Area Code 261 – Sevan, Gegharkunik

Overview of Area Code +374 261

Area code 261 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Armenian numbering plan, assigned to the city of Sevan and the surrounding Gegharkunik Province (Gegharkunik marz). This region is located in the eastern part of Armenia, bordering Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the world. The administrative center of the province is Gavar, but the 261 code specifically serves Sevan and nearby communities, including the Sevan Peninsula and the northern shore of the lake.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

The 261 area code covers Sevan, a popular resort town, and its adjacent rural settlements. As a geographic code, it is tied to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) infrastructure in that specific area. Calls to this code are routed based on the physical location of the landline or fixed-line service. The code falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Gegharkunik Province, which is further divided into several municipalities. Key towns within the 261 area include Sevan, Tsovagyugh, and Lchashen, among others.

Dialing Formats

Understanding the correct dialing format is essential for both domestic and international callers.

• Domestic Calls (within Armenia): When calling a number in the 261 area from another Armenian city, you must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code and the subscriber number. For example, to call a landline in Sevan from Yerevan, dial: 0 261 XX XX XX (where X represents the 6-digit subscriber number).
• International Calls (from outside Armenia): Callers from abroad should dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries, or + from mobile phones), followed by the Armenian country code +374, then the area code 261 without the leading 0, and the subscriber number. Example: +374 261 XX XX XX.
• Local Calls (within the 261 area): For calls between landlines within the same area code, local dialing may be possible without the area code, but it is recommended to always use the full national format to avoid confusion, especially with mobile numbers.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 guidelines, Armenia has not implemented overlay codes for geographic areas. The 261 code is unique to the Sevan region. However, with the growth of VoIP and mobile services, some numbers may be ported, but the geographic significance remains for fixed-line routing. Callers should note that the subscriber number length for geographic codes in Armenia is typically 6 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) 8 digits (including the area code).

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Armenia, always include the trunk prefix 0 when dialing from a different area. For international callers, remember to drop the leading 0 and use +374. If you experience issues, ensure you have the correct number of digits and that you are using the appropriate international prefix for your country.