Area Code 1116 – Addis Ababa

Overview of +251 1116

The country calling code +251 is assigned to Ethiopia under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. The national significant number (NSN) for geographic numbers typically consists of nine digits, structured as a two-digit national destination code (NDC) followed by a seven-digit subscriber number. The prefix 1116 is part of the NDC 11, which designates the capital city, Addis Ababa, and its surrounding administrative area. Specifically, numbers beginning with +251 1116 are allocated to fixed-line services within Addis Ababa, the political and economic hub of Ethiopia.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

Addis Ababa is a chartered city and serves as the seat of the African Union and numerous international organizations. The geographic area covered by the 1116 prefix encompasses central and southern districts of the city, including neighborhoods such as Bole, Kirkos, and Yeka, where many government offices, embassies, and corporate headquarters are located. The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (Ethio Telecom) is the primary fixed-line operator, and it manages the allocation of these numbers. While the prefix is tied to a specific physical exchange, modern fixed-line services may also support VoIP-based connectivity, but the number remains geographically associated for routing and emergency services.

Dialing Formats

For local callers within Ethiopia, the number is dialed as 011 116 XXXX, where the leading '0' is the trunk prefix and '11' is the NDC. The subscriber number is seven digits, and the first three digits after the NDC are '116'. For example, a local number might be 011 116 1234. When dialing from abroad, callers must use the international format: +251 11 116 XXXX or 011 251 11 116 XXXX from countries using the international dialing prefix '011' (e.g., North America). It is important to omit the leading '0' of the Ethiopian trunk prefix when dialing internationally.

Caller Instructions

For international callers, ensure you have the correct country code (+251) and then dial the NDC without the leading zero. For example, to call a number in Addis Ababa with the prefix 1116, you would dial +251 11 116 XXXX. Local callers should always include the trunk prefix '0' when dialing from a mobile phone or from another region within Ethiopia. If you are dialing from a landline within Addis Ababa, local seven-digit dialing may be possible, but it is safer to use the full national format. No overlay codes are currently in effect for Addis Ababa, so the NDC 11 remains unique for the capital region.