Area Code 202 – Bamako
The phone area code for Bamako is 202 (international format +223202). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Bamako
Geographic Context and Administrative Coverage
The country calling code +223, assigned to Mali under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan, uses the national destination code (NDC) 202 to designate a specific geographic area. The prefix 202 is allocated to the capital district of Bamako, which functions as an autonomous administrative zone separate from the surrounding Koulikoro Region. This NDC covers all eight communes of Bamako (Commune I through Commune VI, plus the urban communes of Kalaban-Coura and Baco-Djicoroni) and the immediate suburban areas that rely on the capital's fixed-line infrastructure. As a geographic code, 202 is tied to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and is used for wireline services, including legacy copper lines, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections, and fixed wireless terminals that are registered to a physical address within the Bamako metropolitan area.
Dialing Formats and Call Routing
For international callers, the complete number format is +223 2 02 XX XX XX, where the trunk prefix '0' is omitted. For example, a landline in Bamako might be dialed as +223 202 12 34 56. Within Mali, callers must dial the national trunk prefix '0' followed by the NDC and the subscriber number: 0 202 12 34 56. The subscriber number length is eight digits in total, including the NDC. Note that the NDC '202' is distinct from the older '2' prefix used in some legacy references; the current numbering plan requires the full three-digit NDC. No overlay code exists for Bamako; the 202 code is exclusive to the capital's fixed network, and no area code changes are planned in the near term.
Practical Guidance for Callers
When calling a Bamako landline from abroad, always replace the leading '0' of the national number with the +223 country code. For example, a local number written as 0 202 12 34 56 becomes +223 202 12 34 56. If you are within Mali but outside Bamako, you must still dial the trunk prefix '0' before the NDC. Calls to 202 numbers are tariffed as domestic fixed-line calls, regardless of the caller's location within Mali. For businesses, it is essential to verify that the number is indeed a fixed line, as some VoIP services may use non-geographic codes. However, 202 is strictly geographic, and its use is regulated by the Malian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (AMRTP).