Area Code 5 – Reykjavík

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The Icelandic area code 5 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital region of Reykjavík and its immediate surroundings. This area encompasses the core urban districts of Reykjavík, as well as adjacent municipalities such as Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, and Mosfellsbær, which together form the Greater Reykjavík Area. The prefix is administered by the Post- and Telecom Administration of Iceland (PFS) and is allocated to fixed-line PSTN services within this jurisdiction.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

Within Iceland, calls to numbers in the Reykjavík area code 5 are placed using the national format: 5XX XXXX (seven digits total). For example, a local call to a Reykjavík number would be dialed as 512 3456. When calling from abroad, the international format must be used: +354 5XX XXXX. Thus, an international caller would dial +354 512 3456. The leading '0' is not used in Icelandic numbering; the country code +354 is dialed directly after the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +).

Numbering Structure and Overlay Considerations

Icelandic fixed-line numbers are seven digits long, with the first digit (the NDC) indicating the geographic region. The Reykjavík area code 5 is one of several geographic codes used in Iceland; other regions use different initial digits (e.g., 4 for the Westfjords, 6 for the North, etc.). There are no overlay codes in Iceland; each geographic region retains a unique initial digit. This simplifies dialing: no area code changes are required, and the full seven-digit number is always dialed nationally.

Technical and Regulatory Notes

All Icelandic fixed-line numbers, including those in the Reykjavík 5 range, are subject to number portability. This means that a subscriber may retain their number when switching service providers, but the geographic significance of the prefix may become less precise if a number is ported to a non-geographic service. However, in practice, the 5 prefix remains strongly associated with the capital area. For VoIP services, the same numbering rules apply, and calls to 5-prefixed numbers are routed via the PSTN. Emergency services (112) and other short codes are not affected by geographic prefixes.

Practical Examples for Callers

• Local call (within Iceland): Dial 5XX XXXX (e.g., 512 3456).
• International call to Reykjavík: Dial your country's exit code, then 354, then 5XX XXXX (e.g., +354 512 3456).
• International call from Iceland: Dial 00 or +, then the destination country code and number.