The +245 country code belongs to Guinea-Bissau, a small Portuguese-speaking nation on West Africa's Atlantic coast. If you've received a call from a number starting with +245, it came from Guinea-Bissau. The country sits between Senegal to the north and Guinea (Conakry) to the south and east, and includes the Bijagos archipelago off its coast.
Guinea-Bissau has about two million people, with the capital Bissau home to roughly a third of them. The country gained independence from Portugal in 1974 after a long liberation war, and Portuguese remains the official language alongside the widely spoken Guinea-Bissau Creole (Kriol). The economy depends heavily on cashew nut exports.
Quick answer: The +245 country code is Guinea-Bissau. Phone numbers are 7 digits after the country code. There is no trunk prefix. Mobile numbers generally start with 5 or 9, and landline numbers start with 3 (Bissau area). Dial +245 followed by all 7 digits.
How to call Guinea-Bissau: quick reference
Guinea-Bissau has no trunk prefix, so you dial all 7 digits of the local number after the country code. The format is the same for both mobile and landline numbers.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +245 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-245-[local number] |
| UK | 00-245-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-245-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-245-[local number] |
| France | 00-245-[local number] |
Understanding Guinea-Bissau phone numbers
All Guinea-Bissau phone numbers are 7 digits after the +245 country code. There is no trunk prefix, and you never need to add or remove a leading zero.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers in Guinea-Bissau typically start with 5 (Orange) or 9 (MTN). The full format is +245 XXX XXXX. For example, a number like +245 955 1234 would be an Orange mobile, while +245 966 5678 would be an MTN mobile.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 3 for the Bissau area. Landlines are far less common than mobiles, and most are concentrated in the capital. The format is the same 7 digits: +245 3XX XXXX.
Area codes
Guinea-Bissau uses a closed numbering plan with no separate area codes. The first digits of the number identify the network or region:
| Prefix | Type / operator |
|---|---|
| 3 | Landline (Bissau area) |
| 55, 56, 57 | Orange mobile |
| 95, 96, 97 | MTN mobile |
Mobile carriers in Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau has two mobile operators. The fixed-line network, managed by Guiné Telecom, has limited coverage mostly in Bissau.
Orange Guinea-Bissau
Orange (formerly Guinétel+) is the larger of the two mobile operators. It provides 2G and 3G coverage in Bissau and major towns, with more limited service in rural areas. Orange mobile numbers typically use the 55, 56, and 57 prefixes.
MTN Guinea-Bissau
MTN (which took over from Spacetel/Areeba) is the second mobile operator. Coverage is similar to Orange in urban areas but patchier in the countryside. MTN numbers use the 95, 96, and 97 prefixes. Both operators sell prepaid SIM cards widely.
Don't confuse +245 with nearby codes
Guinea-Bissau's +245 code gets mixed up with several other "Guinea" countries. The name alone causes confusion, so pay attention to the digits.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +245 | Guinea-Bissau | Portuguese-speaking, 7-digit numbers |
| +224 | Guinea (Conakry) | French-speaking, 9-digit numbers |
| +240 | Equatorial Guinea | Spanish-speaking, 9-digit numbers |
| +675 | Papua New Guinea | Pacific island, 8-digit numbers |
The most common mistake is dialing +224 (Guinea/Conakry) when you mean +245 (Guinea-Bissau) or vice versa. Guinea-Conakry is the much larger French-speaking neighbour to the south. If someone says "Guinea" without further context, ask whether they mean Bissau or Conakry.
Time zone considerations
Guinea-Bissau is on GMT (UTC+0) year-round. The country does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset never changes.
| Your time zone | Guinea-Bissau offset | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East (EST/EDT) | +5 hours | 8am-12pm your time (1pm-5pm Bissau) |
| US West (PST/PDT) | +8 hours | 7am-10am your time (3pm-6pm Bissau) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 0 / -1 hour | Same time zone in winter |
| Central Europe (CET) | -1 / -2 hours | 10am-6pm your time |
| Portugal (WET) | 0 / -1 hour | Same time zone in winter |
Portugal is included here because it is the most common calling origin for Guinea-Bissau due to the large diaspora there.
