The +216 country code is for Tunisia. The smallest country in the Maghreb, Tunisia sits on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa between Algeria and Libya. About 12 million people live here, most of them along the northern coast and in the capital Tunis. The country has a long history that goes back to Carthage, the ancient rival of Rome, whose ruins still stand outside Tunis. France ran Tunisia as a protectorate from 1881 to 1956 -- lighter than French Algeria but enough to make French the second language of business, education, and daily life. Tunisia sparked the Arab Spring in 2010-2011 when protests here spread across the region.
Quick answer: The country code +216 is for Tunisia. All Tunisian numbers are 8 digits after +216. Mobile numbers start with 2, 4, 5, or 9:
+216 XX XXX XXX. Landlines start with 7. There is no trunk prefix -- dial the 8 digits exactly as given.
How to call Tunisia: quick reference
Tunisia has no trunk prefix. The 8-digit number you see is the number you dial, both domestically and internationally. Just add +216 in front when calling from abroad. France is listed first because the France-Tunisia calling route is one of the busiest in the Mediterranean.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| France | 00-216-[8-digit number] |
| Italy | 00-216-[8-digit number] |
| US/Canada mobile | +216 [8-digit number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-216-[8-digit number] |
| Germany | 00-216-[8-digit number] |
| Libya | 00-216-[8-digit number] |
Understanding Tunisia phone numbers
Tunisia uses a clean 8-digit numbering plan with no trunk prefix. The first digit tells you whether it's mobile or landline, and for mobile, which carrier.
Mobile numbers (8 digits)
Mobile numbers start with 2, 4, 5, or 9. The first two digits generally indicate the carrier:
- 2X XXX XXX: Ooredoo Tunisia (formerly Tunisiana). The most common mobile prefix.
- 4X XXX XXX: Orange Tunisie.
- 5X XXX XXX: Shared between operators (number portability makes this less reliable as an identifier).
- 9X XXX XXX: Tunisie Telecom.
Number portability was introduced in 2012, so a number starting with 9 might now be on Ooredoo if the user switched carriers. The prefix is a rough guide, not a guarantee.
Landline numbers (8 digits)
Landlines start with 7 and the second digit indicates the region:
| Prefix | Region |
|---|---|
| 71 | Tunis and northern suburbs |
| 72 | North (Bizerte, Béja, Jendouba) |
| 73 | Sahel coast (Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia) |
| 74 | Sfax region |
| 75 | South (Gabès, Medenine, Djerba, Tozeur) |
| 76 | Central (Kairouan, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid) |
| 77 | Cap Bon peninsula (Nabeul, Hammamet) |
| 78 | Northwest (Le Kef, Siliana) |
| 79 | Greater Tunis (Ben Arous, Ariana, Manouba) |
Landlines are managed by Tunisie Telecom, which has a monopoly on fixed-line infrastructure. Like most of North Africa, mobile has largely replaced landline for personal use -- landlines are mostly in businesses, hotels, and government offices.
Mobile carriers in Tunisia
Tunisia has three mobile operators. The market is mature, with mobile penetration over 120% (many people have more than one SIM).
Ooredoo Tunisia (~45% market share)
Launched in 2002 as Tunisiana, this was Tunisia's first private mobile operator. Owned by Qatar's Ooredoo Group (formerly Qtel). Rebranded to Ooredoo in 2014. The market leader by subscribers, especially popular among younger users. Ooredoo was aggressive on data pricing and was first to offer competitive 4G plans. Mobile numbers typically start with 2X.
Tunisie Telecom (~35% market share)
The national carrier. Originally the state monopoly on all telecommunications, partially privatized in 2006 when Emirates International Telecommunications (a Dubai group) bought 35%. Tunisie Telecom controls all fixed-line infrastructure and is the sole landline provider. Its mobile arm competes on network reliability and coverage, particularly in rural and southern areas where the other operators are thinner. Mobile numbers typically start with 9X.
Orange Tunisie (~20% market share)
Launched in 2010 as the third operator, owned by France's Orange Group. The newest entrant, but backed by Orange's deep pockets and technical expertise. Popular in urban areas and among business users. Has been investing in 4G and 5G trials. Mobile numbers typically start with 4X.
