The +505 country code is for Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America by area. With roughly 6.6 million people spread across Pacific lowlands, a mountainous interior, and a lightly populated Caribbean coast, Nicaragua sits between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Its two largest cities, Managua (the capital) and León, account for most of the country's landline infrastructure, while mobile coverage from Claro and Tigo reaches even rural communities.
This guide covers everything you need to dial +505 correctly: number formats, mobile and landline prefixes, carrier details, time zone math, and the mistakes that trip up first-time callers.
Quick answer: Dial +505 followed by the 8-digit local number. Nicaragua has no area codes. Mobile numbers start with 5, 7, or 8. Landlines start with 2. There is no trunk prefix to drop.
How to call Nicaragua: quick reference
Nicaragua's neighbors all use the 00 international prefix, and US/Canada callers use 011 from landlines or just +505 from mobile phones. Costa Rica and Honduras are included below because they share land borders and generate the most cross-border traffic.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +505 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-505-[local number] |
| Costa Rica | 00-505-[local number] |
| Honduras | 00-505-[local number] |
| Spain | 00-505-[local number] |
Understanding Nicaragua phone numbers
Nicaragua uses a flat 8-digit numbering plan. There are no area codes, and the first digit of the local number tells you whether you're calling a mobile or a landline.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers begin with 5, 7, or 8 and are 8 digits long. The full international format is:
+505 5XXX XXXX / +505 7XXX XXXX / +505 8XXX XXXX
Claro numbers tend to start with 8, while Tigo numbers tend to start with 5 or 7, though number portability means this is not always reliable.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers begin with 2 and are also 8 digits long:
+505 2XXX XXXX
Managua landlines typically start with 22, León with 23, Granada with 25, and Matagalpa with 27. These are not area codes; they are just the first two digits of an 8-digit number.
No trunk prefix
Nicaragua does not use a trunk prefix. When dialing locally within Nicaragua, you dial all 8 digits as-is. When dialing internationally, you add +505 in front of the same 8 digits.
Mobile carriers in Nicaragua
Nicaragua has two mobile carriers. The market is a duopoly, and coverage in urban areas is strong from both.
Claro (América Móvil)
Claro is the larger of the two operators and has the widest rural coverage. It operates 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE networks. Claro numbers historically start with 8, though ported numbers may differ. Prepaid top-ups are sold at corner shops, gas stations, and supermarkets across the country.
Tigo (Millicom)
Tigo is the second carrier and competes aggressively on data pricing. Its numbers typically start with 5 or 7. Tigo's 4G network covers Managua and other major cities, with 3G reaching smaller towns. Tigo also offers home internet bundles in urban areas.
Landline service
Fixed-line service is operated by ENITEL (now owned by Claro). Landline penetration is low outside Managua and León. Most Nicaraguans rely on mobile phones as their primary communication device, and businesses in smaller cities often list a mobile number rather than a landline.
Don't confuse +505 with nearby codes
Nicaragua's +505 sits in a block of sequential Central American country codes, which makes mix-ups common.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +502 | Guatemala | 8-digit numbers, mobiles start with 3, 4, 5 |
| +503 | El Salvador | 8-digit numbers, mobiles start with 6 or 7 |
| +504 | Honduras | 8-digit numbers, mobiles start with 3, 7, 8, 9 |
| +505 | Nicaragua | 8-digit numbers, mobiles start with 5, 7, 8 |
| +506 | Costa Rica | 8-digit numbers, mobiles start with 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| +507 | Panama | 7- or 8-digit numbers, mobiles start with 6 |
The most common mistake is confusing +504 (Honduras) with +505 (Nicaragua). If you're off by one digit, your call goes to the wrong country. Double-check the code before dialing.
Time zone considerations
Nicaragua is in Central Standard Time (CST), UTC-6 year-round. The country does not observe daylight saving time.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM in Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|
| New York (EST/EDT) | +1h / +2h in summer | 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| Los Angeles (PST/PDT) | -2h / -1h in summer | 7:00 AM / 8:00 AM |
| Miami (EST/EDT) | +1h / +2h in summer | 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| Madrid (CET/CEST) | +7h / +8h in summer | 4:00 PM / 5:00 PM |
| San José, Costa Rica | Same | 9:00 AM |
The best window for calling Nicaragua from the US East Coast is 8 AM to 9 PM EST (7 AM to 8 PM in Nicaragua). Costa Rica shares the same time zone, so no conversion is needed between the two countries.
