If you are trying to locate the source of a phone call or dial a number using the 990 area code, you should know that Area Code 990 is not currently an active, assigned geographic area code within the United States, Canada, or any territory belonging to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
The number 990 exists in two primary contexts within the global telecommunications system:
- Unassigned Global Country Code: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has allocated +990 as an official, yet currently unassigned, international country code.
- Mexican Area Code: The digits 990 serve as a local area code for the Mexican city of Mérida in the state of Yucatán, often used in conjunction with the major city code 999.
This guide clarifies the different meanings of 990 area code and provides context on its usage around the world.
The Status of Area Code 990 in the U.S. and Canada
Within the NANP (which includes the U.S., Canada, and 20 Caribbean nations), all three-digit area codes are reserved or active. However, numbers beginning with ’99’ are rare and typically reserved for special future uses.
The key takeaways for a user searching for 990 area code are:
- No U.S. Location: The prefix 990 is not assigned to any specific city, state, or region in the U.S.
- No Canadian Location: It is not an active area code in Canada.
- Safety Warning: Because unassigned or “test” codes can sometimes be illegally spoofed by robocallers, receiving a call from what looks like a genuine US number (i.e., a full 10-digit number) beginning with 990 should be treated with suspicion, as the number itself is technically invalid for routing within the NANP.
Global Context: +990 Country Code
When searching for “990 area code,” some results may point to the global country code +990.
The code +990 falls within the ITU’s Zone 9 (West, Central, and South Asia). While many codes in the +99x block are assigned to countries in this zone (e.g., +995 for Georgia, +998 for Uzbekistan), +990 is reserved and remains officially unassigned for public use.
Therefore, if you receive a call with the full international prefix +990, it is highly likely a result of:
- Scam Activity: Spoofing the unassigned number block.
- A technical error in the routing system.
Local Use: 990 as a City Code in Mexico
The digits 990 are also used as a three-digit area code for the city of Mérida in the state of Yucatán, Mexico.
Mexico uses a 10-digit national number format (excluding the country code). If you are dialing into Mérida internationally, you would use the Mexican country code +52 followed by the area code 999 or 990.
| Destination | Country Code | Area Code | Full International Dialing Format |
| Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico | +52 | 999 or 990 | [Exit Code] + 52 990 XXX XXXX |
How to Dial Mérida, Mexico (Using 990)
- Dial your Exit Code: (e.g., 011 from the US/Canada).
- Dial the Mexico Country Code: 52.
- Dial the Area Code: 990 (or 999).
- Dial the Local Number: The remaining seven digits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the nearest active U.S. area code to 990?
The area code most commonly mistaken for 990 in the U.S. is 909, which is an active code serving San Bernardino, California, and surrounding cities like Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and Pomona. The 909 area code is in the Pacific Time Zone.
If I get a call from 990, should I call back?
No. You should not call back a number that starts with 990. Since 990 is not an active geographic area code in the U.S. or Canada, returning the call is risky. If the number was spoofed, calling it back could connect you to an international premium-rate line, resulting in high fees on your phone bill.
What is the +99 block of country codes used for?
The country codes starting with +99 are typically used by nations in Central and West Asia, including:
- +992: Tajikistan
- +993: Turkmenistan
- +994: Azerbaijan
- +995: Georgia
- +996: Kyrgyzstan
- +998: Uzbekistan
The existence of a dedicated video discussing the inactive status of the 990 area code highlights its position as part of the evolving system of telecommunications identifiers: The truth around Area code 990.
