This document discusses the importance of correspondence tables for standardizing statistical data collection and presentation between countries. It outlines the stages for developing a correspondence table, including having subject matter experts and a technical working group contribute to drafting the table. The table should include all major statistical domains and assign codes from one classification system to the most detailed appropriate groups in the other classification system. An example correspondence table for different rice varieties is provided.

1. CountrySTAT Regional Training
Malawi experience on
Correspondence
Lusaka 12-16 November 2012

2. Outline
• Introduction
• Importance of the Correspondence Table
• Stages in developing the Correspondence
table

3. Introduction
• A correspondence table is a statistical
classification having a set of discrete
categories which may be assigned to a specific
variable used in the production and
presentation of statistics.
• Correspondence tables are important tools
for comparing statistical data collected and
presented among different countries

4. Why have a comprehensive CT
• Standardize national and international
communication
• To make comparisons between national
circumstances and circumstances of other
countries
• Use it for collection of information and
presentation of collected information

5. Stages in developing the
Correspondence table
• Let the Secretariat develop a draft CT for
discussion with TWG as one of the agenda
items
• The CT should include all major domains
• Let substantive experts who are producers of
statistics contribute to the process

6. Stages in developing the
Correspondence table cont…
• The common rule should be ‘give to the most
detailed groups of one classification the code
of the most detailed appropriate group in the
other.’
i.e the groups of one classification can be
aggregated to the most of the relevant
aggregate groups of the other

7. Example…Rice
FCL Item
Code
FAOSTAT
Nomenclature
Local
code
local nomenclature
27 Rice, paddy 002701 Kilombera Rice
27 Rice, paddy 002702 Faya Rice
27 Rice, paddy 002703 Bluebonnet Rice
27 Rice, paddy 002704 Mixture, Rice
27 Rice, paddy 002705 Other Local Rice

8. ZIKOMO
KWAMBIRI