Area Code 1162 – Addis Ababa

Overview of Area Code 1162 (Addis Ababa)

Area code 1162 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 national numbering plan administered by the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) under the framework of ITU-T E.164. It serves fixed-line PSTN subscribers within the city's core districts, including Arada, Lideta, Kirkos, and surrounding neighborhoods. The code is used for both local and international dialing, and it is not associated with mobile services, which use separate non-geographic prefixes.

Dialing Formats and Usage

When calling a landline in Addis Ababa with the prefix 1162, the complete national significant number (NSN) is typically 9 digits long, including the leading '0' for domestic calls. The international format omits the leading '0' and uses Ethiopia's country code +251. For example, a local number might be 011 62X XXXX in national format (where X represents digits), and +251 11 62X XXXX in international format. Note that the '0' trunk prefix is only used within Ethiopia; callers from abroad must replace it with +251.

To call a number in Addis Ababa from within Ethiopia, dial 011 62X XXXX. From outside Ethiopia, dial your international access code (e.g., 00 from most countries), then 251 11 62X XXXX. The area code 1162 is sometimes written as 11 62, where '11' is the geographic area code for Addis Ababa and '62' is the central office code. However, in the national numbering plan, the full NDC is 1162, and the subscriber number follows immediately.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Significance

Addis Ababa is not only the political capital but also the diplomatic hub of Africa, hosting the African Union and numerous international organizations. Consequently, numbers under 1162 are often associated with government ministries, embassies, corporate headquarters, and financial institutions. The code is geographically fixed, meaning that the physical location of the line determines the prefix. As of the latest ECA guidelines, there are no overlay codes for Addis Ababa; the 1162 prefix remains dedicated to the central zone, while other parts of the city may use different central office codes such as 1161, 1163, etc.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Ethiopia): Dial the full national number including the trunk prefix '0' – e.g., 011 62X XXXX.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code, then +251 11 62X XXXX – e.g., from the US/Canada, dial 011 251 11 62X XXXX.
• Mobile callers within Ethiopia: Same as local callers – dial the national number. No additional prefix is required.

When providing a number to an international contact, always use the +251 format to ensure proper routing through the global PSTN. Avoid omitting the area code, as it is mandatory for all calls to fixed lines in Addis Ababa.