The digits +85 are not a complete country calling code for any single nation. Instead, the prefix 85 marks the beginning of a block of three-digit codes assigned to several countries and territories primarily located in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
If you have encountered a phone number beginning with +85, the subsequent digit is crucial for identifying the destination. For instance, a number starting with +852 is from Hong Kong, while +856 is from Laos. This article will detail the countries associated with the 85 country code block and guide you through the correct international dialing procedure.
The +85 International Calling Block
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) assigns country codes starting with ‘8’ to Zone 8, which covers East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. The block starting with 85 includes codes for some of the most connected regions in the world.
Here are the primary countries and territories whose official calling codes begin with the digits +85:
| Full Country Code | Country or Territory | Continent/Region |
| +850 | North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) | East Asia |
| +852 | Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | East Asia |
| +853 | Macau (Special Administrative Region of China) | East Asia |
| +855 | Cambodia | Southeast Asia |
| +856 | Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) | Southeast Asia |
| +857 | (Unassigned/Reserved) | |
| +858 | (Unassigned/Reserved) | |
| +859 | (Unassigned/Reserved) |
How to Dial a Number in the +85 Country Code Block
To place a call to any of these destinations, you must use the full three-digit country code, followed by the local area code (if applicable) and the subscriber number.
The universal international dialing format is:
Example Dialing Sequence (Calling Hong Kong, +852)
Hong Kong (+852) is an important exception in the international dialing world because it does not use city or area codes; all landline and mobile numbers are typically 8 digits long.
To call a number in Hong Kong from the United States, you would dial the U.S. exit code (011), the full country code (+852), and the 8-digit local number.
| Element | Code | Note |
| 1. Exit Code (from U.S.) | 011 | Use 00 from most of Europe |
| 2. Country Code | 852 | The full code for Hong Kong |
| 3. Local Number | XXXXXXXX | Typically 8 digits (no area code) |
| Full Dialing Example | 011 852 XXXXXXXX |
Example Dialing Sequence (Calling Laos, +856)
Laos uses city area codes before the subscriber number.
| Element | Code | Note |
| 1. Exit Code (from U.S.) | 011 | |
| 2. Country Code | 856 | The full code for Laos |
| 3. Area Code (Vientiane) | 21 | 2-digit city code |
| 4. Local Number | XXX XXX | Typically 6 digits |
| Full Dialing Example | 011 856 21 XXX XXX |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the number 85 an Area Code in the United States?
No, the number 85 is not an active North American Area Code. All North American Numbering Plan (NANP) area codes (US, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean) begin with the digit ‘1’. However, 85 is the prefix for the city area code of Bialystok, Poland. If you see a number like +48 85 XXX XXXX, it is an international call to Poland, where +48 is the country code and 85 is the city code.
Should I be worried about spam calls from the +85 block?
International phone codes, including those in the +85 block, are sometimes used by scammers. These are often generic “one-ring” scams that aim to trick you into calling back a premium-rate number and incurring high charges.
Actionable Advice: If you receive a missed call or an unsolicited text message from a +85X number that you do not recognize, do not call or text back. If you have legitimate contacts in those countries, ensure you save their number in the correct international format to easily identify them.
How many total digits are in a complete phone number from the +85 block?
The total length of a complete international phone number (excluding your country’s exit code) varies by country in the +85 block:
- Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) use an 8-digit local number.
- Laos (+856) and Cambodia (+855) typically have 8 or 9 digits, including the area code or mobile prefix.
