202 area code — Washington, DC geographic
- State
- District of Columbia
- Major area
- Washington
- Time zone
- Eastern
- In service since
- 1947-01-01
- Overlay complex
- 202 / 771
- Active prefixes
- 783
- Rate centers
- 1
- Carriers
- 36
- Projected exhaust
- 3Q 2088
202 is the area code for Washington, District of Columbia, in service since January 1, 1947, Eastern time. Together with 771 it forms the 202/771 overlay. Because of number portability and VoIP, the area code tells you where the number was issued, not where the caller is right now.
NANPA lists 783 active NXX prefixes in 202, assigned to 36 carriers. 441 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans one rate center.
If a 202 call asks for money or personal data, treat the displayed number as unverified: hang up and reach the organization through its published number. Numbering data locates numbers, not callers.
Among District of Columbia codes, 202 stands out as the oldest area code in District of Columbia, in service since 1947.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Official projections put exhaust for the 202/771 complex at 3Q 2088.
Later relief produced 771 (2021) from its territory.
Largest localities in 202
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Zone 1 | 783 | 771 |
FAQ
Why do 771 and 202 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 202/771 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 202 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 3Q 2088 — decades of capacity remain.
Why am I getting spam calls from 202 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 202 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.