All three operators offer prepaid SIM cards, which is how most Tunisians buy phone service. Postpaid contracts exist but are less common outside business accounts. Data plans are cheap by European standards but expensive relative to Tunisian salaries.
Don't confuse +216 with nearby codes
All four Maghreb countries have codes in the 21X range, which is a recipe for misdialing.
| Code | Country | Region |
|---|---|---|
| +216 | Tunisia | North Africa |
| +212 | Morocco | North Africa |
| +213 | Algeria | North Africa |
| +218 | Libya | North Africa |
The +213 (Algeria) confusion is the most common because Algeria is right next door and the codes are close. Algeria uses a different phone format though -- 9-digit mobile numbers with trunk prefix 0, compared to Tunisia's 8-digit numbers with no trunk prefix. If you dial +213 instead of +216, the number format won't match and the call will likely fail, which at least tells you something went wrong.
+218 (Libya) is the other neighbour. Libya's phone system has been unreliable since the 2011 civil war, and coverage depends on which part of the country you're calling.
Time zone considerations
Tunisia is on CET (UTC+1) year-round. Tunisia experimented with daylight saving time on and off over the years but stopped observing it in 2009. This means in summer, Tunisia is one hour behind France, Italy, and Germany (which shift to CEST, UTC+2), and in winter they're all on the same time.
| Your location | Time difference | Call Tunisia 9 AM - 6 PM |
|---|---|---|
| France (CET, winter) | Same time | 9 AM - 6 PM CET |
| France (CEST, summer) | Tunisia is 1 hour behind | 10 AM - 7 PM CEST |
| Italy (CET, winter) | Same time | 9 AM - 6 PM CET |
| Italy (CEST, summer) | Tunisia is 1 hour behind | 10 AM - 7 PM CEST |
| US East Coast (EST) | Tunisia is 6 hours ahead | 3 AM - 12 PM EST |
| US East Coast (EDT) | Tunisia is 5 hours ahead | 4 AM - 1 PM EDT |
| UK (GMT, winter) | Tunisia is 1 hour ahead | 8 AM - 5 PM GMT |
| UK (BST, summer) | Same time | 9 AM - 6 PM BST |
For the French and Italian diasporas, the time difference is trivial -- zero in winter, one hour in summer. You can call home after dinner and it's still a normal hour in Tunis.
Communication in Tunisia
Business hours and calling culture
Business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with a long lunch break common in government offices (some close from 12 to 2). Saturday mornings are sometimes working hours for shops and private businesses. Friday is a normal workday, unlike in many Arab countries -- Tunisia's weekend has historically been Saturday-Sunday, following the French model, though some government offices shifted to a Friday-Saturday weekend in recent years.
During Ramadan, hours compress. Offices often close by 2-3 PM. Evenings after iftar are socially active, and calling family late (9-11 PM) during Ramadan is normal and expected.
Language on the phone
Tunisians speak Derja (Tunisian Arabic) on the phone, heavily mixed with French. A typical conversation switches between Arabic and French mid-sentence. If you speak French, you can get by in almost any situation. English is growing among younger Tunisians, especially in IT and tourism, but it's not widely spoken by the general population. Business calls with companies and offices are usually in French or Arabic.
Network quality
4G coverage is good across northern Tunisia and along the coast, where most people live. The south (Tozeur, Douz, Tataouine) has patchier coverage once you leave the main towns. Voice calls are reliable nationwide. Internet speeds are middle-of-the-road for North Africa -- better than Algeria and Libya, slower than Morocco, which has invested more in fiber.
Tunisia has undersea cable connections to Italy and France, which provides decent international connectivity. The country's small size works in its favour for telecom coverage -- there's far less territory to cover than Algeria.
The Tunisia diaspora
Tunisia's diaspora is concentrated in France and Italy, with smaller communities across Europe and Canada.
France (600,000-800,000 Tunisian nationals)
The largest Tunisian community abroad. Migration started during the French protectorate and accelerated with labor recruitment in the 1960s-70s. Concentrated in the Paris region (especially Val-de-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis), Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg. Including French citizens of Tunisian descent, the community probably exceeds one million. The France-Tunisia phone route is extremely busy, especially during summer when many Tunisians in France return for vacation and before and after Ramadan.
