Have you ever tried to call the UK and wondered why you need to dial the 44 prefix? You’re not alone.

Every day, millions of us face the confusion of international phone codes. Whether calling a relative in France, contacting a customer in Portugal or making a business call to Spain, understanding phone prefixes and mobile codes has become essential in our connected world.

That’s why we’ve created this complete guide. We’ll tell you all about international prefixes, from the familiar UK prefix 44 to country-specific codes for mobile and landlines. No hassle, no confusion – just the clear and practical information you need to make your international calls.

Complete Guide to International Telephone Codes

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International phone codes are the key to connect globally. Let’s take a closer look at how they work and how to use them correctly.

What are international phone codes?

International telephone codes are numerical series that identify each country in the global telecommunications network. ^[1]. These codes are essential for routing calls between different countries and ensuring that your communication reaches the correct destination.

Each country is assigned a unique code that identifies it. For example, when we see a number with a 44 prefix, we know immediately that it corresponds to the United Kingdom. ^[2].

Difference between fixed and mobile prefixes

In Spain, as an illustrative example, we can clearly see the distinction between fixed and mobile numbers:

• Fixed numbers start with 8 or 9 ^[3]

• Mobile numbers start with 6 or 7 ^[3]

This differentiation is common in many countries, although the specific format varies by region. For example, in some countries the mobile prefixes have additional digits after the country code ^[1].

How to use international phone codes

To make an international call, follow these steps:

1. Dial the international prefix (+ or 00)

2. Add the recipient country code

3. Include local number without leading 0 (if available)

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇪🇸 Spain	+34	6XX, 7XX
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	+44	7XXX
🇫🇷 France	+33	6XX, 7XX
🇵🇹 Portugal	+351	9XX
🇩🇪 Germany	+49	15X, 16X, 17X

It is important to remember that to send international SMS messages or use messaging applications, we will also need to include these country codes. In addition, when we save international contacts in our phone, it is advisable to always include the full prefix preceded by the + sign.

In today’s digital age, these codes are equally important for messaging services such as WhatsApp, where the number must include the international prefix to function correctly.

To facilitate international calls, most modern cell phones allow you to press and hold the “0” key to generate the “+” symbol, which automatically replaces the international exit code.

Phone Codes in America

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In the Americas, we find one of the most interesting telephone code systems in the world. Let’s explore how these codes are organized in the different regions of the continent.

North American phone codes

In North America, we find the NANP (North American Numbering Plan) system, which uses the +1 code for all of its territories. ^[2]. This unique system covers:

Country/Territory	International Prefix	Specific Codes
🇺🇸 United States	+1	202 (DC), 212 (NY), 310 (LA)
🇨🇦 Canada	+1	613 (Ottawa), 514 (Montreal)
🇲🇽 Mexico	+52	55 (CDMX), 81 (Monterrey)

Central America and Caribbean phone codes

The Caribbean region presents an interesting peculiarity, as many territories share the +1 code, but with specific area codes:

Country	International Prefix	Specific Codes
🇨🇷 Costa Rica	+506	All the country [2]
🇵🇦 Panama	+507	All the country [2]
🇨🇺 Cuba	+53	7 (Havana)
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	+1	809, 829, 849 [2]
🇯🇲 Jamaica	+1	876, 658 [2]

South America phone codes

In South America, each country maintains its own unique code, facilitating immediate identification of the origin of calls:

Country	International Prefix	Specific Codes
🇦🇷 Argentina	+54	All the country
🇧🇷 Brazil	+55	All the country
🇨🇱 Chile	+56	All the country
🇨🇴 Colombia	+57	All the country
🇵🇪 Peru	+51	All the country
🇻🇪 Venezuela	+58	All the country
🇪🇨 Ecuador	+593	All the country
🇧🇴 Bolivia	+591	All the country
🇵🇾 Paraguay	+595	All the country
🇺🇾 Uruguay	+598	All the country

It is important to note that some area codes in the United States are particularly well recognized, such as 212 for New York or 310 for Los Angeles, and have become symbols of regional identity. In our experience, these codes are not only identification numbers, but also represent a connection to a specific region, city or community.

Phone Codes in Europe

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When traveling in Europe, we encounter one of the most organized telephone code systems in the world. Let’s see how these codes are structured in the different regions of the continent.

