Geographical coverage

Characterisation of the statistical units according to geographical criteria.

The geographical coverage specifies the relation of the statistical observation to a kind of area like macro regions, countries, sub-regions, localities, and/or types of cities covered.

This concept is usually reference metadata, therefore modelled as an attribute in a DSD, or an MSD concept.

Here is an example showing geographical coverage and reference area usage from Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC):

Geographical coverage (MSD concept): May exclude small parts of the national territory amounting to no more than 2% of the national population and the national territories.

Reference area (DSD Dimension): FR – France.

Another example from the 2014 household survey of Argentina:

Geographical coverage (DSD attribute): Main cities or metropolitan areas.

Reference area (DSD Dimension): AR – Argentina.

SDMX, "SDMX Glossary Version 2.0", August 2018