The +237 country code is for Cameroon. A country of about 28 million people on the hinge of West and Central Africa, Cameroon sits where the continent bends from its western bulge southward toward the Congo Basin. Yaoundé is the political capital. Douala, the coastal port city, is where the money is. Cameroon is sometimes called "Africa in miniature" because it has coastline, rainforest, savanna, desert, and mountains all within its borders. It's also one of the few countries in Africa where both French and English are official languages -- a legacy of being split between French and British colonial mandates after World War I.

Quick answer: The country code +237 is for Cameroon. All Cameroonian numbers are 9 digits after +237. Mobile numbers start with 6: +237 6XX XXX XXX. Landlines start with 2: +237 2XX XXX XXX. There is no trunk prefix -- dial the number exactly as written.

How to call Cameroon: quick reference

Cameroon does not use a trunk prefix. The domestic number is the same as the international number minus the country code. No leading 0 to drop.

Calling from Dialing format
US/Canada mobile +237 [9-digit number]
US/Canada landline 011-237-[9-digit number]
United Kingdom (UK) 00-237-[9-digit number]
France 00-237-[9-digit number]
Germany 00-237-[9-digit number]
Nigeria 009-237-[9-digit number]
Belgium 00-237-[9-digit number]

France is listed because Cameroon was a French mandate territory and the largest Cameroonian diaspora is in France. Germany is included because of the colonial history -- Cameroon was a German colony (Kamerun) from 1884 to 1916. Nigeria shares Cameroon's western border and there's constant cross-border traffic. Belgium has a sizeable Cameroonian community in Brussels.

Understanding Cameroonian phone numbers

Cameroon switched to a closed 9-digit numbering plan in 2014. Before that, numbers were 8 digits. If you find an old Cameroonian number with 8 digits, it won't work anymore -- you'd need to figure out the updated 9-digit version.

The numbering plan is clean. The first digit tells you what kind of number it is:

  • 6XX XXX XXX: Mobile number.
  • 2XX XXX XXX: Landline number.

That's it. No trunk prefix, no area code confusion. If someone gives you a Cameroonian number, add +237 in front and dial.

Mobile numbers

Cameroon has three mobile operators:

  • MTN Cameroon: Prefixes 67X, 65X (some), 68X. South Africa's MTN Group entered Cameroon in 2000 and is the market leader with roughly 60% of subscribers. The yellow MTN branding is everywhere -- painted on shops, kiosks, walls. MTN has the best nationwide coverage, including rural areas.
  • Orange Cameroun: Prefixes 69X, 65X (some). French-owned (Orange Group). The second-largest carrier. Strong in urban areas and particularly in francophone regions. Orange Money is the dominant mobile money platform in Cameroon.
  • Camtel Mobile (formerly Nexttel): Prefix 66X. The state-owned Camtel's mobile arm, originally launched as a joint venture with Vietnamese firm Viettel under the Nexttel brand. Viettel pulled out in 2021 after a messy dispute, and the operation reverted to Camtel. Third player with the smallest market share. Coverage is patchier than MTN or Orange.

Most Cameroonians use MTN or Orange. Many carry two SIM cards -- one for each carrier -- to take advantage of on-network calling rates and because coverage gaps mean one network might work where the other doesn't.

Landline numbers

Cameroonian landlines start with 2 and embed the regional code in the 9-digit number:

  • Yaoundé: Numbers starting with 222.
  • Douala: Numbers starting with 233.
  • Bafoussam: Numbers starting with 244.
  • Garoua: Numbers starting with 227.

Landlines are rare in Cameroon outside of government offices, hotels, and some businesses. The mobile penetration rate is over 80%, while landline penetration is in the low single digits. If someone gives you a +237 number, it's almost certainly mobile.

Don't confuse +237 with +236

Cameroon is +237. The Central African Republic (CAR) is +236. One digit apart, they share a border. The Central African Republic has a population of about 5 million and has been in a state of chronic instability -- the telecom infrastructure barely functions in much of the country. If you dial +236 instead of +237, you'll reach a very different place.

Code Country Region
+237 Cameroon Central/West Africa
+236 Central African Republic Central Africa
+238 Cape Verde West Africa (Atlantic islands)

Another occasional mix-up: +238 is Cape Verde (Cabo Verde), the island nation off the west coast of Africa. Nothing like Cameroon geographically.

Time zone: UTC+1

Cameroon is on West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1) year-round with no daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as Nigeria, DR Congo (western half), and several other West/Central African countries. It's also the same offset as Central European Time (CET) in winter.