European Union telephone codes

In the EU, we find a well-defined structure of telephone codes that facilitates communications between member countries. Here we present the main ones:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇪🇸 Spain	+34	6XX, 7XX
🇫🇷 France	+33	6XX, 7XX
🇩🇪 Germany	+49	15X, 16X, 17X
🇮🇹 Italy	+39	3XX
🇵🇹 Portugal	+351	9XX
🇧🇪 Belgium	+32	4XX
🇳🇱 Netherlands	+31	6XX

Eastern Europe phone codes

The Eastern European region has its own particularities in terms of telephone codes:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇵🇱 Poland	+48	5XX, 6XX [2]
🇷🇴 Romania	+40	7XX [2]
🇧🇬 Bulgaria	+359	87X, 88X [2]
🇭🇺 Hungary	+36	20X, 30X [2]
🇨🇿 Czech Republic	+420	6XX, 7XX [2]
🇸🇰 Slovakia	+421	9XX [2]

Telephone codes for Nordic countries

The Nordic countries have a particularly interesting system. For example, in Denmark, we have observed that they do not use urban area prefixes, which significantly simplifies the dialing system.

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇩🇰 Denmark	+45	No area codes
🇳🇴 Norway	+47	4XX, 9XX
🇸🇪 Sweden	+46	7XX [2]
🇫🇮 Finland	+358	4XX, 5XX [2]
🇮🇸 Iceland	+354	6XX, 7XX [2]

One interesting aspect we have noticed is that some self-governing territories maintain their own unique codes. For example, the Faroe Islands use the prefix +298, while Greenland is assigned +299.

To facilitate international calls in Europe, we recommend saving the numbers in full format, including the international prefix. For example, to call the United Kingdom, we will use the well-known prefix +44, while for France we will dial +33.

In our experience, European mobile codes tend to be more consistent within each country than in other regions of the world, making it easier to identify the type of number we are dialing.

Phone Codes in Asia and Oceania

As we move into the world’s most populous region, we encounter a fascinating patchwork of telephone codes connecting billions of people. In Asia and Oceania, we have identified some of the most dynamic and diverse systems of international communication.

East Asia phone codes

In this region, we find some of the most technologically advanced economies in the world. Let’s take a look at their codes:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇨🇳 China	+86	All the country [2]
🇯🇵 Japan	+81	All the country [2]
🇰🇷 South Korea	+82	All the country [2]
🇭🇰 Hong Kong	+852	No specific codes [2]
🇹🇼 Taiwan	+886	All the country [2]
🇻🇳 Vietnam	+84	All the country [2]

South Asia phone codes

South Asia represents one of the most populous regions, with 1.831 billion inhabitants. This population density is reflected in its complex communications network:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇮🇳 India	+91	All the country [2]
🇵🇰 Pakistan	+92	All the country [2]
🇧🇩 Bangladesh	+880	All the country [2]
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	+94	All the country [2]
🇮🇷 Iran	+98	All the country [2]
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	+971	All the country [2]

Oceania phone codes

In Oceania, we have observed a particularly interesting system, especially in Australia, where area codes have specific meanings. For example, in Australia:

• Code 2 corresponds to Sydney

• Code 3 is used for Melbourne

• Code 7 is assigned to Brisbane

• Code 8 belongs to Adelaide

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇦🇺 Australia	+61	All the country [2]
🇳🇿 New Zealand	+64	All the country [2]
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea	+675	All the country [2]
🇫🇯 Fiji	+679	All the country [2]
🇲🇭 Marshall Islands	+692	All the country [2]

In our experience, we have noticed that Australia uses a standardized format that includes 10 digits in total. This system greatly facilitates international communications throughout the Oceania region.

One fascinating aspect we have discovered is that in Australia, the dialing format is designed to ensure a uniform structure throughout the country. This means that when we make calls to Australia, we can be sure that the format +61 X XXXX XXXX XXXX will connect us correctly to our destination.

Phone Codes in Africa and the Middle East

Navigating the African continent and the Middle East, we encountered one of the most diverse and constantly evolving telephone code systems. In our experience, these regions present unique particularities that distinguish them from other continents we have previously explored.

North Africa phone codes

In North Africa, we have identified an interesting pattern: most of the codes begin with “2”, which facilitates their immediate identification. Let us look at the complete distribution:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇪🇬 Egypt	+20	All the country
🇲🇦 Morocco	+212	All the country
🇩🇿 Algeria	+213	All the country
🇹🇳 Tunisia	+216	All the country
🇱🇾 Libya	+218	All the country
🇸🇩 Sudan	+249	All the country

We have noted that in Tunisia, for example, calls to the +216 prefix cost an average of 0.436 euros per minute, for both fixed and mobile lines.

