The +229 country code is for Benin, a French-speaking West African country between Togo and Nigeria. If you see an incoming call starting with +229 or need to reach someone in Cotonou or Porto-Novo, this is what you need to know.
Benin switched to a flat 8-digit numbering system in 2019. No trunk prefix, no area codes. You dial the same 8 digits locally and internationally, just add +229 when calling from outside the country.
Quick answer: Dial +229 followed by the 8-digit local number. No trunk prefix to drop. Mobile numbers start with 40-69 or 90-99. Landlines start with 21-23. Benin uses WAT time (UTC+1) year-round, no daylight saving.
How to call Benin: quick reference
No trunk prefix to worry about. Put +229 (or your country's exit code + 229) in front of the 8-digit number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| France | 00-229-[8-digit number] |
| US/Canada mobile | +229 [8-digit number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-229-[8-digit number] |
| Nigeria | 009-229-[8-digit number] |
| Togo | 00-229-[8-digit number] |
| UK/Germany | 00-229-[8-digit number] |
Understanding Benin phone numbers
All Beninese phone numbers are 8 digits. The first two digits tell you whether it's a mobile or landline and which carrier operates it.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with digits in the 40-69 and 90-99 ranges. The format is always 8 digits:
- Domestic: XX XX XX XX (8 digits)
- International: +229 XX XX XX XX
Common mobile prefixes by carrier:
| Prefix | Carrier |
|---|---|
| 51, 52, 54, 61, 62, 66, 67, 69, 91 | MTN Benin |
| 55, 60, 63, 64, 65, 68, 94, 95 | Moov Africa |
| 90 | Libercom |
| 93 | BBCOM |
Landline numbers
Landlines start with 21, 22, or 23. They follow the same 8-digit format:
| Prefix | Region |
|---|---|
| 21 | Cotonou (economic capital) |
| 22 | Porto-Novo and southern Benin |
| 23 | Northern Benin (Parakou, Natitingou) |
No trunk prefix
Benin has no trunk prefix. You dial the same 8 digits locally and internationally (just add +229 for international). This is simpler than countries like France or Nigeria where you drop a leading 0.
Mobile carriers in Benin
Two operators control most of the market. Coverage works in cities but gets spotty in the rural north.
MTN Benin
About half the mobile market. Part of the South African MTN Group, and has the widest coverage, including some rural areas that Moov doesn't reach. Prefixes: 51, 52, 54, 61, 62, 66, 67, 69, 91.
Moov Africa Benin
Used to be Etisalat Benin, now rebranded under Maroc Telecom's Moov Africa. Good coverage in cities, weaker outside them. Prefixes: 55, 60, 63, 64, 65, 68, 94, 95.
Libercom
State-owned, small subscriber base. Mostly Cotonou and Porto-Novo. Prefix: 90.
BBCOM
Smallest operator, prefix 93. You won't encounter these numbers often.
When calling into Benin, rates vary by carrier. MTN numbers are the cheapest to reach, Moov a bit higher, and BBCOM the most expensive.
Don't confuse +229 with nearby codes
The entire 22X block is West Africa, so codes in this range look similar:
| Code | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| +229 | Benin | This article |
| +228 | Togo | Western neighbor |
| +226 | Burkina Faso | Northern neighbor |
| +227 | Niger | Northern neighbor |
| +234 | Nigeria | Eastern neighbor, much larger country |
| +225 | Cote d'Ivoire | Same region, French-speaking |
| +223 | Mali | Same region, French-speaking |
| +221 | Senegal | Same region, French-speaking |
The most common mix-up: +228 is Togo, +229 is Benin. Off by one digit, and the countries share a border.
Time zone considerations
Benin is on West Africa Time (WAT), UTC+1, all year. No daylight saving.
| Your location | Benin time (WAT) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| New York (EST) | UTC+1 | +6 hours |
| New York (EDT) | UTC+1 | +5 hours |
| Paris | UTC+1 | Same in winter, -1 hour in summer |
| London (GMT) | UTC+1 | +1 hour in winter, same in summer |
| Lagos, Nigeria | UTC+1 | Same time zone |
Best times to call
From France, Benin is in the same time zone during winter (CET = UTC+1) and just one hour behind in summer (CEST = UTC+2). Business hours overlap completely in winter.
