Area Code 21 – Rio de Janeiro
The phone area code for Rio de Janeiro is 21 (international format +5521). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 21
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Rio de Janeiro
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
The country calling code +55 is assigned to Brazil, and within the Brazilian national numbering plan, the area code 21 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) that serves the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. This includes not only the capital city of Rio de Janeiro but also a number of surrounding municipalities, such as Niterói, São Gonçalo, Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu, and Belford Roxo, among others. The area code is administered by the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) and is allocated to the state of Rio de Janeiro, specifically to the region known as the Greater Rio area.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
For local calls within the same area code (e.g., from a landline in Rio to another landline in Rio), the standard procedure is to dial only the eight-digit subscriber number. For example, to call a landline number 2345-6789, you would simply dial 2345-6789.
For national long-distance calls from other Brazilian area codes, you must dial the Brazilian trunk prefix 0, followed by the carrier selection code (usually 15, 21, or 23, depending on the operator), then the area code 21 and the subscriber number. For instance, from São Paulo (area code 11) to a Rio landline, you would dial: 0 + carrier code + 21 + 2345-6789. If using a specific carrier like Embratel (code 21), the number would be 0 21 21 2345-6789.
For international callers, the format is: +55 21 2345-6789 (or 0055 21 2345-6789 from countries using the international prefix 00). The plus sign (+) represents the international access code, and the leading zero of the trunk prefix is omitted.
Mobile and Overlay Considerations
It is important to note that area code 21 also serves mobile numbers in the region. Mobile numbers in Brazil have nine digits, starting with the digit '9', and are dialed with the area code even for local calls. For example, a mobile number in Rio would be dialed as 21 9 8765-4321 from any phone, including local landlines, because mobile numbers require the full national number. There is no overlay code for this region; 21 is the sole geographic code for the metropolitan area.
When calling from abroad, the same international format applies: +55 21 9 8765-4321. Understanding these dialing rules ensures seamless connectivity for both local and international callers.