Your location Time difference Call Cameroon 9 AM - 6 PM
US East Coast (EST) Cameroon is 6 hours ahead 3 AM - 12 PM EST
US East Coast (EDT) Cameroon is 5 hours ahead 4 AM - 1 PM EDT
US West Coast (PST) Cameroon is 9 hours ahead 12 AM - 9 AM PST
UK (GMT) Cameroon is 1 hour ahead 8 AM - 5 PM GMT
UK (BST) Same time zone 9 AM - 6 PM BST
France (CET) Same time zone (winter) 9 AM - 6 PM CET
France (CEST) Cameroon is 1 hour behind 10 AM - 7 PM CEST
Nigeria (WAT) Same time zone 9 AM - 6 PM WAT

Tip: The France-Cameroon time gap is the most forgiving of any African diaspora connection -- at most one hour difference, and in winter it's identical. US East Coast callers have a reasonable window in the morning.

The bilingual divide

Cameroon is officially bilingual: French and English. In practice, about 80% of the population lives in the eight francophone regions, and about 20% in the two anglophone regions (Northwest and Southwest). This isn't just a language difference -- it maps to different legal systems (civil law vs. common law), different school systems, and different colonial histories.

For callers, this matters because the person answering a +237 number might speak French, English, or one of Cameroon's roughly 250 local languages. In Douala and Yaoundé, French is the default business language. In Bamenda or Buea, English is more common. If you're calling a business, French is the safer bet. If you're calling the anglophone regions, English works.

The anglophone crisis, which escalated into armed conflict in 2017, has severely disrupted life and telecommunications in the Northwest and Southwest regions. Internet shutdowns lasting months have been imposed by the government. If you're trying to reach someone in Bamenda, Buea, Kumba, or the surrounding areas, connectivity can be unreliable for reasons that have nothing to do with the carrier.

The carriers: MTN vs. Orange

MTN Cameroon dominates. Roughly 15 million subscribers, making it one of MTN's largest African operations. The coverage map extends into rural areas where Orange doesn't reach. MTN was also the first to launch 4G in Cameroon. If you're calling someone in a village, there's a decent chance they're on MTN.

Orange Cameroun is the preferred carrier in urban francophone areas and among business users. Orange Money, launched in 2011, became Cameroon's leading mobile money platform. A huge portion of economic transactions in Cameroon now flow through Orange Money -- paying bills, sending remittances, buying airtime, paying for taxis. When Cameroonians abroad send money home, Orange Money is often the final-mile delivery.

Camtel Mobile is the underdog. The state-owned carrier controls Cameroon's fixed-line infrastructure and internet backbone (Camtel is the only operator with direct access to the undersea fibre-optic cables landing at Kribi). But its mobile operation has struggled with poor management and the Viettel departure. A 66X number is less common than 67X or 69X.

Mobile money: the real financial system

Like much of sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon's mobile money ecosystem is more important than its banking sector for ordinary people. About 45% of Cameroonians have a mobile money account; fewer than 15% have a traditional bank account.

Orange Money is the market leader. MTN MoMo (Mobile Money) is the second player. Between them, they handle billions of CFA francs in transactions monthly. Market women, taxi drivers, and small shops all accept mobile money. Sending money from abroad to a Cameroonian mobile money wallet is one of the most common uses of international transfers.

The CFA franc (XAF) is Cameroon's currency, pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 655.957 XAF per EUR. This peg has been in place since 1999 (and before that, pegged to the French franc). For the French diaspora, this means currency conversion is predictable and nearly free.

The diaspora connection

Cameroon's diaspora is smaller than some West African countries but concentrated and active:

  • France: The largest Cameroonian diaspora, roughly 200,000-300,000 people. Concentrated in Paris (especially the 18th and 20th arrondissements), Marseille, Lyon, and Bordeaux. The colonial connection means the migration pipeline is well-established. Many Cameroonians in France maintain strong ties -- sending money, calling regularly, visiting during summer holidays.
  • United States: About 50,000-80,000 Cameroonian-Americans, concentrated in the Washington DC/Maryland area (the largest community), Houston, New York, and Atlanta. The US community skews anglophone -- many are from the Northwest and Southwest regions, and the anglophone crisis drove a wave of asylum seekers after 2017.
  • United Kingdom: Growing community, many from the anglophone regions. London is the main hub.
  • Germany: About 30,000 Cameroonians, a legacy of the colonial period (Germany ruled Kamerun from 1884 to 1916). Hamburg, Berlin, and the Ruhr cities have established communities.
  • Belgium: Significant community in Brussels, Cameroon's former administrative neighbour through the Belgian Congo connection.
  • Nigeria: Hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians living in Nigeria, especially in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states along the border. The border is porous and many families straddle it.

Football is the strongest cultural bond. When the Indomitable Lions play, Cameroonian communities worldwide light up. Samuel Eto'o remains a national hero. Calling home to discuss a match result is a genuine reason for international calls spiking.

Internet and calling apps

WhatsApp is the dominant messaging and calling app in Cameroon, as in most of francophone Africa. Voice notes on WhatsApp are particularly popular -- many people prefer sending a voice message to typing. WhatsApp calls are the default way to avoid international calling charges.

