

• Albania 355
• Andorra 376
• Armenia 374
• Austria 43
• Azerbaijan 994
• Belarus 375
• Belgium 32
• Bosnia and Herzegovina 387
• Bulgaria 359
• Croatia 385
• Cyprus 357
• Czech Republic 420
• Denmark 45
• Estonia 372
• Finland 358
• France 33
• Georgia 995
• Germany 49
• Gibraltar 350
• Greece 30
• Hungary 36
• Iceland 354
• Ireland 353
• Italy 39
• Jersey 44-1534
• Kazakhstan 7
• Kosovo 383
• Latvia 371
• Liechtenstein 423
• Lithuania 370
• Luxembourg 352
• Malta 356
• Moldova 373
• Monaco 377
• Montenegro 382
• Netherlands 31
• North Macedonia 389
• Norway 47
• Poland 48
• Portugal 351
• Romania 40
• Russia 7
• San Marino 378
• Serbia 381
• Slovakia 421
• Slovenia 386
• Spain 34
• Sweden 46
• Switzerland 41
• Turkey 90
• Ukraine 380
• United Kingdom 44
• Vatican City 379

North America and Territories

• Canada,1
• Greenland,299
• Mexico,52
• United States of America,1

Africa

• Algeria - 213
• Angola - 244
• Benin - 229
• Botswana - 267
• Burkina Faso - 226
• Burundi - 257
• Cameroon - 237
• Cape Verde - 238
• Central African Republic - 236
• Chad - 235
• Comoros - 269
• Democratic Republic of the Congo - 243
• Djibouti - 253
• Egypt - 20
• Equatorial Guinea - 240
• Eritrea - 291
• Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) - 268
• Ethiopia - 251
• Gabon - 241
• Gambia - 220
• Ghana - 233
• Guinea - 224
• Guinea-Bissau - 245
• Ivory Coast - 225
• Kenya - 254
• Lesotho - 266
• Liberia - 231
• Libya - 218
• Madagascar - 261
• Malawi - 265
• Mali - 223
• Mauritania - 222
• Mauritius - 230
• Morocco - 212
• Mozambique - 258
• Namibia - 264
• Niger - 227
• Nigeria - 234
• Republic of the Congo - 242
• Rwanda - 250
• Sao Tome and Principe - 239
• Senegal - 221
• Seychelles - 248
• Sierra Leone - 232
• Somalia - 252
• South Africa - 27
• South Sudan - 211
• Sudan - 249
• Tanzania - 255
• Togo - 228
• Tunisia - 216
• Uganda - 256
• Zambia - 260
• Zimbabwe - 263

Asia

• Afghanistan - 93
• Bahrain - 973
• Bangladesh - 880
• Bhutan - 975
• Brunei - 673
• Cambodia - 855
• China - 86
• India - 91
• Indonesia - 62
• Iran - 98
• Iraq - 964
• Israel - 972
• Japan - 81
• Jordan - 962
• Kazakhstan - 7
• Kuwait - 965
• Kyrgyzstan - 996
• Laos - 856
• Lebanon - 961
• Malaysia - 60
• Maldives - 960
• Mongolia - 976
• Myanmar (Burma) - 95
• Nepal - 977
• North Korea - 850
• Oman - 968
• Pakistan - 92
• Philippines - 63
• Qatar - 974
• Russia - 7
• Saudi Arabia - 966
• Singapore - 65
• South Korea - 82
• Sri Lanka - 94
• Syria - 963
• Taiwan - 886
• Tajikistan - 992
• Thailand - 66
• Timor-Leste (East Timor) - 670
• Turkey - 90
• Turkmenistan - 993
• United Arab Emirates - 971
• Uzbekistan - 998
• Vietnam - 84
• Yemen - 967

South America

• Argentina 54
• Bolivia 591
• Brazil 55
• Chile 56
• Colombia 57
• Ecuador 593
• Falkland Islands 500
• French Guiana 594
• Guyana 592
• Paraguay 595
• Peru 51
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 500
• Suriname 597
• Uruguay 598
• Venezuela 58

Antarctic

• Antarctica 672

Australia & Oceania

• American Samoa 1-684
• Australia 61
• Christmas Island 61
• Cocos Islands 61
• Cook Islands 682
• Fiji 679
• French Polynesia 689
• Guam 1-671
• Kiribati 686
• Marshall Islands 692
• Micronesia 691
• Nauru 674
• New Zealand 64
• Niue 683
• Norfolk Island 672
• Northern Mariana Islands 1-670
• Palau 680
• Papua New Guinea 675
• Pitcairn Islands 64
• Samoa 685
• Solomon Islands 677
• Tokelau 690
• Tonga 676
• Tuvalu 688
• Vanuatu 678
• Wallis and Futuna 681

FIPS Country Codes

Complete list of Federal Information Processing Standards, which are two-letter codes developed by the United States Government, categorized by continent.

