Area Code 551 – Sirt
The phone area code for Sirt is 551 (international format +218551). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Sirt
The +218 551 country and area code combination corresponds to the geographic region of Sirt (also spelled Sirte), located in the northern central part of Libya along the Mediterranean coast. This code is part of the Libyan national numbering plan, which adheres to ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The prefix 551 is a National Destination Code (NDC) that routes calls to the Sirt area, including the city itself and its surrounding districts.
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
Sirt serves as the capital of the Sirte District, one of Libya's administrative divisions. The area code covers the city of Sirt and its immediate environs, including key residential, commercial, and governmental zones. As a geographic code, it is tied to the physical PSTN infrastructure, although calls may also terminate on VoIP gateways or mobile networks that have adopted local number ranges.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
For international callers, the complete number format is: +218 551 XXX XXX (where X represents the subscriber's local number). When dialing from abroad, you must replace the leading zero (if present) with the country code +218. For example, a local number written as 0551 123 456 would be dialed as +218 551 123 456 from outside Libya.
Within Libya, callers dial the full national number, typically including the trunk prefix 0: 0551 XXX XXX. This applies to both fixed-line and mobile calls. If you are calling from a mobile phone within Libya, you may also need to include the area code, as per the national dialing plan.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
As of the latest available data, there is no overlay code for Sirt; the 551 code is used exclusively for this region. However, due to network expansions, some numbers may be assigned to mobile operators or VoIP providers, but the geographic association remains for routing purposes. It is always advisable to confirm the correct number with the recipient, especially when calling from abroad.
Practical Tips for Callers
- When saving a Sirt number in your phone, use the international format: +218 551 XXX XXX.
- Be mindful of time zones: Libya is in the Eastern European Time zone (UTC+2) and does not observe daylight saving time.
- If you experience issues with international calls, check with your carrier for any restrictions on calls to Libya.