The +228 country code is for Togo, a narrow West African country wedged between Ghana and Benin. About 8.5 million people live in this strip of land that stretches from the Gulf of Guinea coast up into the Sahel. The capital, Lomé, sits right on the Ghana border, and you can literally walk from one country to the other at the main crossing.
Togo's phone system is simple: 8-digit numbers, no trunk prefix, two mobile operators. French is the official language, so expect French-language greetings and automated menus when you call. The country uses the same numbering structure for both mobile and landline, making it one of the easier West African systems to dial.
Quick answer: The +228 country code is for Togo. Phone numbers are 8 digits with no trunk prefix. Mobile numbers start with 9 (Togocel) or 7 (Moov Africa). Landline numbers start with 2. Dial +228 followed by the 8-digit number.
How to call Togo: quick reference
Togo has no trunk prefix. Numbers are dialed the same way locally and internationally. Just add +228 before the 8-digit number when calling from abroad.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +228 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-228-[local number] |
| UK | 00-228-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-228-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-228-[local number] |
| France | 00-228-[local number] |
Understanding Togo phone numbers
All Togo phone numbers are 8 digits long after the +228 country code. No area codes, no trunk prefix.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 9 or 7, depending on the carrier:
- 90-93 - Togocel (state-owned operator)
- 70-73, 79 - Moov Africa
Format: +228 9X XX XX XX or +228 7X XX XX XX (8 digits total).
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 22 (Lomé) or 23-27 (other regions). Landlines are uncommon outside of businesses and government offices. Most personal communication happens over mobile.
| Type | Starts with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile (Togocel) | 90-93 | +228 90 12 34 56 |
| Mobile (Moov) | 70-73, 79 | +228 70 12 34 56 |
| Landline (Lomé) | 22 | +228 22 12 34 56 |
| Landline (regions) | 23-27 | +228 25 12 34 56 |
Mobile carriers in Togo
Togo has two mobile operators. It's a duopoly, which keeps things simple but means less competitive pressure on pricing than in countries with three or four operators.
Togocel
The state-owned operator (subsidiary of Togo Telecom) with prefixes 90-93. Togocel has the larger subscriber base and wider coverage, especially in rural and northern areas. It also runs T-Money, the dominant mobile money service. Government employees and institutions tend to use Togocel. If you're calling someone in Togo and aren't sure of their carrier, Togocel is the more likely one.
Moov Africa
The private competitor (owned by Maroc Telecom) with prefixes 70-73 and 79. Moov has strong coverage in Lomé and along the main north-south highway but thinner coverage in remote areas. Moov Money competes with T-Money for mobile payments. Moov tends to attract younger subscribers with data-heavy plans.
Don't confuse +228 with nearby codes
Togo's +228 sits in the middle of a dense cluster of West African country codes in the 22x range. Misdialing between neighbors is common.
| Code | Country | Why it's confusing |
|---|---|---|
| +229 | Benin | One digit different (228 vs 229). Benin borders Togo to the east. The most common mixup. |
| +227 | Niger | One digit different (228 vs 227). Both are francophone West African countries. |
| +226 | Burkina Faso | Two digits off (228 vs 226). Burkina Faso borders Togo to the north. |
| +233 | Ghana | Different range but Ghana borders Togo to the west. Cross-border calls are very frequent, especially Lomé to Accra. |
The +228/+229 swap is the most frequent error. If someone answers in Fon or Yoruba instead of Ewe or Kabye, you've probably reached Benin.
Time zone considerations
Togo uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC+0) year-round. No daylight saving time. Same time zone as the UK in winter, same as Ghana next door.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM in Lomé |
|---|---|---|
| New York (EST) | GMT is 5 hours ahead | 4:00 AM in New York |
| Los Angeles (PST) | GMT is 8 hours ahead | 1:00 AM in LA |
| London (GMT) | Same time zone | 9:00 AM in London |
| Paris (CET) | GMT is 1 hour behind | 10:00 AM in Paris |
| Dubai (GST) | GMT is 4 hours behind | 1:00 PM in Dubai |
The Paris-Lomé time difference is just 1 hour, which makes sense given the large Togolese community in France. Calls between the two are easy to schedule. For US callers, the gap is the same as with the UK.
