Countryentry

Countryentry is a term used in information systems to denote a structured record that represents a sovereign state within a geographic or political database. It acts as a data object that consolidates identifiers, names, and contextual attributes to support analysis, mapping, and interoperability across software applications.

A typical countryentry includes standard identifiers such as official country name, common name, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 and alpha-3 codes, and the numeric code. It may also store the capital city, population, area, currency, time zone, region or continent, and official languages. Additional attributes can cover geopolitical status (sovereign state, disputed territory), independence date, neighboring countries, and flag or emblem references. Data models commonly align with international coding schemes and language standards to enable consistent cross-system use.

Standards and sources play a central role in countryentries. Widely used references include ISO 3166 for codes, ISO 4217 for currencies, and libraries of language and regional codes. Data is often supplemented by trusted sources such as the United Nations, World Bank, IMF, and national statistical agencies. Quality control focuses on provenance, update frequency, and handling of changes in sovereignty, territory, or political status.

Common applications include geographic information systems, travel and logistics platforms, market and demographic analysis, and governance or research databases. Limitations arise from the dynamic nature of international recognition, territorial disputes, and data synchronization challenges across multiple sources. Careful versioning and clear provenance help mitigate inconsistencies in countryentries.