INSEE - Codes and Numbering System

Codes and Numbering System

INSEE gives numerical indexing codes (French: les Codes INSEE) to various entities in France:

• INSEE codes (known as COG) are given to various administrative units, notably the French communes (they do not coincide with postcodes). The 'complete' code has 8 digits and 3 spaces within, but there is a popular 'simplified' code with 5 digits and no space within:
  • 2 digits (département) and 3 digits (commune) for the 96 départements of Metropolitan France.
  • 3 digits (département or collectivity) and 2 digits (commune) for the Overseas departments, Overseas Territorial Collectivities and Overseas Countries and Territories. See also: fr:Code INSEE#Code communal.

• INSEE numbers (13 digits + a two-digit key) are national identification numbers given to people. The format is as follows: syymmlllllooo kk, where
  • s is 1 for a male, 2 for a female for a permanent number; it is 7 for a male, 8 for a female for a temporary number,
  • yy are the last two digits of the year of birth,
  • mm is the month of birth or a number above 20 if the birthdate is unknown
  • lllll is the COG for the location of birth,
  • ooo is an order number to distinguish people being born at the same place in the same year and month.
  • 'kk' is the "control key", equal to 97-(the rest of the number modulo 97).
    There are exceptions for people in particular situations.
• SIREN codes are given to businesses and nonprofit associations, SIRET codes to their establishments and facilities.