Facebook Messenger is also widely used, particularly for group conversations and among older users who discovered Facebook before WhatsApp.

Internet access in Cameroon is improving but still expensive relative to incomes. Cameroon's internet penetration is around 35-40%. 4G is available in Douala, Yaoundé, and major cities, but rural areas often rely on 3G or 2G. Government-ordered internet shutdowns in the anglophone regions (multiple incidents since 2017) have pushed some users toward VPNs and offline communication methods.

Camtel controls the undersea cable infrastructure, which creates a bottleneck. Internet speeds are generally slower and more expensive than in neighbouring Nigeria, which has a more competitive market.

The 2014 number change

In November 2014, Cameroon migrated from 8-digit to 9-digit phone numbers. A "6" was prepended to mobile numbers and a "2" to landline numbers. If you have an old Cameroonian contact saved as +237 7X XXX XXX (8 digits starting with 7), the current number is +237 67X XXX XXX (9 digits). Similarly, old landline numbers that started with 3 became 23X XXX XXX.

This migration was cleaner than some African countries' renumbering exercises. Most people updated their contacts quickly because the rule was simple: add a digit to the front.

Douala vs. Yaoundé

Cameroon has two competing centres. Yaoundé is the political capital, home to the presidency, government ministries, and embassies. It sits in the interior at about 750 metres elevation, which makes it slightly cooler than the coast. Douala is the economic capital, the largest city (about 4 million people), the main port, and where most businesses and industries are based. Douala is hot, humid, and built on the Wouri River estuary.

Most international business calls to Cameroon go to Douala numbers. Government and diplomatic calls go to Yaoundé. If you're not sure which city your contact is in, the phone number itself won't tell you for mobile calls (67X, 69X, etc. are not city-specific). For landlines, 222 is Yaoundé and 233 is Douala.

Dialing examples

Cameroon's lack of a trunk prefix makes dialing straightforward.

Example 1: Calling a Douala mobile (MTN) from the US

  • Cameroonian number: 671 234 567
  • From a US mobile: +237 671 234 567
  • From a US landline: 011 237 671 234 567

Example 2: Calling a Yaoundé mobile (Orange) from France

  • Cameroonian number: 690 123 456
  • From France: 00 237 690 123 456

Example 3: Calling a Douala landline from the UK

  • Cameroonian number: 233 456 789
  • From UK: 00 237 233 456 789

Example 4: Calling a Bamenda mobile from Nigeria

  • Cameroonian number: 677 890 123
  • From Nigeria: 009 237 677 890 123

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are the most common mistakes when dialing the +237 country code:

  • Adding a leading 0: Cameroon has no trunk prefix. Don't add a 0 before the number. If the number is 671 234 567, dial +237 671 234 567, not +237 0671 234 567.
  • Using an old 8-digit number: If your contact's number is 8 digits, it's pre-2014. Add a 6 in front for mobile numbers, 2 for landlines.
  • Confusing +237 with +236: Central African Republic is +236. One digit difference, very different countries.
  • Expecting English by default: About 80% of Cameroon is francophone. Unless you're calling the Northwest or Southwest regions, expect French.
  • Calling the anglophone regions during shutdowns: The government has imposed internet and sometimes phone restrictions in the Northwest and Southwest. If calls aren't going through to Bamenda or Buea, it might not be a technical problem on your end.

Cheapest ways to call +237 numbers

International calls to Cameroon through traditional carriers cost $0.50-$2 per minute. Ways to bring the cost down:

  • VoIP services: Services like CallSky.io offer competitive per-minute rates to Cameroonian mobile and landline numbers. Check our international calling rates.
  • WhatsApp: Free when both sides have data. The most common way Cameroonians communicate with the diaspora. Voice and video calls cost nothing beyond the data charges.
  • Facebook Messenger: Free with data. Widely used in Cameroon, especially among older users.
  • Calling cards: Available in Cameroonian diaspora communities, particularly in Paris and the DC/Maryland area. Check our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.

For someone in rural Cameroon on a basic feature phone, a regular voice call to their +237 number is the only reliable way to reach them. WhatsApp requires a smartphone and data -- not everyone has both.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What country has the +237 country code?

The +237 country code is for Cameroon.

How many digits is a Cameroonian phone number?

All Cameroonian phone numbers are 9 digits after +237. Mobile numbers start with 6, landlines start with 2.

How do I call Cameroon from the USA?

From a mobile phone, dial +237 followed by the 9-digit number. From a landline, dial the US exit code 011, then 237, then the 9-digit number. No leading 0 to drop.

What time zone is Cameroon in?

Cameroon is on West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1) year-round with no daylight saving. Same as Nigeria.

What is the difference between +237 and +236?

+237 is Cameroon (capital: Yaoundé). +236 is the Central African Republic (capital: Bangui). They share a border.

Does Cameroon have a trunk prefix?

No. Cameroon does not use a trunk prefix. Dial the 9-digit number directly after +237.

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