What Are Area Codes In North America?

In order to route phone calls across America, there are North American area codes added to every phone number. These codes are organized and assigned to specific locations by the North American Numbering Plan (also known as the NANP). Territories included in this plan are as follows: The United States, Canada, all US territories, and even certain Caribbean nations.  

How Many Area Codes Are In the US?

In the United States there are 317 geographic area codes. When you add the 18 non-geographic area codes you have a total of 335 US area codes.

To people who are not familiar with how the NANP works, it can be a bit confusing due to the fact that there are many countries that share the +1 prefix while most other countries around the world have their own unique country calling codes. That means that +1 area codes are used across 25 countries including the United States.

How Many Area Codes Does Canada Have?

Canada has a total of 42 area codes. 40 of those area codes are geographic while the other two are non-geographic. 

Understanding Area Codes and the Numbering Plans

NANPA was tasked by the FCC to monitor the North American Numbering Plan. What most people in the United States call “area codes” have an official designation of “Number Plan Areas” or NPAs. 

There are 25 countries that are part of NANPA, with the majority of area codes (335 out of 380) belonging to the United States. California has the highest number of area codes in the United States. Canada has the second most with 42 area codes. Some of the most expensive area codes to purchase are in Hollywood, Manhattan and Miami. They are quickly becoming harder to aquire.