Area Code 262 – Praia, Santiago

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Significance

The area code 262 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital city of Praia, located on the island of Santiago in Cape Verde. Santiago is the largest and most populous island of the archipelago, serving as the political, economic, and cultural hub of the nation. Praia, the capital, hosts the country's main government institutions, international embassies, and major commercial centers. The code 262 covers the entire urban and suburban expanse of Praia, including neighborhoods such as Achada de Santo António, Plateau, and Palmarejo, as well as the surrounding areas that form the Greater Praia metropolitan region.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

When calling a fixed-line number in Praia from abroad, the international format is +238 262 XXX XXX, where +238 is the country calling code for Cape Verde, 262 is the area code, and the subscriber number consists of seven digits. For example, a typical number would be dialed as +238 262 123 456.

For domestic callers within Cape Verde, the trunk prefix '0' is not used; instead, callers simply dial 262 XXX XXX when calling from another island or region. Local calls within Praia may be dialed using only the seven-digit subscriber number, depending on the local network configuration, but it is always safe to include the area code to avoid misrouting.

Foreign callers should note that Cape Verde uses a closed numbering plan, meaning the national significant number (NSN) is always 7 digits after the country code. The area code 262 is an integral part of the NSN and must always be dialed, even for local calls, unless the network operator explicitly supports abbreviated dialing for local calls.

Overlay and Numbering Plan Considerations

Cape Verde's numbering plan is managed by the National Communications Agency (ANAC). The 262 code is exclusively assigned to geographic fixed-line services in Praia. There is no overlay code for this area; the code is unique to the capital region. However, due to the increasing demand for telecommunication services, ANAC has implemented number portability, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when changing operators, but the geographic significance of the code remains tied to the original location.

For businesses and residents in Praia, the 262 code is a mark of local presence. It is essential for international callers to use the correct country code and area code to ensure proper routing. Misdialing the area code can result in calls being routed to other islands or failing entirely.