Reference Utilities

Call Sign Prefix Reference

Look up which country a call sign prefix belongs to based on the ITU allocation table.

01

Tool

Prefix blockCountry / entity
A2Botswana
A3Tonga
AA–ALUnited States
BM–BQ, BU–BXTaiwan
BYChina
C3Andorra
C6Bahamas
CEChile
CTPortugal
CUAzores
D2Angola
DA–DRGermany
EA–EHSpain
EI–EJIreland
FFrance
G, M, 2United Kingdom
HAHungary
HBSwitzerland
HCEcuador
HLSouth Korea
HPPanama
IItaly
JA–JSJapan
K, N, WUnited States
LANorway
LUArgentina
LXLuxembourg
OEAustria
OHFinland
OKCzech Republic
ONBelgium
OZDenmark
PANetherlands
PYBrazil
R, URussia
S5Slovenia
SMSweden
SPPoland
TATurkey
TICosta Rica
UARussia
UNKazakhstan
V3Belize
V5Namibia
VE, VACanada
VKAustralia
VP2Anguilla / Montserrat / BVI
VUIndia
XE, XFMexico
YB–YHIndonesia
YVVenezuela
ZLNew Zealand
ZSSouth Africa

Reference list of common prefix blocks. For DXCC identification of unusual or special-event calls, consult the ARRL DXCC list.

02

How it works

ITU allocates blocks of prefixes to each country (e.g. W, K, N, AA–AL to the United States; G, M, 2 to the United Kingdom). The first one or two characters of a call sign, together with the digit that follows, identify the country and often the region.

03

How to use

  1. Type a prefix or a country name to filter.
  2. The table lists the country and the ITU-allocated prefix block.
04

Frequently asked questions

Is this an exhaustive DXCC list?

It covers the most common prefixes. For DX chasing, cross-reference with the ARRL DXCC list.

Why do some prefixes overlap countries?

Historical allocations, treaty arrangements, and special-event prefixes create edge cases.