State and Country Codes: A Comprehensive Guide

Accurate state and country codes are essential for various applications, including data processing, logistics, and international communication. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of these codes, drawing from official sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. Understanding these codes streamlines operations and minimizes errors in global transactions and data management.

U.S. State Codes

The United States utilizes two-letter abbreviations for each state, officially recognized by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) for international programs. Here’s a list of the official state abbreviations:

• Alabama: AL
• Alaska: AK
• American Samoa: AS
• Arizona: AZ
• Arkansas: AR
• California: CA
• Colorado: CO
• Connecticut: CT
• Delaware: DE
• District of Columbia: DC

It’s important to note that some states, like Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Texas, are generally not abbreviated in formal writing, as per the Williams College style guide [2].

Country Codes

Country codes are crucial for international correspondence, shipping, and data standardization. A wide range of countries are included in standard code lists.

• United States of America
• US Virgin Islands
• United States Minor Outlying Islands
• Canada
• Mexico, United Mexican States
• Bahamas, Commonwealth of the
• Cuba, Republic of
• Dominican Republic
• Haiti, Republic of
• Jamaica
• Afghanistan
• Albania, People’s Socialist Republic of
• Algeria, People’s Democratic Republic of
• American Samoa
• Andorra, Principality of
• Angola, Republic of
• Anguilla
• Argentina, Argentine Republic
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Australia, Commonwealth of
• Austria, Republic of
• Azerbaijan, Republic of
• Bahrain, Kingdom of
• Bangladesh, People’s Republic of
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium, Kingdom of
• Belize
• Benin, People’s Republic of
• Bermuda
• Bhutan, Kingdom of
• Bolivia, Republic of
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana, Republic of
• Brazil, Federative Republic of
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria, People’s Republic of
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi, Republic of
• Cambodia, Kingdom of
• Cameroon, United Republic of
• Cape Verde, Republic of
• Chile, Republic of
• China, People’s Republic of
• Colombia, Republic of
• Comoros, Union of the
• Congo, Democratic Republic of
• Congo, People’s Republic of
• Costa Rica, Republic of
• Cote D’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the
• Croatia
• Cuba, Republic of
• Cyprus, Republic of
• Czech Republic
• Denmark, Kingdom of
• Djibouti, Republic of
• Dominica, Commonwealth of
• Ecuador, Republic of
• Egypt, Arab Republic of
• El Salvador, Republic of
• Equatorial Guinea, Republic of
• Eritrea
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands
• Finland, Republic of
• France, French Republic
• Gabon, Gabonese Republic
• Gambia, Republic of the
• Georgia
• Germany
• Ghana, Republic of
• Greece, Hellenic Republic
• Grenada
• Guatemala, Republic of
• Guinea, Revolutionary People’s Rep’c of
• Guinea-Bissau, Republic of
• Guyana, Republic of
• Honduras, Republic of
• Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China
• Hungary, Hungarian People’s Republic
• Iceland, Republic of
• India, Republic of
• Indonesia, Republic of
• Iran, Islamic Republic of
• Iraq, Republic of
• Ireland
• Israel, State of
• Italy, Italian Republic
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of
• Kazakhstan, Republic of
• Kenya, Republic of
• Kiribati, Republic of
• Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of
• Korea, Republic of
• Kuwait, State of
• Kyrgyz Republic
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Latvia
• Lebanon, Lebanese Republic
• Lesotho, Kingdom of
• Liberia, Republic of
• Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Liechtenstein, Principality of
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of
• Macao, Special Administrative Region of China
• Madagascar, Republic of
• Malawi, Republic of
• Malaysia
• Maldives, Republic of
• Mali, Republic of
• Malta, Republic of
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritania, Islamic Republic of
• Mauritius
• Mexico, United Mexican States
• Micronesia, Federated States of
• Moldova, Republic of
• Monaco, Principality of
• Mongolia, Mongolian People’s Republic
• Montenegro
• Morocco, Kingdom of
• Mozambique, People’s Republic of
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Nauru, Republic of
• Nepal, Kingdom of
• Netherlands, Kingdom of the
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua, Republic of
• Niger, Republic of the
• Nigeria, Federal Republic of
• Norway, Kingdom of
• Oman, Sultanate of
• Pakistan, Islamic Republic of
• Palau
• Panama, Republic of
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay, Republic of
• Peru, Republic of
• Philippines, Republic of the
• Poland, Polish People’s Republic
• Portugal, Portuguese Republic
• Qatar, State of
• Romania, Socialist Republic of
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda, Rwandese Republic
• Samoa, Independent State of
• San Marino, Republic of
• Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of
• Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
• Senegal, Republic of
• Serbia and Montenegro
• Seychelles, Republic of
• Sierra Leone, Republic of
• Singapore, Republic of
• Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia, Somali Republic
• South Africa, Republic of
• Spain, Spanish State
• Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of
• Sudan, Democratic Republic of the
• Suriname, Republic of
• Sweden, Kingdom of
• Switzerland, Swiss Confederation
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Taiwan, Province of China
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania, United Republic of
• Thailand, Kingdom of
• Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of
• Togo, Togolese Republic
• Tonga, Kingdom of
• Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of
• Tunisia, Republic of
• Turkey, Republic of
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• Uganda, Republic of
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland
• Uruguay, Eastern Republic of
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
• Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of
• Yemen
• Zambia, Republic of
• Zimbabwe

California Travel Restrictions (2017)

In June 2017, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced travel restrictions to Alabama, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Texas due to discriminatory legislation enacted in those states. [3] These restrictions applied to state-funded and state-sponsored travel. The specific legislation cited included:

• Alabama (HB 24): Potentially prevented qualified LGBT parents from adopting or serving as foster parents.
• Kentucky (SB 17): Could have allowed discrimination against students based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
• South Dakota (SB 149): Potentially prevented qualified LGBT couples from adopting or serving as foster parents.

Supreme Court Case: Alabama v. California (2025)

On March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court denied a motion for abandon to file a bill of complaint in the case of Alabama v. California (Case No. 158, Orig.). [4] Justices Thomas and Alito dissented.