The +242 country code is for the Republic of the Congo, commonly called Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from its much larger neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, +243). This is the smaller Congo -- about 6 million people, sitting on the western side of the Congo River. Brazzaville, the capital, faces Kinshasa across the river in one of the only places on earth where two national capitals are directly opposite each other. French is the official language. The country is a major oil producer (most of the economy runs on petroleum), and Pointe-Noire on the coast is the economic hub while Brazzaville is the political capital. The country went through a civil war in the late 1990s but has been stable under the same president since 1997.
Quick answer: The country code +242 is for Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Phone numbers are 9 digits after +242. Mobile numbers start with 04, 05, or 06:
+242 06 XXX XXXX. Landlines start with 22:+242 22 XXX XXXX. There is no trunk prefix -- dial the full number as-is.
How to call Republic of the Congo: quick reference
Congo-Brazzaville does not use a trunk prefix. The local number is the same as what you dial internationally, just add +242 in front. No leading 0 to drop.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +242 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-242-[local number] |
| UK | 00-242-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-242-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-242-[local number] |
| France | 00-242-[local number] |
Understanding Republic of the Congo phone numbers
All Congo-Brazzaville phone numbers are 9 digits after +242. The first two digits identify mobile vs landline and the carrier.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers are 9 digits starting with 04, 05, or 06:
- 06 XXX XXXX: Airtel Congo
- 05 XXX XXXX: MTN Congo
- 04 XXX XXXX: Africell Congo
The format is consistent -- always 9 digits after +242, no variation.
Landline numbers
Landlines start with 22 and are 9 digits after +242:
| Prefix | City |
|---|---|
| 22 2XX | Brazzaville |
| 22 4XX | Pointe-Noire |
Landlines are rare outside these two cities. Most Congolese rely entirely on mobile phones.
Mobile carriers in Republic of the Congo
Congo-Brazzaville has three mobile operators. The market is smaller than many African countries -- only about 6 million people -- so coverage outside the two main cities can be inconsistent.
Airtel Congo
The market leader with the broadest coverage. Uses the 06 prefix. Airtel inherited the old Celtel/Zain network and has the strongest presence in both Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, plus reasonable coverage along the main road connecting the two cities and in the southern towns (Dolisie, Nkayi). Most people you call in Congo-Brazzaville will be on Airtel.
MTN Congo
The second operator, part of the South African MTN Group. Uses the 05 prefix. Strong in urban areas, competitive with Airtel on pricing and data services. Coverage outside Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire is more limited than Airtel's.
Africell Congo
The newest entrant, using the 04 prefix. Smaller network and subscriber base. Primarily covers Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. If you are calling someone in a smaller town, they are unlikely to be on Africell.
Don't confuse +242 with nearby codes
The +242 code has one very common point of confusion and a few minor ones:
| Code | Country | Why it's confusing |
|---|---|---|
| +243 | DR Congo (Kinshasa) | The big one. Two countries both called "Congo," codes differ by one digit. +242 is Brazzaville, +243 is Kinshasa. |
| +241 | Gabon | Neighboring country, off by one digit. |
| +237 | Cameroon | Same Central African region, similar code range. |
| +240 | Equatorial Guinea | Close code, nearby country. |
The +242/+243 confusion is the one that actually causes problems. Both countries are called Congo, both are French-speaking, and the capitals face each other across the same river. If you need Brazzaville, dial +242. If you need Kinshasa, dial +243. Get the last digit wrong and your call lands in the wrong country.
Time zone considerations
Congo-Brazzaville uses West Africa Time (WAT), UTC+1 year-round. No daylight saving time.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM in Brazzaville |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | +6 hours | 3:00 AM in New York |
| US West Coast (PST) | +9 hours | 12:00 AM (midnight) in LA |
| UK (GMT) | +1 hour | 8:00 AM in London |
| France (CET) | Same time | 9:00 AM in Paris |
| DR Congo / Kinshasa (WAT) | Same time | 9:00 AM in Kinshasa |
| Australia (AEDT) | -10 hours | 7:00 PM in Sydney |
Brazzaville and Kinshasa are on the same time zone, so cross-river calls have no time difference to worry about. France is also the same time during French winter (CET = UTC+1).
Communication in Republic of the Congo
Business hours and language
Business hours are roughly 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Government offices are similar but can be unpredictable. French is the language of business, education, and government. Lingala and Kituba (Munukutuba) are the two main lingua francas -- Lingala in the north and in Brazzaville, Kituba in the south and in Pointe-Noire. International callers will generally communicate in French.