Europe

• Albania,AL
• Andorra,AN
• Austria,AU
• Belarus,BO
• Belgium,BE
• Bosnia and Herzegovina,BK
• Bulgaria,BU
• Croatia,HR
• Cyprus,CY
• Czechia,EZ
• Denmark,DK
• Estonia,EN
• Finland,FI
• France,FR
• Germany,GM
• Gibraltar,GI
• Greece,GR
• Hungary,HU
• Iceland,IC
• Ireland,EI
• Italy,IT
• Latvia,LG
• Liechtenstein,LS
• Lithuania,LH
• Luxembourg,LU
• Malta,MT
• Moldova (Republic of),MD
• Monaco,MN
• Montenegro,MJ
• Netherlands,NL
• North Macedonia,MK
• Norway,NO
• Poland,PL
• Portugal,PO
• Romania,RO
• Russian Federation,RS
• San Marino,SM
• Serbia,RI
• Slovakia,LO
• Slovenia,SI
• Spain,ES
• Sweden,SE
• Switzerland,CH
• Ukraine,UP
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,GB

North America

• Bermuda,BD
• Canada,CA
• Greenland,GL
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon,SB
• United States of America,US

Africa

• Algeria,AG
• Angola,AO
• Benin,BN
• Botswana,BC
• Burkina Faso,UV
• Burundi,BY
• Cabo Verde,CV
• Cameroon,CM
• Central African Republic,CT
• Chad,CD
• Comoros,CN
• Congo,CF
• Congo (Democratic Republic of the),CG
• Cote d’Ivoire,IV
• Djibouti,DJ
• Egypt,EG
• Equatorial Guinea,EK
• Eritrea,ER
• Eswatini,SZ
• Ethiopia,ET
• Gabon,GB
• Gambia,GA
• Ghana,GH
• Guinea,GV
• Guinea-Bissau,PU
• Kenya,KE
• Lesotho,LT
• Liberia,LI
• Libya,LY
• Madagascar,MA
• Malawi,MI
• Mali,ML
• Mauritania,MR
• Mauritius,MP
• Mayotte,MF
• Morocco,MO
• Mozambique,MZ
• Namibia,WA
• Niger,NG

Asia

• Afghanistan,AF
• Bahrain,BA
• Bangladesh,BG
• Bhutan,BT
• Brunei Darussalam,BX
• Cambodia,CB
• China,CH
• Christmas Island,KT
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands,CK
• India,IN
• Indonesia,ID
• Iran (Islamic Republic of),IR
• Iraq,IZ
• Israel,IS
• Japan,JA
• Jordan,JO
• Kazakhstan,KZ
• Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of),KN
• Korea (Republic of),KS
• Kuwait,KU
• Kyrgyzstan,KG
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic,LA
• Lebanon,LE
• Macao,MC
• Malaysia,MY
• Maldives,MV
• Mongolia,MG
• Myanmar,BM
• Nepal,NP
• Oman,MU
• Pakistan,PK
• Palestine State of,WE
• Philippines,RP
• Qatar,QA
• Saudi Arabia,SA
• Singapore,SG
• Sri Lanka,LK
• Syrian Arab Republic,SY
• Taiwan Province of China,TW
• Tajikistan,TJ
• Thailand,TH
• Timor-Leste,TL
• Turkmenistan,TM
• United Arab Emirates,AE
• Uzbekistan,UZ
• Vietnam,VN
• Yemen,YE

South America

• Argentina,AR
• Bolivia (Plurinational State of),BL
• Brazil,BR
• Chile,CI
• Colombia,CO
• Ecuador,EC
• Falkland Islands (Malvinas),FK
• French Guiana,FG
• Guyana,GY
• Paraguay,PA
• Peru,PE
• Suriname,NS
• Uruguay,UY
• Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of),VE

Antarctic

• Antarctica,AY
• Bouvet Island,BV
• French Southern Territories,FS
• Heard Island and McDonald Islands,HM

Australia & Oceania

• Australia,AS
• Fiji,FJ
• Kiribati,KR
• Marshall Islands,RM
• Micronesia (Federated States of),FM
• Nauru,NR
• New Caledonia,NC
• New Zealand,NZ
• Niue,NE
• Palau,PS
• Papua New Guinea,PP
• Samoa,WS
• Solomon Islands,SB
• Tonga,TO
• Tuvalu,TV
• Vanuatu,VU

Other Types of Country Abbreviations

Plenty of other organizations sort countries and territories into county abbreviations, and often you will notice they are similar to the most commonly used ones. Here is a list of some of the most common country code abbreviations.

Examples of UN M49 codes

• Afghanistan,004
• Brazil,076
• China,156
• Germany,276
• India,356
• Japan,392
• Nigeria,566
• Russia,643
• South Africa,710
• United States of America,840

Examples IOC country codes

• United States,USA
• France,FRA
• United Kingdom,GBR
• Australia,AUS
• Germany,GER
• Brazil,BRA
• South Africa,RSA
• China,CHN
• Jamaica,JAM
• India,IND

Examples of FIFA country codes

• Brazil,BRA
• Argentina,ARG
• Germany,GER
• France,FRA
• Spain,ESP
• Portugal,POR
• Italy,ITA
• England,ENG
• Mexico,MEX
• Netherlands,NED

Examples of NATO country codes

• United States,US
• Canada,CA
• United Kingdom,UK
• Germany,DE
• France,FR
• Italy,IT
• Spain,ES
• Turkey,TR
• Greece,GR
• Poland,PL

How to Use Country Codes In Your Life or Work

So now you know all the most useful country abbreviations why and how do you use them? Well, ISO country abbreviations and codes, in particular, are super helpful for a lot of things, like calling someone abroad, sending packages overseas, or even organizing data by country. If you're working or dealing with people from different countries, knowing and using these codes is a good idea to avoid confusion and to make life a bit easier!