From the US East Coast, morning calls (7-10 AM ET) reach Benin in the afternoon (1-4 PM WAT), which is ideal for business. Evening calls from the US hit the middle of the night in Benin.
Communication in Benin
Business hours
Most offices in Cotonou and Porto-Novo work a split schedule: 8 AM to 12:30 PM, then 3 PM to 6:30 PM. The 2.5-hour midday break is real, not a formality. Don't call between 12:30 and 3. Government offices close by 5 PM. Some businesses open Saturday mornings.
Language
French is the official language. If you're calling a business or government office, French is what you'll hear. Locally, Fon is the most common language (about 40% of the population speaks it), with Yoruba in the southeast near the Nigerian border. In the north, Bariba and Dendi are more common than Fon.
Network quality
Mobile coverage works well in Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou, and along major roads. The far north near Pendjari gets patchy. 4G is available in the big cities. VoIP calls are fine where you have a data connection, but outside urban areas the bandwidth can be too thin for stable voice calls.
The Benin diaspora
Where Beninese live abroad
France is the big one: 100,000-150,000 Beninese, mostly in the Paris suburbs. Many came as students and never went back. Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon have large Beninese communities too, people who moved for work in the Francophone job market. There's constant movement across the Nigerian border as well. Smaller communities in the US (New York, DC), Germany, and Belgium.
Why they call home
Extended family is central to Beninese life, and people abroad stay in regular contact. Call volume spikes around Tabaski (Eid al-Adha), Christmas, and January 10 for the Vodun festival, which is a national holiday unique to Benin. A lot of calls are also about money: coordinating remittances, managing family land, checking on relatives in villages where WhatsApp doesn't always work.
Dialing examples
Calling a Cotonou landline from France
Landline number: 21 30 45 67
From France: 00 229 21 30 45 67
Or with + prefix: +229 21 30 45 67
Calling an MTN mobile from the US
MTN number: 66 12 34 56
From US mobile: +229 66 12 34 56
From US landline: 011 229 66 12 34 56
Calling a Moov mobile from Nigeria
Moov number: 65 98 76 54
From Nigeria: 009 229 65 98 76 54
Calling a Porto-Novo landline from the UK
Landline number: 22 21 56 78
From UK: 00 229 22 21 56 78
Common mistakes to avoid
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
Unlike France (+33, drop the 0) or Nigeria (+234, drop the 0), Benin has no trunk prefix. If someone gives you 66 12 34 56, you dial exactly +229 66 12 34 56. Don't add or remove any digits.
Using old 6-digit numbers
Before 2019, Benin used shorter numbers. If you have an old contact saved with 6 digits, it won't connect anymore. The whole country moved to 8 digits. You'll need the updated number.
Mixing up +229 and +228
+228 is Togo, +229 is Benin. One digit apart, and the countries border each other. Worth double-checking.
Calling during the midday break
Businesses close between 12:30 and 3 PM. This catches people off guard because it's a long break. Call before noon or after 3.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses +229?
Benin, a French-speaking country in West Africa between Togo and Nigeria.
How many digits are in a Beninese phone number?
8 digits. All numbers in Benin are 8 digits, both mobile and landline. When calling internationally, add +229 in front for a total of 11 digits.
Does Benin have a trunk prefix?
No. Benin has no trunk prefix. Dial the same 8 digits whether calling locally or from abroad (just add +229 for international calls).
What are the main mobile carriers in Benin?
MTN Benin (largest, prefixes starting with 51-54, 61-62, 66-67, 69, 91) and Moov Africa (prefixes starting with 55, 60, 63-65, 68, 94-95). Libercom (90) and BBCOM (93) are smaller operators.
What time zone is Benin in?
West Africa Time (WAT), UTC+1 year-round. No daylight saving time. Same time zone as Nigeria and France in winter.
What language is spoken in Benin?
French is the official language. Fon and Yoruba are the most widely spoken local languages. Business calls in French will be understood throughout the country.
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