Area Code 852 – Málaga
The phone area code for Málaga is 852 (international format +34852). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 852
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Málaga
Overview of Area Code 852 (Málaga)
Area code 852 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Spanish national numbering plan, assigned to the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It covers the city of Málaga and its surrounding metropolitan area, including municipalities such as Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Vélez-Málaga, and Rincón de la Victoria. The code serves both fixed-line PSTN and VoIP services that are registered to physical locations within this territory.
Dialing Formats
When calling a number with area code 852 from within Spain, subscribers must dial the full 9-digit national significant number (NSN), which includes the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. For example, a local Málaga number might be formatted as 952 123 456 (the leading 9 is the trunk prefix). Internationally, callers from outside Spain should dial the international access prefix (00 or +), followed by Spain's country code 34, and then the 9-digit number without the leading 0. Thus, the same number would be dialed as +34 952 123 456.
Geographic Coverage and Numbering
The 852 code is part of the historic provincial numbering scheme where the first digit after the trunk prefix often indicates the region (9 for southern Spain). Subscriber numbers within this code typically consist of 6 digits, yielding a total of 9 digits for the NSN. The code is not an overlay; it is the sole geographic code for the province, meaning that all fixed-line numbers in the area share this prefix. However, due to number portability, a number with the 852 prefix may be routed to a VoIP provider or a mobile network, but the geographic association remains for administrative and emergency services purposes.
Caller Instructions
For local callers within Málaga, it is common to dial only the 6-digit subscriber number when calling within the same local area, though the full national format is always valid. For callers from other parts of Spain, dial 952 followed by the subscriber number. For international callers, use +34 952 followed by the subscriber number. Remember to replace the leading 0 with the country code when dialing from abroad.
Regulatory and Technical Notes
The Spanish regulator, Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC), oversees the allocation of geographic numbers. These numbers are typically used for fixed-line services, but they may also be used for VoIP services that provide fixed-line access. Calls to 852 numbers are charged according to the caller's tariff, and for fixed-line calls within Spain, they are usually included in national calling plans. Emergency services (112) are reachable free of charge from any phone, regardless of the area code.