South Africa Calling Code: +27

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

How to Call South Africa from Abroad

About South Africa Calling Code

To reach South Africa from another country, first dial the international calling code +27 — assigned by the ITU — followed by the local number. South Africa is located in Africa, in Southern Africa.

International calling codes follow the ITU-T standards E.123 and E.164, which define how phone numbers are written and dialed across borders. The prefix you dial after the exit code tells the global telephone network which national network to route the call to.

Where the +27 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +27 is assigned to South Africa, located in Southern Africa, with the capital Pretoria. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to South Africa from outside the country.

When a number is written as +27 …, the +27 prefix directs your call to the South Africa 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 South Africa, in Southern Africa. Storing numbers with +27 and omitting the domestic leading zero keeps contacts dialable from anywhere.

South Africa Phone Number Formats

The ITU E.164 format for South Africa numbers is +27 + area code + subscriber number, used for landlines and mobiles alike. Here is the general structure:

Numbering plans vary: closed plans use fixed-length national numbers, while open plans allow variable lengths with a trunk prefix (usually 0) that is dropped for international calls. For calls to South Africa, replace the trunk zero with +27.

Time Zone in South Africa

The local time in South Africa follows the Africa/Johannesburg time zone (UTC+02:00 UTC). Check the time difference before you dial so your call arrives during waking hours.

Time differences matter when calling South Africa: if it is UTC+02:00 there, a morning call from Europe may reach Pretoria in the afternoon, while callers in the Americas should check the offset to avoid late-night calls.

If South Africa 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.

Emergency Numbers in South Africa

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

Service	Number
Police	10111
Fire	10177
Ambulance	10177

Example: Calling South Africa Numbers in Practice

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

If the local number begins with a trunk prefix (commonly 0), remove it when dialing internationally — +27 takes its place. The remaining digits are dialed exactly as written.

Calling South Africa from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing South Africa (+27) from abroad:

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United States	011	011 27 [local number]
United Kingdom	00	00 27 [local number]
Australia	0011	0011 27 [local number]
China	00	00 27 [local number]
Japan	010	010 27 [local number]
India	00	00 27 [local number]
Germany	00	00 27 [local number]
France	00	00 27 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +27 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for South Africa?

The international calling code for South Africa is +27.

How do I call South Africa from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +27, then the local phone number.

How do I call South Africa from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +27, then the local phone number.

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

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +27 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within South Africa?

If you're already in South Africa, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +27 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of South Africa?

The capital of South Africa is Pretoria. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +27 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in South Africa?

Police: 10111, Fire: 10177, Ambulance: 10177. These numbers are only valid inside South Africa.

South Africa Mobile Phone Prefixes

Mobile phone numbers in South Africa typically use the following prefixes:

• 6x / 7x / 8x - mobile numbers start with 06/07/08

South Africa City / Area Codes

Major cities in South Africa and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +27 when calling from abroad):

City	Area Code(s)
Johannesburg	10, 11
Cape Town	21
Durban	31
Pretoria	12
Port Elizabeth	41

Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Johannesburg 10 becomes +27 10 + local number.

Other Countries in Africa

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling South Africa from Egypt or South Sudan works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +27, then the local number. Within Africa, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.