Ethiopia Calling Code: +251

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

How to Call Ethiopia from Abroad

About Ethiopia Calling Code

Ethiopia's international dialing code is +251. This code is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and must be dialed before the local phone number when calling Ethiopia from another country. Ethiopia is located in Africa.

Ethiopia is known locally as ኢትዮጵያ — Addis Ababa is the capital. When saving an international contact, write the number in full international format with +251 so it works from any country.

Country calling codes (also known as ISD codes or dialing codes) are telephone numbering plan prefixes defined by ITU-T standards E.123 and E.164. Each country is assigned one or more unique prefixes to facilitate international direct dialing.

Where the +251 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +251 is assigned to Ethiopia, located in Eastern Africa, with the capital Addis Ababa. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Ethiopia from outside the country.

When you see a phone number written as +251 ..., the +251 prefix tells your telephone network to route the call to Ethiopia's national telephone network. After the country code, you dial the local area code (dropping any leading 0) and the subscriber number. The same format applies whether you are calling a landline or a mobile phone.

Country codes are allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T Recommendation E.164) and are grouped by geographic region. Calling codes starting with 2 are generally assigned to the region around Ethiopia, in Eastern Africa. When a phone number is stored internationally, the leading zeros of the domestic area code are omitted after the country code — this is why you will often see numbers written as +251 followed directly by the area code and number.

Ethiopia Phone Number Formats

Phone numbers in Ethiopia follow the ITU E.164 international format: country code + area code + subscriber number. Below is the general structure used for both landlines and mobile numbers.

Most countries use a closed or open telephone numbering plan. In an open plan, the length of local numbers varies and the trunk prefix (usually 0) is dropped when dialing internationally. In a closed plan, all national numbers have a fixed length regardless of area. When dialing Ethiopia from abroad, always replace the leading trunk zero with the country code +251.

Time Zone in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is in the Africa/Addis_Ababa time zone, which is UTC+03:00 relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If you are calling from a different time zone, remember to account for the time difference when scheduling your international call.

When planning a call to Ethiopia, the time difference matters: a good time to reach businesses in Addis Ababa, the capital, during their working hours may be early morning or late evening in your own time zone. Many international callers use the UTC offset as a quick reference to avoid calling in the middle of the night.

Some countries observe daylight saving time (DST), which shifts the local clock by one hour during summer months. If Ethiopia uses DST, the effective offset changes twice a year — check the current UTC offset before dialing if your call is time-sensitive. For most purposes, however, the standard offset shown above is sufficient.

Emergency Numbers in Ethiopia

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

Service	Number
Police	911
Fire	939
Ambulance	907

Example: Calling Ethiopia Numbers in Practice

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

If the number you are calling has a domestic trunk prefix (often 0) in front of the area code, omit it when dialing from abroad. The country code +251 replaces the trunk prefix entirely.

Calling Ethiopia from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing Ethiopia (+251) from abroad:

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United States	011	011 251 [local number]
United Kingdom	00	00 251 [local number]
Australia	0011	0011 251 [local number]
China	00	00 251 [local number]
Japan	010	010 251 [local number]
India	00	00 251 [local number]
Germany	00	00 251 [local number]
France	00	00 251 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +251 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for Ethiopia?

The international calling code for Ethiopia is +251.

How do I call Ethiopia from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +251, then the local phone number.

How do I call Ethiopia from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +251, then the local phone number.

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

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +251 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within Ethiopia?

If you're already in Ethiopia, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +251 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of Ethiopia?

The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +251 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in Ethiopia?

Police: 911, Fire: 939, Ambulance: 907. These numbers are only valid inside Ethiopia.

Other Countries in Africa

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling Ethiopia from Egypt or South Africa works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +251, then the local number. Within Africa, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.