Illinois is divided into several area codes as part of the North American Numbering Plan. These codes include 217/447 for Central and parts of Southern Illinois, 309/861 for Central-Western Illinois, 312 for central Chicago, 618/730 for Southern Illinois, 630/331 for the western suburbs of Chicago, 708/464 for the south and inner west suburbs of Chicago, 773 for most of Chicago excluding downtown, 815/779 for Northern Illinois outside Chicago, and 847/224 for the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago. Additionally, 872 serves as an overlay for both 312 and 773 in Chicago. Over the years, as demand for new numbers increased, several overlays and splits were implemented. As of 2023, all numbering plan areas in Illinois are overlays, ensuring efficient number allocation while minimizing disruptions for residents.
Illinois has seen a steady transition toward mobile communication. Data from 2023 shows that 75.1% of adults in Illinois rely exclusively on mobile users, up from 60.6% in 2019—a gain of nearly 15 percentage points in four years. Illinois residents who primarily use a wireless phone make up 13.8%, while 5.0% use both mobile and landline. Those who mainly rely on landlines and those who rely exclusively on landlines have declined to 3.0% and 2.1% respectively. Adults without any phone service account for 1.0%. As the nation's sixth-most populous state, Illinois mirrors the national shift toward mobile-first communication.