Source ID: external_un_m49
Title: Standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49)
URL: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/
Observed date: 2026-10-30
Read depth: Methodology introduction, country-or-area table structure and geographic status disclaimer
Locator: Methodology introduction; country or area/M49/ISO-alpha3 table
Evidence type: authored paraphrase of inspected source, not a source snapshot

Supported claim: M49 presents country-or-area identifiers and statistical groupings. The UN explicitly separates its designations from any position on legal status, sovereignty or boundary delimitation.

Limit: Country coding is not a legal opinion and supplies no exchange eligibility. A policy referring to a territory or subnational area must preserve that narrower scope.