Italy (100,000-150,000)
Tunisia and Sicily are only about 150 km apart across the Strait of Sicily. Tunisian migration to Italy grew in the 1980s and 1990s, with communities in Sicily (Mazara del Vallo has a well-known Tunisian fishing community), Rome, Milan, and the industrial north. Italy is also a transit point for Tunisians heading elsewhere in Europe, and irregular migration across the Mediterranean from Tunisia to Italy's Lampedusa island is a recurring political issue.
Germany (~30,000-40,000)
Smaller than the Algerian or Moroccan communities in Germany, but established. Concentrated in Berlin, Frankfurt, and the Ruhr cities. Many arrived as students and stayed.
Canada (~30,000-40,000, mostly Quebec)
Montreal is the main destination, for the same reason as Algerians -- French language. Immigration picked up in the 2000s. Tunisians in Quebec tend to be professionals, especially in IT and engineering. The 2011 revolution brought another wave.
Libya and Gulf states
Before 2011, an estimated 100,000-150,000 Tunisians worked in Libya, many in construction and services. The Libyan civil war forced most of them home. Smaller numbers work in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, mostly in white-collar positions.
Dialing examples
Tunisia's 8-digit numbers with no trunk prefix make dialing simple. What you see is what you dial.
Example 1: Calling a Tunis mobile (Ooredoo) from France
- Tunisian number: 22 345 678
- From France:
00 216 22 345 678 - From a French mobile:
+216 22 345 678
Example 2: Calling a Sfax landline from the US
- Tunisian number: 74 123 456
- From a US mobile:
+216 74 123 456 - From a US landline:
011 216 74 123 456
Example 3: Calling a Tunisie Telecom mobile from Italy
- Tunisian number: 98 765 432
- From Italy:
00 216 98 765 432
Example 4: Calling an Orange mobile from Germany
- Tunisian number: 42 567 890
- From Germany:
00 216 42 567 890
Common mistakes to avoid
Common errors when dialing the +216 country code:
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
Tunisia has no trunk prefix. If the number is 22 345 678, dial +216 22 345 678. Don't add a 0 in front -- +216 022 345 678 is wrong. This is a frequent mistake if you're used to calling Algeria (+213) or Morocco (+212), which both use trunk prefix 0.
Confusing +216 with +213 or +212
All Maghreb codes are in the 21X range. +216 is Tunisia, +213 is Algeria, +212 is Morocco. If you mix them up, you'll reach the wrong country. A quick check: Tunisia = 216, the "6" at the end.
Expecting 9 digits instead of 8
Tunisia uses 8-digit numbers after the country code. If you're used to Algerian numbers (9 digits) or other international formats, you might think an 8-digit Tunisian number is incomplete. It's not -- 8 digits is correct.
Assuming the carrier from the prefix after number portability
Since 2012, Tunisians can keep their number when switching carriers. A number starting with 9X (traditionally Tunisie Telecom) might now be on Ooredoo or Orange. This matters if you're trying to get on-network rates or using carrier-specific calling bundles.
Calling during the wrong business day
Tunisia's weekend situation is confusing. It's traditionally Saturday-Sunday (like France), but some government offices have shifted to Friday-Saturday. If you can't reach someone on a Friday, try again Monday.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +216 country code?
The +216 country code is for Tunisia, a North African country on the Mediterranean coast between Algeria and Libya.
How many digits is a Tunisian phone number?
All Tunisian numbers are 8 digits after +216. Mobile numbers start with 2, 4, 5, or 9. Landlines start with 7. There is no trunk prefix to drop.
How do I call Tunisia from France?
Dial 00 (France's exit code), then 216, then the 8-digit number. For example: 00 216 22 345 678. From a mobile, you can dial +216 directly.
What is the difference between +216 and +213?
+216 is Tunisia (capital: Tunis). +213 is Algeria (capital: Algiers). Both are in North Africa, but they're different countries with different phone systems. Tunisia uses 8-digit numbers with no trunk prefix; Algeria uses 8-9 digit numbers with trunk prefix 0.
Does Tunisia use a trunk prefix?
No. Tunisia has no trunk prefix. Dial the 8-digit number directly after +216, both domestically and internationally.
What time zone is Tunisia in?
Tunisia is on CET (UTC+1) year-round with no daylight saving time. Same as France and Italy in winter, one hour behind them in summer.
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