iso-639
Python library for ISO 639 standard
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. The package is dormant (last release 2016-04-29), its embedded ISO data is from 2015, and it declares support only for Python versions 2.6–3.5, all of which are out of support. The AGPLv3 license is also a significant constraint for proprietary projects. Use a maintained alternative instead unless you are locked into a legacy codebase that specifically depends on this package's API.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- High install friction: the package has not been updated since 2016-04-29 and is marked dormant.
- Classifiers list Python 2.6 through 3.5, which are long out of support.
License · maintenance · safety
AGPLv3 (agpl) — Licensed under AGPLv3, which requires that any modifications or derivative works be released under the same license and that source code be made available to users. This is a strong copyleft obligation unsuitable for proprietary or closed-source projects.
last release 2016-04-29 (3759 days) · last repo commit 2024-09-02 · 35 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 78,992 downloads/mo, #14,387 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from iso639 import languages
aragonese = languages.get(part1='an')
print(aragonese.name) # 'Aragonese'
print(aragonese.part3) # 'arg'- Whether the embedded ISO 639 data (dated 2015-05-05 for parts 2 and 3) is current enough for your use case.
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.5 despite the dormant maintenance status.
- Whether the 7981 languages in the dataset includes all codes you need.
What it is and what it does
iso-639 is a static language-code database library that wraps ISO 639 standard language codes into a queryable Python object. It contains no runtime dependencies and loads embedded data covering ISO 639-1, 639-2, 639-3, and 639-5. You query it by language code or name to retrieve the corresponding record with all available code representations.
The library was designed as a drop-in replacement for pycountry.languages v1.11, offering compatibility aliases (alpha2 → part1, bibliographic → part2b, terminology → part2t) alongside its native partX attribute names. It includes handling for retired language codes and macrolanguage mappings. However, the project has not been updated since 2016-04-29, and the embedded ISO data is from 2015, making it unsuitable for applications requiring current language standards or modern Python support.
Use it for
- Convert between ISO 639 language code formats (e.g., 'an' to 'arg') in a legacy codebase.
- Look up the standard name of a language given its ISO 639-1 or 639-3 code in a multilingual application.
- Migrate from pycountry.languages v1.11 without rewriting language-lookup code.
- Build a static language selector in an application that does not require real-time ISO updates.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
The package is dormant (last release 2016-04-29), its embedded ISO data is from 2015, and it declares support only for Python versions 2.6–3.5, all of which are out of support. The AGPLv3 license is also a significant constraint for proprietary projects. Use a maintained alternative instead unless you are locked into a legacy codebase that specifically depends on this package's API.
Install
iso-639 on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction: the package has not been updated since 2016-04-29 and is marked dormant. Classifiers list Python 2.6 through 3.5, which are long out of support.
License in practice
Licensed under AGPLv3, which requires that any modifications or derivative works be released under the same license and that source code be made available to users. This is a strong copyleft obligation unsuitable for proprietary or closed-source projects.
Quickstart
from iso639 import languages
aragonese = languages.get(part1='an')
print(aragonese.name) # 'Aragonese'
print(aragonese.part3) # 'arg'Verify before relying
- Whether the embedded ISO 639 data (dated 2015-05-05 for parts 2 and 3) is current enough for your use case.
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.5 despite the dormant maintenance status.
- Whether the 7981 languages in the dataset includes all codes you need.
Package facts
| License | AGPLv3 agpl |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 3,759 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 78,992 / month, #14,387 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU Affero General Public License v3Operating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Text Processing :: Linguistic |
Evidence: iso-639-0.4.5.tar.gz
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See also iso639-lang · python-iso639 · stopwordsiso · pycountry · isocodes · iso3166 · babelfish · langcodes · countryinfo · country_list