Understanding Phone Number Structures by Region

[muskanhossain]

While the E.164 standard exists globally, each country tailors its national format according to its own needs and history. Here’s how different regions handle phone number formats:

a) North America (NANP - North American Numbering Plan)
Countries under NANP include the United States, Canada, parts of the Caribbean, and a few others. All NANP numbers follow the +1 NXX-NXX-XXXX format.

Example: +1 416 555 7890 (Toronto, Canada)

Components:

1 → Country Code

416 → Area Code

5557890 → Local Number

NANP numbers always malta phone number data 10 digits (excluding the +1 prefix).

b) Europe
European countries generally use variable-length area and subscriber codes.

United Kingdom (UK): +44 20 7946 1234

+44 → Country Code

20 → Area Code (London)

7946 1234 → Subscriber Number

Germany: +49 30 12345678

+49 → Country Code

30 → Area Code (Berlin)

12345678 → Subscriber Number

Note: In domestic calls, countries often add a trunk prefix, such as 0 in the UK and Germany, which is omitted in international dialing.

c) Asia
Asia presents diverse numbering systems due to vast differences in geography and development.

Japan: +81 3 1234 5678 (Tokyo)

+81 → Country Code

3 → Area Code

1234 5678 → Subscriber Number

India: +91 22 12345678 (Mumbai)

+91 → Country Code

22 → Area Code

12345678 → Subscriber Number

Some countries like China have very long numbers due to population size.

China: +86 10 1234 5678 (Beijing)

d) Africa
Many African countries use 8 to 9-digit numbering schemes.

Nigeria: +234 1 123 4567 (Lagos)

South Africa: +27 11 123 4567 (Johannesburg)

Mobile phones often have unique prefixes (e.g., in Nigeria: +234 803 XXX XXXX).

e) Latin America
Latin America generally uses a combination of fixed-line and mobile number prefixes.

Brazil: +55 11 91234 5678 (São Paulo, mobile)

Mexico: +52 55 1234 5678 (Mexico City)

Mobile numbers often start with different digits than landlines, and calling formats differ between local and international calls.

f) Oceania
Australia: +61 2 9876 5432 (New South Wales)

New Zealand: +64 3 456 7890 (South Island)

Trunk prefixes (0) are used domestically and dropped when dialing internationally.