500 area code — NANP AREA non-geographic

Data: NANPA public reports, current as of July 28, 2026.

500 is the area code assigned to NANP AREA, in service since May 19, 1994, Eastern time. It is part of the 500/521/522/523/524/525/526/527/528/529/532/533/538/542/544/566/577/588 overlay complex — these codes share the same territory. Note that porting and VoIP mean a 500 number can be used from anywhere — the code marks where the number was assigned.

500 was created from 500 in 1994. It has since spawned 500 (1994), 533 (2009), 544 (2010), 566 (2012), 577 (2014), 588 (2015), 522 (2016), 521 (2017), 523 (2018), 524 (2019), 525 (2020), 526 (2021), 527 (2021), 528 (2022), 529 (2022), 532 (2024), 538 (2025), 542 (2026).

Use this page to decode where 500 numbers come from — and remember that spoofing means the screen can lie about everything except your own caution.

500 is a non-geographic service code (Non-Geographic Services): it is not tied to any state or rate center, and its numbers are assigned under service-specific rules rather than the geographic central-office process. Public prefix tables therefore do not apply to this code.

FAQ

Where is a 500 number from?

500 is assigned to NANP AREA in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.

Is 500 a toll-free number?

No. 500 is a non-geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.

Why do 533 and 500 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 500/521/522/523/524/525/526/527/528/529/532/533/538/542/544/566/577/588 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.

Why am I getting spam calls from 500 numbers?

Scammers spoof real area codes so calls look legitimate. A displayed 500 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.