An orthogonal transform such as a DCT is carried out for image data D5 of an image in blocks obtained by dividing a frame image, the image data D5 being represented by spatial coordinates (Step S102), and a plurality of orthogonal transform coefficients D6 as image data represented by spatial frequencies are generated. Then, the orthogonal transform coefficients D6 undergo arithmetic coding, and thus coded data D7 is generated (S103). Subsequently, in the arithmetic coding of the orthogonal transform coefficients, data characteristics of the orthogonal transform coefficients to be coded, which depend on the spatial frequencies, are considered, and a probability table is switched for a predetermined orthogonal transform coefficient, and thus the arithmetic coding is carried out. Thus, the image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, program, computer data signal, and image transmission system, which are capable of enhancing efficiency of data compression in coded data by reflecting characteristics of image data to be coded on coding conditions, are realized.