Area Code 61 – Benghazi

Overview of Libya Area Code +218 61

The country calling code +218 is assigned to Libya under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) E.164 numbering plan. Within this national framework, the area code 61 is a Geographic National Destination Code (NDC) that routes calls to the Benghazi metropolitan area, the second-largest city in Libya and the administrative center of the Benghazi District (Shabiyah Benghazi). This code covers the city proper and its surrounding suburbs, including major districts such as Al-Sabri, Sidi Khalifa, and Garyounis. As a geographic code, it is used exclusively for fixed-line PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) services, including traditional copper lines and, in some cases, fixed wireless or VoIP services that are registered to a physical address within the Benghazi area.

Dialing Formats and Usage

For callers within Libya, the national trunk prefix is 0. To call a Benghazi fixed-line number from another Libyan city, you must dial 061 followed by the local subscriber number. The local subscriber numbers in Benghazi typically consist of 6 to 7 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) length 9 or 10 digits (including the leading 0). For example, a local number might be formatted as 061-1234567.

For international callers, the leading zero is omitted. The correct international format is +218 61 followed by the local subscriber number. For instance, if the local number is 1234567, you would dial +218 61 1234567 from any country outside Libya. This format is essential for proper routing through international gateways.

Caller Instructions and Overlay Considerations

When calling from abroad, always replace the national trunk prefix (0) with the international access code of your country (e.g., 00 or +) followed by Libya's country code 218. For example, from the United States, you would dial 011 218 61 1234567; from the United Kingdom, 00 218 61 1234567.

Currently, there are no overlay codes in Benghazi; the 61 area code is the sole geographic code for the region. However, due to network expansions, some fixed-line numbers may be migrated to VoIP or mobile services, but the dialing format remains the same. Always verify the number length with your recipient, as the Libyan numbering plan has undergone changes in the past.

For local callers within Benghazi, it is common to dial only the local subscriber number without the area code, but this practice is not standardized across all networks. To ensure successful connection, it is recommended to always use the full national format (061 + subscriber number) even for local calls.