An archived page should be used as a historical reference for a country or region name or code, not as a substitute for a current check. UN M49 says historical data published in current publications are normally shown with the nomenclature and code in effect during the reference period. Its online list is continually updated, so historical interpretation and current comparison should be kept separate.
What the archived page can establish
An archived page can help answer a narrow question: what nomenclature and code was associated with the place during the relevant reference period? It is useful for decoding an older record and retaining the terminology used at that time. The M49 statement concerns the presentation of historical data; it does not make the archived page a current statement of nomenclature, codes, or entry requirements.
How to check it
- Identify the reference period and the archived version being examined.
- Record the exact country or region name and code shown, without silently replacing them with current terminology.
- Compare that entry with the current online M49 list. The UN Statistics Division says updates are published continuously through the website, so the current list is the place to check for present nomenclature and codes.
- If the archived and current entries differ, check the dates and context before deciding which one fits the record.
What the reader must still confirm
If “entry information” means a country or region name or code in a record, the archive can support historical interpretation. If it means a visa, admission, passport, or other requirement for entering a country, the cited M49 material does not provide the answer. Those requirements must be checked in current official information for the relevant jurisdiction, together with the applicable date. No specific entry rule or outcome should be inferred from the M49 archive alone.