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ISO 639-2 Language Coding Agency - Library of  Congress
The Library of Congress has been designated the Language Coding Agency (LCA) for Set 2 of the ISO 639 language standard under ISO639/MA-ToR, the Terms of Reference for the ISO 639 Maintenance Agency. The Library of Congress processes requests for three-letter language codes comprising Set 2 of the International Standard, ISO 639:2023: Code for individual languages and language groups. The ISO 639-2/LCA receives and reviews applications for requesting new language codes and for the change of existing ones according to criteria indicated in the standard. It maintains an accurate list of information associated with registered language codes, processes updates of registered language codes, and distributes them on a regular basis to subscribers and other parties.

This is the official site of the ISO 639-2 Language Coding Agency and thus is the only one authorized by ISO. If you have questions concerning the language codes in Set 2 of ISO 639:2023, please contact us at:

Library of Congress
Network Development and MARC Standards Office
Washington, DC 20540-4402
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +1 202 707 6237
FAX: +1 202 707 0115

ISO 639-2 Code List

ISO 639-2 Change Notice

ISO 639 Change Request Form

Criteria for requesting new language codes

ISO 639 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Development of ISO 639-2


ISO 639 Home External Link - ISO 639-1 Language Coding Agency Home External Link
ISO 639-3 Language Coding Agency Home External Link - ISO 639-5 Language Coding Agency Home

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July 18, 2024