North Dakota is served by a single area code as of 2026. This guide walks through which code it is, when it was assigned, how it has held up against population growth, and what the prospects look like for additional codes in the future.
The Short Answer
North Dakota currently has one active area code in service. The code has held its territory without needing relief since it was assigned, which reflects North Dakota’s population size and the rate at which new phone lines are being activated in the state.
By population, North Dakota ranks #47 nationally with roughly 796,568 residents as of the most recent estimates. That puts the state’s area code count in line with its population peers — denser, faster-growing states need more codes; smaller states need fewer.
The North Dakota Area Code
The active area codes serving North Dakota are listed below, in numerical order. Where a code is an overlay or a split-off from an earlier code, that relationship is noted.
- 701 — Entire state of North Dakota (Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo)
How North Dakota’s Area Codes Grew Over Time
North Dakota received its first area code, 701, when the North American Numbering Plan launched in 1947. That single code initially covered the entire state, and subsequent splits and overlays narrowed it over the decades that followed.
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Browse North Dakota Area Codes →- 1947 — 701 assigned as North Dakota's area code at the launch of the North American Numbering Plan, one of the 86 original codes, covering the entire state.
- 2020 — The state briefly faced a possible move to ten-digit dialing when the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline short code conflicted with a 988 central office prefix in Bismarck; the conflict was resolved without splitting or overlaying 701.
What’s Next for North Dakota Area Codes
North Dakota continues to operate on a single area code, 701, with no split or overlay in its history. NANPA-sourced numbering plan exhaust projections forecast that North Dakota will not require a new area code until 2029, with roughly 730 of the nearly 800 available central office codes assigned. Because demand is low and steady, the state remains one of about eleven that still use a single area code, and seven-digit local dialing is still in effect statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many area codes does North Dakota have?
North Dakota has one area code, 701, which has covered the entire state since 1947. It is one of roughly eleven U.S. states that still operate on a single area code.
What is the oldest area code in North Dakota?
701 is the oldest active area code in North Dakota, assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan launched. It remains in service today, though its geographic footprint has typically been reduced by subsequent splits and overlays.
What is the newest area code in North Dakota?
The most recent area code addition to North Dakota was 988, activated in 2020. New phone lines provisioned in its service area are increasingly drawn from this code as older overlays approach exhaustion.
Do you have to dial 10 digits in North Dakota?
No. Because 701 is the only area code in the state, seven-digit local dialing is still in effect for calls within North Dakota. You dial the full area code only when calling from outside the 701 region.
Will North Dakota get a second area code?
Not in the near term. NANPA exhaust projections forecast that North Dakota will not need an additional area code until around 2029, since about 730 of the nearly 800 available central office codes have been assigned.
Does area code 701 cover all of North Dakota?
Yes. 701 serves the entire state, including Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and West Fargo. The numbering plan area is split between the Bismarck and Fargo LATAs, with the Fargo LATA extending into parts of northern Minnesota.
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We carry available North Dakota numbers right now. Order a 701 number directly — a one-time fee, no monthly charges, with pricing From $150 depending on the digit pattern and memorability of the number. Prefer help choosing? Call us at (212) 580-2000.
