The +220 country code is for The Gambia, the smallest country on mainland Africa. It's a narrow strip of land along the Gambia River, almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. Despite its size, The Gambia has about 2.5 million people and a surprisingly active telecom market with four mobile carriers. Phone numbers are 7 digits with no trunk prefix, and English is the official language, which makes phone calls straightforward for English speakers.
Quick answer: The +220 country code is for The Gambia. Phone numbers are 7 digits after the country code. Mobile numbers start with 2, 3, 5, 7, or 9 depending on the carrier. Landlines start with 4. There is no trunk prefix. Dial +220 followed by the 7-digit number.
How to call Gambia: quick reference
The Gambia has no trunk prefix, so the local 7-digit number is the same one you dial internationally. Just add +220 in front. The exit code depends on where you're calling from.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +220 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-220-[local number] |
| UK | 00-220-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-220-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-220-[local number] |
| France | 00-220-[local number] |
Understanding Gambia phone numbers
All Gambian phone numbers are 7 digits after the +220 country code. The first digit identifies the carrier or line type.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use carrier-specific first digits. The format is +220 XXX XXXX.
| First digit(s) | Carrier |
|---|---|
| 7, 2 | Africell |
| 3 | QCell |
| 5 | Comium |
| 9 | Gamcel (state-owned) |
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 4 and are operated by GAMTEL (Gambia Telecommunications Company), the state-owned fixed-line provider. Most landlines are in the Greater Banjul area. The format is +220 4XX XXXX.
No trunk prefix
The Gambia does not use a trunk prefix. The 7-digit number is dialed the same way locally and internationally. Just add +220 for international calls.
Mobile carriers in Gambia
Africell
Africell is the largest mobile carrier in The Gambia with the widest coverage. Numbers start with 7 or 2. Africell dominates the market and has the best rural coverage along the river road that connects the country's towns. Mobile money services through Africell are widely used.
QCell
QCell is the second-largest carrier, with numbers starting with 3. It competes on price and has decent coverage in the Greater Banjul area and along main roads. QCell has been expanding its 4G network in urban areas.
Comium
Comium operates with the 5 prefix. It's a smaller carrier with coverage mainly in the western part of the country around Banjul and the coastal tourism areas.
Gamcel
Gamcel is the state-owned mobile carrier with numbers starting with 9. It has the smallest market share of the four carriers and more limited coverage compared to Africell and QCell.
Don't confuse +220 with nearby codes
The Gambia's +220 is one digit away from its only neighbor's code, and the two get mixed up constantly.
| Code | Country | Why it's confusing |
|---|---|---|
| +221 | Senegal | One digit off. Senegal completely surrounds The Gambia. |
| +224 | Guinea | Similar digits, different West African country. |
| +226 | Burkina Faso | Close number range. Also in West Africa. |
The +221 Senegal mix-up is by far the most common. The two countries share such a tight geographic relationship that many Gambians have Senegalese contacts and vice versa. A wrong digit sends your call to Dakar instead of Banjul.
Time zone considerations
The Gambia uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC+0) year-round. No daylight saving time.
| Your time zone | When it's 9 AM in Banjul | When it's 6 PM in Banjul |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (EST/EDT) | 4:00 AM / 5:00 AM | 1:00 PM / 2:00 PM |
| US Pacific (PST/PDT) | 1:00 AM / 2:00 AM | 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 9:00 AM / 10:00 AM | 6:00 PM / 7:00 PM |
| Central Europe (CET/CEST) | 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM / 8:00 PM |
| Australia East (AEST/AEDT) | 7:00 PM / 8:00 PM | 4:00 AM / 5:00 AM next |
For UK callers, The Gambia is on the same time in winter (both GMT). In summer, The Gambia is one hour behind the UK.
Communication in Gambia
Business hours and availability
Businesses typically operate from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Friday afternoons are quieter due to mosque attendance (the population is about 95% Muslim). Saturday mornings are working hours for markets and some shops. Government offices keep strict weekday hours and can be hard to reach by phone. For personal calls, evenings after 7 PM work well.
Network quality
Coverage is good in the Greater Banjul area and along the main highway that runs the length of the country. Africell has the best reach into smaller towns up-river. The further east you go from Banjul, the spottier coverage gets. Calls within the western half of the country generally connect without problems.
Language
English is the official language, a legacy of British colonial rule. It's used in government, business, and education. Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula are the most common local languages. Unlike most of its French-speaking neighbors, you can make business calls in English and be understood. For personal calls, the language depends on the person's ethnic group.
The Gambia diaspora
Where Gambians settled
The UK has the largest Gambian diaspora community, concentrated in London and Birmingham. This connection dates to the colonial period and continued through Commonwealth migration. Smaller communities exist in the United States, Spain, Italy, and Scandinavian countries (partly due to tourism-era connections). Many Gambians also live and work in Senegal, where the border is more of a formality than a barrier.
Why they call home
Family calls are the main driver. Remittances from the diaspora are a major part of The Gambia's economy, and phone calls coordinate money transfers and family decisions. Calls spike during Ramadan, Tobaski (Eid al-Adha), and around the start of the school year when families discuss tuition payments.
Dialing examples
Calling a Banjul landline
To call a GAMTEL landline 422 1234:
Dial +220 422 1234. No digits to add or drop.
Calling an Africell mobile
To call an Africell mobile 712 3456:
Dial +220 712 3456.
Calling a QCell mobile
To call a QCell mobile 301 2345:
Dial +220 301 2345.
Calling from a US landline
To call the same Banjul landline from a US landline:
Dial 011-220-422-1234 (011 is the US exit code).
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +221 instead of +220
Senegal is +221, The Gambia is +220. Given that Senegal surrounds The Gambia on three sides, this is the most common error. One wrong digit and you're calling Dakar instead of Banjul.
Adding a trunk prefix
The Gambia has no trunk prefix. Don't add a 0 before the number. Dialing +220 0 712 3456 gives you 8 digits instead of 7 and will fail.
Not recognizing the carrier from the number
If someone gives you just a 7-digit number starting with 7, it's Africell. Starting with 3, it's QCell. Starting with 9, it's Gamcel. Starting with 4, it's a landline. This matters less for international callers (you just dial the number), but it helps when troubleshooting connection issues.
Calling during Friday prayers
The Gambia is predominantly Muslim. Friday afternoon (roughly 1-3 PM local time) is prayer time, and many people won't answer calls. Schedule calls for morning or later afternoon on Fridays.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +220 code?
The Gambia. Any number starting with +220 is a Gambian number.
How many digits are in a Gambian phone number?
Seven digits after the +220 country code. There is no trunk prefix, so the local number and the international number are the same.
Is it "Gambia" or "The Gambia"?
The official name is "The Gambia" (with the capital T). The "The" distinguishes the country from the Gambia River. In practice, most people just say "Gambia" in casual conversation.
Do people in The Gambia speak English?
Yes. English is the official language and is used in business, government, and schools. Local languages (Mandinka, Wolof, Fula) are spoken at home.
Which carrier should I call in The Gambia?
From abroad, it doesn't matter -- you just dial the number. But if you're choosing a SIM for someone in The Gambia, Africell has the widest coverage.
What's the best time to call The Gambia from the UK?
The Gambia is on GMT year-round, so in winter there's no time difference from the UK. In summer (BST), The Gambia is one hour behind. Any time during UK business hours works well.
For more dialing guides, see our complete country code directory. You may also find these nearby guides useful: +221 Senegal and +224 Guinea.