Communication patterns
Mobile phones dominate communication. SIM penetration is above 100% in the main cities because many people carry multiple SIMs to take advantage of on-network pricing (calls between the same carrier are cheaper). WhatsApp is widely used for messaging in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, but voice calls remain the preferred method for most people, especially for anything important or urgent.
Network quality
Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have 3G and 4G coverage from all three carriers. The national road (Route Nationale 1) between the two cities has reasonable coverage along most of its length. Beyond that, things get sparse. The northern half of the country (Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette provinces) is mostly dense equatorial forest with minimal or no mobile coverage. If you are calling someone in a smaller town like Owando, Ouesso, or Impfondo, they may have intermittent service at best.
The Republic of the Congo diaspora
The Congolese diaspora from Brazzaville is concentrated in a few locations, with France being the overwhelmingly dominant destination.
Where they went
France is home to the largest Congolese community abroad. Estimates range from 50,000 to over 100,000, concentrated in the Paris region (especially the northern suburbs, Seine-Saint-Denis). Lyon and Marseille also have communities. The colonial and linguistic connection makes France the natural first choice, and many Congolese students study at French universities.
DR Congo (Kinshasa) is technically across a river, not across an ocean. Brazzaville and Kinshasa share ethnic groups (especially Kongo/Bakongo people), and people move between the two cities by ferry. Many families span both sides of the river.
Gabon and Cameroon have drawn Congolese migrants looking for work in the oil industry (Gabon) or in commerce. The Central African community tends to be interconnected.
Why they call
Calls from the French diaspora back to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire make up the largest share. Family calls, especially around holidays and weekends. Sunday is the traditional day for family calls. Remittances from France to Congo-Brazzaville are substantial, and phone calls coordinate money transfers. Cross-river calls between Brazzaville and Kinshasa are also frequent, though those are technically international calls (+242 to +243).
Dialing examples
Calling an Airtel mobile in Brazzaville
Local number: 06 612 3456. Dial: +242 06 612 3456. From a US landline: 011 242 06 612 3456.
Calling a Brazzaville landline
Local number: 22 281 2345. Dial: +242 22 281 2345. From France: 00 242 22 281 2345.
Calling an MTN mobile in Pointe-Noire
Local number: 05 534 5678. Dial: +242 05 534 5678. From the UK: 00 242 05 534 5678.
Calling a Pointe-Noire landline
Local number: 22 494 1234. Dial: +242 22 494 1234. From Germany: 00 242 22 494 1234.
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +243 (DR Congo) instead of +242
This is the most common mistake. +242 is Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo, smaller, western side of the river). +243 is Congo-Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, much larger, eastern side). One digit difference, completely different country. If your call connects and someone answers in Lingala but you do not recognize them, check which +24X you dialed.
Adding a trunk prefix
Congo-Brazzaville has no trunk prefix. Do not add a leading 0 before the number. The 9-digit number (like 06 612 3456) is the complete number. Just put +242 in front.
Assuming Pointe-Noire numbers work like Brazzaville numbers
Mobile numbers work the same everywhere in the country. But if you are calling a landline, Brazzaville landlines start with 22 2XX and Pointe-Noire landlines start with 22 4XX. Make sure you have the right city prefix.
Expecting coverage outside the two cities
Congo-Brazzaville is mostly equatorial forest north of the Brazzaville-Pointe-Noire corridor. If you are calling someone in the north, coverage is unreliable. Try to arrange call times in advance when they are in a location with service.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +242 country code?
+242 is the Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville. It is the smaller of the two Congos, on the western side of the Congo River. The larger DR Congo (Kinshasa) is +243.
What is the difference between +242 and +243?
+242 is the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville, capital Brazzaville, about 6 million people). +243 is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa, capital Kinshasa, about 100 million people). Different countries, one digit apart.
How do I call a mobile number in Congo-Brazzaville?
Dial +242 followed by the 9-digit mobile number. For example: +242 06 612 3456. There is no trunk prefix to drop. From a US landline, dial 011 242 06 612 3456.
What language do they speak in Congo-Brazzaville?
French is the official language and is used in business and government. Lingala is widely spoken in Brazzaville and the north. Kituba (Munukutuba) is common in the south and Pointe-Noire.
Is there a trunk prefix in Congo-Brazzaville?
No. There is no trunk prefix. The 9-digit local number is dialed the same way domestically and internationally. Just add +242 in front for international calls.
For more Central African dialing guides, see +243 DR Congo, +241 Gabon, or browse the full country codes directory.