I'm curious about why certain small, uninhabited territories like Bouvet Island (with the code BV) or Heard Island and McDonald Islands (with the code HM) have their own country codes. It seems a bit pointless since no one lives there and there's no business activity. What's the reasoning behind this?
2 Answers
Even though places like Bouvet Island are deserted, there's still a need for data collection and reporting. For instance, these codes help keep track of wildlife refuges. The idea is to have separate codes for dependent territories to distinguish them from the countries that own them. Sometimes, nearby territories may even share a code if they are closely related.
It's worth noting that you think no one lives there, but there might be a couple of folks on those islands. These codes help keep everyone informed and organized, even if it's just a handful of people!
Or who knows? Someone might decide to settle there eventually!