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A U.S. government standard code set for identifying countries, historically used across federal data systems; now withdrawn and replaced by GENC/ISO 3166.
DESCRIPTION
FIPS country codes (FIPS 10-4) were standardized identifiers for geopolitical entities used in U.S. government systems. They enabled consistent reference data management and integration across agencies. The standard was withdrawn and superseded by GENC and ISO 3166-1, but legacy data may still contain FIPS codes. Modern implementations should migrate to current standards to ensure interoperability. Data stewards manage mapping and transformation between code systems during remediation.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
Wikipedia
FIPS 10-4 was a U.S. government standard for country codes and codes for geopolitical entities, names, and codes (GENC). It has been withdrawn and replaced.
Explicitly notes withdrawal and successor standards.
U.S. Government (ODNI/NGA GENC)
GENC provides a U.S. Government profile of ISO 3166 for country and geopolitical entity codes, replacing FIPS 10-4 for official use.
Defines the official successor and alignment to ISO 3166.
U.S. Census Bureau
FIPS codes are standardized numeric or alphanumeric codes to ensure uniform identification of geographic entities; legacy use includes states, counties, and other areas.
Highlights practical use of FIPS codes across U.S. geography data.
RELATED TERMS
ISO 3166 Reference Data Code Values Master Data Management Metadata Geocoding US Government Data Standard Codes
COMPETING TERMS
ISO 3166-1 GENC
RELATIONS
- Broader: Country Codes
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Reference & Master Data Data Management Metadata Management Data Integration & Interoperability
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Steward Data Architect Data Management Consultant Data Modeler Data Strategy Consultant Information Analyst
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - FIPS 10-4
- NGA GENC Registry - Official U.S. GENC code registry replacing FIPS 10-4
- ISO - ISO 3166 standard for country codes
- U.S. Census Bureau - Guidance on geographic identifiers and legacy FIPS
TOP QUESTIONS
What are FIPS Country Codes?
They were U.S. government-standardized country identifiers (FIPS 10-4), now withdrawn and superseded by GENC and ISO 3166.
Category: Definition
Why are FIPS Country Codes relevant today?
Legacy datasets and systems still contain FIPS codes. Migration plans and mappings are necessary for interoperability with modern standards.
Category: Relevancy
What replaced FIPS Country Codes?
GENC, a U.S. Government profile of ISO 3166, replaced FIPS 10-4 for official use, aligning with international standards.
Category: Alternatives
How do I convert FIPS Country Codes to ISO 3166?
Use official GENC/ISO registries and published crosswalks; validate mappings in data governance processes to preserve meaning.
Category: Process
What risks exist when using FIPS Country Codes?
Continued use hinders interoperability and may cause integration errors; governance should enforce migration to current standards.
Category: Risks
Who managed FIPS Country Codes?
U.S. government bodies, with NIST overseeing FIPS publications historically; now NGA maintains GENC registries.
Category: Origin
Are FIPS Country Codes still official?
No. They are withdrawn. Official U.S. use is via GENC, aligned with ISO 3166.
Category: Status
How should data stewards handle FIPS codes?
Catalog occurrences, create mappings, and monitor transformations. Document lineage and update downstream consumers.
Category: Management
Where can I get authoritative country code lists?
Use the NGA GENC registry and ISO 3166 registries for current codes and names.
Category: Resources