Area Code 5 – Stann Creek District

Overview of Belize's +501 5 Geographic Area Code

The country calling code +501 is assigned to Belize under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. Within Belize, the national significant number (NSN) is seven digits long. The leading digit '5' serves as a geographic area code, specifically designating the Stann Creek District. This district is located on the central-eastern coast of Belize, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east. The primary administrative and commercial center is Dangriga, which is also the largest town in the district. Other notable communities within this area code include Hopkins, Seine Bight, and Placencia, the latter being a major tourist destination known for its peninsula and beaches.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The Stann Creek District is one of six districts in Belize. The area code '5' is allocated to the district's PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) infrastructure, covering both fixed-line services and, in some cases, fixed-wireless access points. The district is further subdivided into local exchange areas, but the seven-digit national number format does not require additional city codes for domestic dialing. All fixed-line numbers within the Stann Creek District share the prefix '5' as the first digit of the seven-digit subscriber number. For example, a typical fixed-line number in Dangriga might be formatted as +501 5XX XXXX, where '5' is the area code and the remaining six digits identify the specific line.

Dialing Procedures

International dialing from abroad: To call a fixed-line number in the Stann Creek District from outside Belize, you must dial the international access prefix (e.g., 011 from the US or Canada, 00 from most European countries), followed by Belize's country code 501, then the seven-digit national number starting with '5'. For instance, to call a number in Dangriga, you would dial: 011 501 5XX XXXX (replace X with the actual digits).

Domestic dialing within Belize: When calling from another district or from a mobile phone within Belize, you simply dial the seven-digit national number directly, without any trunk prefix. For example, to call a fixed line in Stann Creek from Belize City, you would dial: 5XX XXXX.

Local calls within the same area: Even for calls within the Stann Creek District, the full seven-digit number must be dialed. There are no separate local dialing codes; the area code is an integral part of the subscriber number.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T recommendations, Belize has not implemented any overlay area codes for geographic regions. The numbering plan is closed, with fixed seven-digit numbers. The '5' prefix is exclusively used for geographic numbers in Stann Creek. Mobile numbers in Belize begin with '6' (e.g., +501 6XX XXXX) and are non-geographic. It is important to note that number portability exists for mobile services, but fixed-line numbers are generally tied to the geographic location. For callers, it is essential to verify the complete seven-digit number, as omitting the leading '5' will result in a failed call.