List of Hreflang Country and Language Codes & Frequent Errors

I have put together a list of codes (values) which you can use for creating Hreflang header attributes for your multi-lingual or multi-regional website.

Select Language or Country Codes in the tabs below

• Hreflang Language Codes
• Hreflang Country Codes

Language Codes

Country Codes

Special Cases

Europe

Europe or EU is not a country, so it’s not in the list of countries. You can either target European users using language targeting only (e.g. English/EN) or target individual countries in Europe (e.g. en-GB). There should be, however, one website version per targeting.

UK / Great Britain

Country code for the UK is not “UK” as it stands for Ukrainian. Correct country code for the UK is “GB”.

ES-ES

This language-country code targets Spanish speaking users in Spain. If you want to target Spanish speakers worldwide, just use the language code “es” solely.

AR-AR

This targets Arabic speakers in Argentina. If you want to target Arabic speakers worldwide, just use the sole language code “ar”. If you target Arabic speakers in Saudi Arabia, you need to use this code: “ar-SA”.

Hreflang Header Code Generator

Here’s how to use the Hreflang Generator tool:

1. Go to this URL address of the file – DO NOT REQUEST EDIT ACCESS! (Sorry, but there are still a lot of people who simply don’t get it)
2. File > Make a Copy
3. Save to your Drive and here you go.

Frequent Errors

1. Putting Country code before Language code – should be other way round
2. Using a dash (–) instead of a hyphen (-)
3. Using wrong quotation marks (“ ”) instead of (” “)
4. Using a relative URL e.g. /usa/ instead of showing a full URL
5. Using country code only: language code is mandatory, country code is optional
6. Missing self-referencing Hreflang: there should be one Hreflang tag pointing to the page you’re on
7. Multiple Hreflang tags for a single page
8. Hreflang and Canonical tags in conflict: Hreflang and Canonicals are not supposed to be combined

Hreflang Q&A

Are Hreflang values case sensitive?

Capitalization (lowercase vs. uppercase) does not matter, however it is recommended by ISO 3166 convention that language codes are lowercase and country codes are uppercase.

Do I need to implement Hreflang attributes site-wide?

Yes. For each equivalent page including the source page, there should be an Hreflang tag implemented. You can also use a Hreflang sitemap if there are too many versions.

Does it matter which order the attributes are in?

No.

What is Hreflang and why is it important?

Hreflang is an HTML attribute used to specify the language and geographical targeting of a webpage. It’s essential for multilingual websites to guide search engines to serve the correct language or regional URL in search results.

How does Hreflang work for only one language?

If a website is targeted at speakers of a specific language, the Hreflang attribute can be used to specify that language. It informs search engines about the language, helping them serve the content to the right audience.

What can cause Hreflang conflicts within the page source code?

Hreflang conflicts can arise from incorrect implementation, such as having multiple entries for the same language or region, missing self-referencing tags, or using incorrect language codes.

How is Hreflang used in HTML+?

Hreflang in HTML+ is utilized similarly to standard HTML. It helps define the language and region for a specific page, guiding search engines to serve the appropriate version of the content.

Which is the Hreflang tag for English in Australia?

The Hreflang tag for English in Australia is “en-AU.” It directs search engines to serve that specific version of the page to users seeking English content in Australia.

How is Hreflang used in Canada?

In Canada, Hreflang can be implemented using either “en-CA” for English or “fr-CA” for French, reflecting the country’s two official languages.

What does the ‘Document has a valid Hreflang’ error mean?

This error message means that the Hreflang tags are correctly implemented on the page. It’s an indication that the specified language and regional targeting are set up correctly.

What’s the difference between HTML lang and Hreflang?

While both are used to specify language, the “lang” attribute defines the language of content on a specific page, while Hreflang helps search engines understand the language and regional targeting of a webpage.

What country does the ‘es’ language code refer to?

The “es” language code refers to Spanish. It’s not tied to a specific country but denotes content written in Spanish.

How can I find all country codes?

You can find a comprehensive list of country codes on websites that maintain and publish the ISO 3166 international standard.

How to fix the ‘no self-referencing Hreflang’ issue?

Fixing the ‘no self-referencing Hreflang’ issue involves adding a self-referencing Hreflang tag to each page. This tag informs search engines that the page is also targeted at the same language and region as specified.

What is the country code for Wales?

Wales doesn’t have a separate country code as it is part of the United Kingdom. The country code for the United Kingdom, including Wales, is “GB.”

How can I fix Hreflang tags with errors?

Fixing Hreflang errors involves identifying the issues, such as incorrect language codes or missing self-referencing tags, and correcting them. Various online tools can help identify and resolve these errors.