Country names can change, but their country codes stay the same no matter what. This is why country codes are an important international standard. Groups like national postal organizations rely on the country code system to ensure everyone is talking about the same place. Our list of 2-letter and 3-letter country codes organized by continent will ensure you’re on the same page as the rest of the world.
All countries are represented by a 2-letter and 3-letter country code based on the International Naming Convention (ISO - International Organization for Standardization 3166). The 2-letter code is meant for more general purposes, while the 3-letter code more closely resembles the country’s name.
These short codes are intuitive, so they can be used as a universal and instant informative representation of each country. The abbreviations are used in postal services, world currencies, travel and business activities, and web address identification.
There are 54 undisputed countries in Africa, a continent that occupies about 20% of Earth’s total land area.
Country Name
2-Letter (alpha 2 code)
3-Letter (alpha 3 code)
