Area Code 23 – North Region
The phone area code for North Region is 23 (international format +23023). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of North Region
The area code 23 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Mauritius numbering plan, assigned to the North Region of the island. This region encompasses the northern districts of Rivière du Rempart and Pamplemousses, including key towns such as Grand Baie, Pereybère, Triolet, and Goodlands. As a geographic code, it identifies a fixed-line subscriber's physical location, and calls are routed over the PSTN or VoIP networks to the corresponding exchange.
Dialing Formats
When calling a fixed-line number in the North Region from within Mauritius, subscribers must dial the full national significant number, which includes the area code followed by the subscriber number. For example, to reach a landline in Grand Baie, one would dial 23X XXXX (where X represents the subscriber digits). The national format omits the international prefix and the country code.
For international callers, the correct format is the international prefix (typically + or 00), followed by the Mauritius country code 230, and then the area code and subscriber number. Thus, a call from abroad to the same Grand Baie number would be dialed as +230 23X XXXX. It is crucial to drop the leading '0' if present in local notation, though Mauritius uses a closed numbering plan where the area code is always included.
Geographic Coverage and Overlays
The North Region code is part of a larger national numbering plan where geographic codes are assigned by district. The 23 prefix specifically serves the northern part of the island, distinct from other regional codes such as 5xx for the central region or 6xx for the south. There are currently no overlay codes for this area, meaning the 23 prefix is unique to the North Region. However, number portability allows subscribers to retain their numbers when moving, so a number with the 23 prefix may occasionally be served by an exchange outside the traditional geographic area.
Caller Instructions
Local callers within Mauritius should always dial the full 7-digit number (area code + subscriber number) even when calling from a different region. International callers should replace the local trunk prefix with the country code. For example, a caller from the UK would dial 00 230 23X XXXX or +230 23X XXXX. Calls to this geographic code are typically charged at standard fixed-line rates, which may vary depending on the caller's operator and subscription plan.