Area Code 31 – Khums
The phone area code for Khums is 31 (international format +21831). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Khums
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
The Libyan area code +218 31 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Al Khums (also spelled Khoms or Al-Khums) and its surrounding administrative district. Al Khums is the capital of the Al Murgub District, located on the Mediterranean coast approximately 120 kilometers east of Tripoli. The code serves the city center, its suburbs, and nearby towns such as Zliten and Masallatah, which fall within the same local calling area.
Dialing Formats and Instructions
When calling a fixed-line number in Al Khums from within Libya, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 31 and the subscriber's 6-digit local number. For example, a local number such as 456789 would be dialed as 031 456789 from other parts of Libya. From abroad, callers should use the international format: the Libyan country code +218, followed by the area code 31 (without the leading zero) and the 6-digit number. Thus, the same number would be dialed as +218 31 456789.
Numbering Structure and Overlays
Libyan fixed-line numbers using the +218 31 prefix consist of a total of 9 digits when dialed internationally (including the country code but excluding the international access prefix). The national significant number (NSN) is 8 digits, comprising the 2-digit area code and a 6-digit subscriber number. As of the latest ITU-T E.164 national numbering plan, no overlay codes have been introduced for Al Khums, meaning the 31 prefix remains unique to this geographic region. However, subscribers should be aware that number portability may allow a number with this prefix to be routed to a different operator or even a different technology, though the geographic association remains nominal.
Caller Guidance
For local callers within Al Khums, it is possible to dial the 6-digit subscriber number directly without the area code, depending on the operator's local dialing rules. However, to avoid confusion, it is recommended to always use the full national format. For international callers, it is essential to replace the leading zero of the trunk prefix with the country code +218. Ensure you have the correct international exit code (e.g., 00 from most countries) before dialing +218 31. Calls to this geographic code are typically charged at standard international rates, which vary by carrier. For VoIP users, the same international format applies, and the call will be terminated on the Libyan PSTN.