Area Code 1141 – Addis Ababa

Geographic Overview

The +251 1141 prefix is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the central administrative zone of Addis Ababa, the capital and largest city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. This code is part of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation's (ETC) numbering plan, now managed by the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). The 1141 prefix specifically serves the Arada, Addis Ketema, and Lideta sub-cities, encompassing the city's historic core, government districts, and major commercial hubs. As a geographic code, it is tied to the physical PSTN infrastructure of Addis Ababa, although it may also be used by VoIP services that register a fixed-line presence in the area.

Dialing Formats

When calling a number with the 1141 prefix, the format depends on the caller's location:

• International format: +251 1141 XXX XXX (total 12 digits after the +). For example, +251 1141 234 567.
• Domestic long-distance format: 0 1141 XXX XXX (from within Ethiopia, outside Addis Ababa).
• Local format: 1141 XXX XXX (when dialing from within the same exchange area).

Note that the leading '0' is used for domestic calls and is dropped when dialing from abroad. The number length is fixed at 9 digits after the country code, including the NDC.

Caller Instructions

For international callers, always dial the full international prefix (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries) followed by 251, then 1141, and the subscriber number. For example, from the UK, you would dial 00 251 1141 234 567. Local callers within Addis Ababa can dial the 7-digit subscriber number directly, but it is recommended to include the area code for clarity. There are no overlay codes in Addis Ababa; the 1141 prefix is unique to this area, and the city is served by several other geographic codes (e.g., 111, 112, 113, 115, 116) for different districts.

Regulatory and Technical Notes

The Ethiopian numbering plan follows ITU-T E.164 recommendations. Geographic numbers are allocated to fixed-line operators, and since the liberalization of the telecom sector in 2019, new operators like Safaricom Ethiopia may offer fixed services, but the 1141 prefix remains under the incumbent Ethio Telecom's control. Number portability is not yet widely implemented, so the prefix generally indicates the physical location of the line. For VoIP users, the prefix may be used for inbound routing, but the service must be registered with the ECA. When calling from abroad, be aware of time zone differences (UTC+3) and potential network congestion during peak hours.