Communication in Togo
Business hours and communication style
Government offices operate 7:30 AM to 12 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The long lunch break is standard. Many businesses close Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. French is used for all formal communication, and you'll need at least basic French for most phone interactions. Ewe is the most widely spoken local language in the south, Kabye in the north.
Network quality
Coverage in Lomé and along the main N1 highway running north to Kara and Dapaong is solid, with 4G available in urban areas. Rural areas away from the highway have patchier coverage, mostly 2G. Call quality is generally acceptable, better than many neighboring countries. Power outages happen but are less severe than in some West African nations.
Mobile money
T-Money (Togocel) and Moov Money are widely used for payments, transfers, and even paying bills. If you're sending money to someone in Togo, mobile money transfers are often more practical than bank transfers. Many small businesses operate entirely through mobile money.
The Togo diaspora
An estimated 2-3 million Togolese live outside the country. Political instability and economic factors have driven emigration for decades.
France
France has the largest Togolese community abroad, concentrated in the Paris region (especially Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne). Colonial ties established the migration pattern, and French-language compatibility makes integration easier. The Lomé-Paris phone corridor is one of the busiest for +228. Many Togolese in France send remittances home via mobile money.
Ghana
Lomé sits directly on the Ghana border, and cross-border movement is constant. Many Togolese work in Accra or other Ghanaian cities. The Ewe ethnic group spans both countries, so family calls across the border are daily occurrences. Some people near the border carry both Togolese (+228) and Ghanaian (+233) SIM cards.
Nigeria and other West African countries
Lagos has a Togolese trading community, and smaller populations exist in Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Cameroon. West African regional migration is fluid, and Togolese traders are present in markets across the region.
Germany and the United States
Germany has a Togolese community rooted in the colonial period (Togo was a German protectorate from 1884 to 1914). Hamburg and Berlin have the largest concentrations. The US community is smaller but present in cities like New York, Washington DC, and Dallas.
Dialing examples
Calling a Togocel mobile from the US
The number is 90 12 34 56.
From a US mobile: +228 90 12 34 56
From a US landline: 011-228-90-12-34-56
Calling a Lomé landline from France
The number is 22 12 34 56.
From a French mobile: +228 22 12 34 56
From a French landline: 00-228-22-12-34-56
Calling a Moov mobile from the UK
The number is 70 56 78 90.
From a UK mobile: +228 70 56 78 90
From a UK landline: 00-228-70-56-78-90
Local calls within Togo
Dial the 8-digit number directly. No prefix needed. To call that Togocel mobile locally: 90 12 34 56.
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +229 (Benin) instead of +228
The most common error. One digit separates Togo from Benin. If someone answers in Fon instead of French or Ewe, check the code. Togo is +228, Benin is +229.
Adding a trunk prefix
Togo has no trunk prefix. Don't add a 0 before the number. Dial +228 followed by exactly 8 digits. Some people add a 0 by habit from calling countries that use one (like France or Ghana), but +228-0-90123456 gives you 9 digits, which won't connect.
Confusing Togo with Ghana numbers
If someone near the Lomé border gives you a number, ask which country it's for. People in the border area often have both Togolese and Ghanaian numbers. A Togolese number is +228 (8 digits), a Ghanaian number is +233 (9 digits after dropping the trunk prefix 0).
Not speaking French
Togo is francophone. If you call a business or government office and speak English, you may not get far. Automated phone systems, voicemail greetings, and customer service are all in French. If you don't speak French, have someone who does help with the initial call or use WhatsApp to communicate in writing first.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +228 code?
Togo, a narrow West African country between Ghana and Benin. The capital is Lomé, located on the coast at the Ghana border.
How many digits are in a Togo phone number?
Eight digits after the +228 country code. There is no trunk prefix, so the full international format is +228 followed by 8 digits.
What's the difference between +228 and +229?
+228 is Togo, +229 is Benin. They differ by one digit and are the most commonly confused pair. Togo is to the west, Benin is to the east. Both are francophone.
What language will I hear when calling Togo?
French. Togo is a francophone country. Business calls, automated systems, and voicemail are in French. Local languages (Ewe in the south, Kabye in the north) are used in casual conversation.
Do I need to drop a 0 when calling Togo?
No. Togo has no trunk prefix. The 8-digit number you see is exactly what you dial after +228. No digits to add or remove.
For more West African dialing guides, see our articles on Ghana (+233), Benin (+229), and Niger (+227), or browse the full country code directory.