Benin Calling Code: +229

Complete guide to calling Benin — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.

How to Call Benin from Abroad

About Benin Calling Code

To reach Benin from another country, first dial the international calling code +229 — assigned by the ITU — followed by the local number. Benin is located in Africa, in Western Africa.

Benin is known locally as Bénin — Porto-Novo is the capital. When saving an international contact, write the number in full international format with +229 so it works from any country.

ISD code, country code, dialing code — these all mean the same E.164 prefix, and for Benin it is +229. The ITU allocates one to each country and territory in Western Africa, and carriers use it as the first routing decision on any international call.

Where the +229 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +229 is assigned to Benin, located in Western Africa, with the capital Porto-Novo. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Benin from outside the country.

When a number is written as +229 …, the +229 prefix directs your call to the Benin national network. After the prefix, dial the area code without its leading zero, then the subscriber number — the same pattern for landlines and mobiles.

ITU-T E.164 groups calling codes by world region; codes beginning with 2 cover the part of the world that includes Benin, in Western Africa. Storing numbers with +229 and omitting the domestic leading zero keeps contacts dialable from anywhere.

Benin Phone Number Formats

The ITU E.164 format for Benin numbers is +229 + area code + subscriber number, used for landlines and mobiles alike. Here is the general structure:

Storing a Benin contact so it works from any country means writing +229 in front of the national number and dropping any leading trunk zero. In Benin the number itself follows the published pattern +229 XXXXXXXX, so keep the area code and subscriber digits together as a single block.

Time Zone in Benin

The local time in Benin follows the Africa/Porto-Novo time zone (UTC+01:00 UTC). Check the time difference before you dial so your call arrives during waking hours.

Time differences matter when calling Benin: if it is UTC+01:00 there, a morning call from Europe may reach Porto-Novo in the afternoon, while callers in the Americas should check the offset to avoid late-night calls.

If Benin observes daylight saving time, its UTC offset shifts by an hour twice a year. Double-check the current offset before time-sensitive calls, especially in spring and autumn.

Best Time to Call Benin

Business hours in Benin run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because Benin sits at UTC+01:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts Benin's working day into your own clock — and shows the hours to avoid so you do not wake anyone up.

If you are in	Call Benin between	Avoid calling between
London	08:00–17:00	22:00–06:00
New York	03:00–12:00	17:00–01:00
Los Angeles	00:00–09:00	14:00–22:00
Sao Paulo	05:00–14:00	19:00–03:00
Dubai	12:00–21:00	02:00–10:00
Mumbai	13:30–22:30	03:30–11:30
Singapore	16:00–01:00	06:00–14:00
Sydney	18:00–03:00	08:00–16:00

Times shown are standard time and ignore daylight saving, which shifts the clock by one hour in countries that observe it — around the clock change, add or subtract an hour from every figure above.

Emergency Numbers in Benin

If you need urgent help while in Benin, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Benin.

Service	Number
Police	117
Fire	118
Ambulance	112

Example: Calling Benin Numbers in Practice

Here is how a typical call to Benin works, depending on where you are calling from:

If the local number begins with a trunk prefix (commonly 0), remove it when dialing internationally — +229 takes its place. The remaining digits are dialed exactly as written.

Calling Benin from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach Benin (+229):

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United Kingdom	00	00 229 [local number]
France	00	00 229 [local number]
United States	011	011 229 [local number]
South Africa	00	00 229 [local number]
United Arab Emirates	00	00 229 [local number]
Nigeria	009	009 229 [local number]
Kenya	000	000 229 [local number]
India	00	00 229 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +229 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for Benin?

The international calling code for Benin is +229.

How do I call Benin from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +229, then the local phone number.

How do I call Benin from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +229, then the local phone number.

Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +229 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within Benin?

If you're already in Benin, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +229 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of Benin?

The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +229 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in Benin?

Police: 117, Fire: 118, Ambulance: 112. These numbers are only valid inside Benin.

Is Benin a country?

Yes — Benin is a sovereign state, whose capital is Porto-Novo, and +229 is its international calling code.

Other Countries in Africa

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling Benin from Egypt or South Africa works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +229, then the local number. Within Africa, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.