Area Code 255 – Spitak, Lori

Overview of Area Code +374 255

Area code 255 is a geographic destination code within the Armenian national numbering plan, assigned to the city of Spitak and its surrounding administrative district in the Lori Province (Lori Marz). Spitak, located in the northwestern part of Armenia, is historically significant as the epicenter of the devastating 1988 earthquake and has since been rebuilt. The code serves fixed-line PSTN subscribers within the Spitak urban area and nearby rural communities that fall under the same local exchange area.

Dialing Formats

When calling a Spitak landline from abroad, the international format is +374 255 XXXXX, where +374 is Armenia's country calling code, 255 is the national destination code (NDC), and XXXXX represents the local subscriber number, which is typically 5 digits long. For example, a complete international number might appear as +374 255 12345.

Domestic callers within Armenia must dial 0 255 XXXXX when calling from a different fixed-line zone or from a mobile phone. The leading 0 is the trunk prefix used to access the national long-distance network. In contrast, local calls within the Spitak area can often be made by dialing only the 5-digit subscriber number, depending on the operator's local dialing rules.

Geographic and Administrative Context

Spitak is the administrative center of the Spitak District and lies approximately 100 kilometers north of the capital, Yerevan. The Lori Province is known for its mountainous terrain and includes other major towns such as Vanadzor and Stepanavan, each with their own distinct area codes. The 255 code is exclusively assigned to the Spitak exchange and does not cover neighboring towns; callers must use the correct code for each destination.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 national numbering plan updates, Armenia has not implemented overlay codes for Spitak; the 255 code remains the sole geographic code for this area. The number length is fixed at 8 digits (including the NDC) for domestic dialing when the trunk prefix is included. International callers should always replace the leading 0 with +374 when dialing from abroad.

Caller Instructions

• From abroad: Dial your country's international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +), then 374 255, followed by the 5-digit local number.
• From other Armenian regions: Dial 0 255 followed by the 5-digit subscriber number.
• Local calls within Spitak: If supported, dial only the 5-digit number; otherwise use the full domestic format.

For VoIP or mobile users, ensure that the number is entered in international format to avoid routing errors. Always verify the current dialing rules with your service provider, as local practices may vary.