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Statistical area level 2 (SA2) code N(9) (Draft)

This item has been released for pre-publication purposes. Content may not be in a final approved state.

Definition

A code set representing a medium-sized area built from whole Statistical areas level 1 (SA1s). The aim of Statistical areas level 2 (SA2s) is to represent a community that interacts together socially and economically. Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s) are medium-sized general purpose areas built to represent communities that interact together socially and economically. Most SA2s have a population range of 3,000 to 25,000 people.

Conceptual Domain

Geospatial
Statuses: [NSW Education Statistical Standards Committee: Candidate, Nov. 2, 2023] [FACSIAR Data Governance Committee: Qualified, March 2, 2023]
Geospatial information is data specific to objects or phenomena that are directly or indirectly associated with a location relative to...

Representation

Description

SA3s are identified by 5-digit hierarchical codes. This comprises a 1-digit State or Territory identifier followed by a 2-digit SA4 identifier, unique within each State and Territory, and a 2-digit SA3 identifier, unique within each SA4.
Data Type NUMBERSTRING
Format N(9)
Maximum character length 9

Comments

    
There are 2,310 SA2 regions covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. These include 18 non-spatial SA2 special purpose codes, comprising Migratory–Offshore–Shipping and No Usual Address codes for each State and Territory.

The Other Territories of Jervis Bay, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island are each represented by a SA2 in the 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard.

SA2 coding structure:

An SA2 is identifiable by a 9-digit fully hierarchical code. The SA2 identifier is a 4-digit code, assigned in alphabetical order within a Statistical area level 3 (SA3). An SA2 code is only unique within a state/territory if it is preceded by the state/territory identifier.

A 9-digit SA2 code is fully hierarchical, and comprises: S/T identifier, SA4 identifier, SA3 identifier, SA2 identifier.

For example:

State/territory SA4 SA3 SA2
N NN NN NNNN

Origin

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas July 2016. ABS cat. no. 1270.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.

Related content

Relation Count
Data Elements implementing this Value Domain 6