Communication in Nicaragua
WhatsApp and messaging
WhatsApp is the default messaging and calling app in Nicaragua. Most businesses, even government offices, list a WhatsApp number for customer service. Voice calls over WhatsApp are free on Wi-Fi, so many Nicaraguans prefer them over traditional phone calls. Facebook Messenger is also widely used.
Business hours
Offices generally run from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, with a lunch break between noon and 1 PM. Banks close earlier, usually by 4 PM. Saturday mornings are common for retail and some government services. Calling a business landline outside these hours will usually go unanswered.
Network quality
4G LTE coverage is solid in Managua, León, Granada, and other Pacific-side cities. The Caribbean coast (RAAN and RAAS regions) has spottier coverage, and some remote communities along the Mosquito Coast rely on 2G or satellite connections. If you can't reach someone on the Caribbean coast, try again during a different time of day when network congestion is lower.
The Nicaragua diaspora
Where they went
The largest Nicaraguan communities abroad are in Costa Rica (estimated 300,000-500,000, many undocumented), the United States (roughly 500,000, concentrated in Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area), and Spain. Emigration accelerated after the 2018 political crisis, when tens of thousands left the country over a period of months.
Why they call
Remittances make up a significant share of Nicaragua's GDP (around 15-20%), and phone calls typically accompany money transfers. Families coordinate transfers through Western Union, MoneyGram, or mobile wallet services, then call to confirm the money arrived. Weekly family check-ins on Sundays are common, and many diaspora members keep a Nicaraguan number active on a dual-SIM phone to receive local calls.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile in Managua
A Claro mobile number 8456 7890:
+505 8456 7890 (from any mobile abroad)
011-505-8456-7890 (from a US/Canada landline)
Calling a landline in León
A landline number 2311 4567:
+505 2311 4567 (from any mobile abroad)
011-505-2311-4567 (from a US/Canada landline)
Calling a Tigo mobile from Costa Rica
A Tigo mobile number 5678 1234:
00-505-5678-1234 (from a Costa Rican phone)
Calling within Nicaragua
Dial the 8-digit number directly. No country code, no trunk prefix:
8456 7890 (mobile to mobile within Nicaragua)
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +504 instead of +505
Honduras is +504, Nicaragua is +505. These two codes are off by one digit and border each other, so the mix-up is common. If your call connects to a confused stranger, check the country code.
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
Nicaragua has no trunk prefix. Some callers instinctively add a 0 before the local number (a habit from countries like the UK or France). Dialing +505 0 8456 7890 will fail. Just dial +505 followed by the 8 digits.
Assuming area codes exist
The leading digits of a Nicaraguan number (like 22 for Managua or 27 for Matagalpa) look like area codes but are simply part of the 8-digit number. You always dial all 8 digits, whether you're calling from across the street or across the world.
Not accounting for daylight saving time differences
Nicaragua stays on UTC-6 all year. If you're in the US, remember that the time gap changes when your clocks spring forward or fall back, but Nicaragua's don't. A call that worked at 8 PM your time in winter might land at 9 PM Nicaragua time in summer, when the US shifts to daylight saving time and Nicaragua doesn't.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +505 country code?
Nicaragua. The +505 code covers the entire country, including the Caribbean coast and offshore islands.
How many digits are in a Nicaraguan phone number?
8 digits. With the country code, a full international number is 11 digits: +505 XXXX XXXX.
Does Nicaragua have area codes?
No. Nicaragua uses a flat 8-digit plan. The first digit indicates mobile (5, 7, 8) or landline (2), but there are no separate area codes to add or remove.
What time zone is Nicaragua in?
Central Standard Time (CST), UTC-6, year-round. No daylight saving time.
How do I call a Nicaraguan mobile number from the US?
From a US mobile, dial +505 followed by the 8-digit number. From a US landline, dial 011-505 followed by the 8-digit number. No trunk prefix or area code is needed.
Looking up other Central American codes? Check out Honduras (+504), Costa Rica (+506), or browse all codes on the country codes hub.