Sub-Saharan Africa Phone Codes

The sub-Saharan region has a rich diversity of telephone codes. In our research, we have found that this area mainly uses prefixes starting with “2” followed by two other numbers ^[2]:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇿🇦 South Africa	+27	All the country
🇳🇬 Nigeria	+234	All the country
🇰🇪 Kenya	+254	All the country
🇺🇬 Uganda	+256	All the country
🇬🇭 Ghana	+233	All the country
🇨🇲 Cameroon	+237	All the country
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast	+225	All the country
🇸🇳 Senegal	+221	All the country
🇹🇿 Tanzania	+255	All the country

Middle East phone codes

In the Middle East, we have identified a distinctive pattern: most codes start with “9”, which helps us to quickly recognize calls from this region:

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇮🇷 Iran	+98	All the country
🇮🇶 Iraq	+964	All the country
🇯🇴 Jordan	+962	All the country
🇱🇧 Lebanon	+961	All the country
🇰🇼 Kuwait	+965	All the country
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	+971	All the country
🇴🇲 Oman	+968	All the country
🇶🇦 Qatar	+974	All the country
🇧🇭 Bahrain	+973	All the country
🇾🇪 Yemen	+967	All the country

In our experience working with these codes, we have noticed that the numbering system in the Middle East is particularly efficient. For example, in the United Arab Emirates (+971), the system is designed to handle a high volume of international calls, reflecting its position as a global commercial center.

One fascinating aspect we have discovered is that some African countries keep codes reserved for future expansion. For example, Morocco has the +210 code reserved, demonstrating foresight in telecommunications planning in the region.

Comparison Table

Country	International Prefix	Mobile Codes
🇪🇸 Spain	+34	6XX, 7XX
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	+44	7XXX
🇫🇷 France	+33	6XX, 7XX
🇩🇪 Germany	+49	15X, 16X, 17X
🇮🇹 Italy	+39	3XX
🇵🇹 Portugal	+351	9XX
🇺🇸 United States	+1	202, 212, 310
🇨🇦 Canada	+1	613, 514
🇲🇽 Mexico	+52	55, 81
🇨🇳 China	+86	Not specified
🇯🇵 Japan	+81	Not specified
🇰🇷 South Korea	+82	Not specified
🇮🇳 India	+91	Not specified
🇦🇺 Australia	+61	Not specified
🇪🇬 Egypt	+20	Not specified
🇿🇦 South Africa	+27	Not specified
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	+971	Not specified
🇮🇷 Iran	+98	Not specified

Conclusion

International telephone codes represent much more than just numbers: they are the keys that open the doors to global communication. Our travels across five continents have allowed us to understand how each region handles its codes uniquely, from North America’s unified +1 system to the various European prefixes.

The complete table we have presented serves as a handy reference for any international call. The patterns we have discovered – such as prefixes beginning with “2” in Africa or “9” in the Middle East – make it easy to quickly identify the destination of calls.

Let’s remember the essential points for making international calls:

• Always dial the international prefix (+)

• Add country code

• Do not forget to remove the leading 0 from the local number

• Consider country-specific mobile codes

This detailed guide proves that international calls don’t have to be complicated. With the right knowledge of specific prefixes and codes, we can easily connect to any corner of the world.

Remember that a key point for your telephone or SMS campaigns to be a success is to first ensure the validity of the numbers that you are going to capture or that you have in your database. Our service to validate mobile numbers can help you in this regard. Feel free to register for free to evaluate the accuracy of the verification service.

FAQs

Q1. How do I correctly dial an international number? To dial an international number, first dial the international outgoing prefix (+ or 00), then the country code of the destination country, and finally the local number without the leading 0 if it has one.

Q2. What is the difference between fixed and mobile prefixes in Spain? In Spain, fixed numbers generally start with 8 or 9, while mobile numbers start with 6 or 7.

Q3. Do all North American countries share the same telephone code? Not all. While the United States and Canada share the +1 code, Mexico has its own code which is +52.

Q4. How can I identify a call from Africa? Most of the telephone codes of African countries begin with “2”, which facilitates immediate identification.

Q5. Do I need to include the country code when storing an international number in my phone? Yes, it is advisable to save international numbers in full format, including the international prefix (+) and country code, to facilitate calls and use in messaging applications.

References

[1] – https://www.fonvirtual.com/blog/prefijos-telefonicos-internacionales/
[2] – https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Prefijos_telefónicos_mundiales
[3] – https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Números_de_teléfono_de_España
[7] – https://www.movistar.cl/codigos-internacionales