The international calling code '1' is shared by a multitude of countries and territories, most notably the United States, Canada, and numerous nations across the Caribbean. This code operates under the comprehensive North American Numbering Plan (NANP), a unified telecommunication numbering system.
Understanding International Calling Code 1
Rather than being assigned to a single country, code '1' serves as a collective country code for all participants within the NANP. Each U.S. state (or parts of U.S. states), Canadian province, territory, or Caribbean island nation operating under this plan is assigned its own unique three-digit "area code." This hierarchical structure allows millions of individual phone numbers to exist within the single '1' international dialing prefix.
Key Participants in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
The primary nations and territories that form part of the NANP and therefore use the international calling code '1' include:
- United States: All 50 states, along with U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are integral components of the NANP.
- Canada: All Canadian provinces and territories also utilize the '1' code, differentiating locations through specific area codes.
- Numerous Caribbean Nations: A significant number of independent island nations and dependencies in the Caribbean are participants, each assigned distinct area codes to facilitate local and international calls.
The shared use of code '1' simplifies dialing within the NANP region, as calls between these countries often follow a domestic long-distance format rather than a full international dialing sequence.
Examples of Countries and Territories Using Code 1
Below is a table illustrating some of the key participants in the North American Numbering Plan that utilize the '1' international calling code. This list is representative, not exhaustive, of all NANP members.
| Entity Type | Primary Countries/Territories |
|---|---|
| Countries | United States, Canada, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Territories | British Virgin Islands, Guam (U.S.), Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.), Puerto Rico (U.S.), U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.) |
How Dialing Works
When making an international call to one of these NANP countries from outside the system, you would typically dial your international access code (e.g., '00' or '+'), followed by '1', then the three-digit area code, and finally the seven-digit local number. For example, to call a number in a specific area of the United States, you would dial +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.
For more detailed information on the North American Numbering Plan and its participants, you can refer to resources from the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