Communication in Guinea-Bissau
Business hours and calling patterns
Business hours in Guinea-Bissau are typically 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday, with a long lunch break common from noon to 2pm. Government offices often keep shorter hours. Saturday mornings are semi-working for markets and shops, but most businesses close by 1pm. Avoid calling on Sunday unless the person expects it.
Language considerations
The official language is Portuguese, but most daily communication happens in Kriol (Guinea-Bissau Creole), a Portuguese-based creole language spoken by the majority of the population. Ethnic languages like Balanta, Fula, and Mandinka are also common. In business settings and with the diaspora, Portuguese is the main language.
Network quality
Telecommunications infrastructure in Guinea-Bissau is limited. Mobile coverage is available in Bissau and regional towns, but rural areas and the Bijagos islands have patchy or no signal. 3G data is available in the capital, but speeds are slow by international standards. Power outages are frequent and can disrupt phone service. If a call doesn't connect, try again later rather than assuming the number is wrong.
The Guinea-Bissau diaspora
Where they went
The Guinea-Bissau diaspora is concentrated in Portugal, which is by far the primary destination due to colonial history and shared language. Lisbon has a particularly large community. Significant populations also live in Senegal (especially the Casamance region, which borders Guinea-Bissau), France, Spain, and The Gambia. Smaller communities exist in other parts of Europe and in Brazil.
Why they call
Family ties drive most calls to Guinea-Bissau. The diaspora in Portugal regularly contacts relatives back home, especially in Bissau and the southern regions. Calls spike around religious holidays (both Muslim and Christian, as the country is roughly split between the two faiths), during cashew harvest season (March to June) when family finances are discussed, and around political events given the country's turbulent political history. Remittances from the diaspora are a significant source of income for families in Guinea-Bissau, and calls often accompany money transfers.
Dialing examples
Calling an Orange mobile in Bissau
To call an Orange mobile number 555 1234:
From US/Canada mobile: +245 555 1234
From US/Canada landline: 011-245-555-1234
From Portugal: 00-245-555-1234
Calling an MTN mobile
To call an MTN mobile number 966 5678:
From US/Canada mobile: +245 966 5678
From UK: 00-245-966-5678
From France: 00-245-966-5678
Calling a landline in Bissau
To call a Bissau landline 320 1234:
From US/Canada mobile: +245 320 1234
From US/Canada landline: 011-245-320-1234
From Portugal: 00-245-320-1234
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing +245 with +224
This is the most common error. +245 is Guinea-Bissau (Portuguese-speaking, 7-digit numbers). +224 is Guinea/Conakry (French-speaking, 9-digit numbers). If your call reaches someone speaking French instead of Portuguese or Kriol, you probably dialed the wrong country code.
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
Guinea-Bissau has no trunk prefix. Do not add a leading 0 before the local number. If someone gives you a 7-digit number, dial it exactly as given after +245. The number +245 555 1234 is correct; +245 0555 1234 is wrong.
Expecting the call to connect on the first try
Guinea-Bissau's telecom infrastructure is unreliable. Power outages, network congestion, and limited coverage mean calls often fail to connect on the first attempt. If you get a "number not reachable" message, wait a few minutes and try again. This is especially true during evening hours when network traffic peaks.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +245 code?
+245 is the country code for Guinea-Bissau, a small Portuguese-speaking country in West Africa. Do not confuse it with +224 (Guinea/Conakry) or +240 (Equatorial Guinea).
How many digits are Guinea-Bissau phone numbers?
Guinea-Bissau phone numbers are 7 digits after the +245 country code, for both mobile and landline numbers. There is no trunk prefix to add or remove.
What language do people speak in Guinea-Bissau?
Portuguese is the official language, but most people speak Kriol (Guinea-Bissau Creole) in daily life. Various ethnic languages including Balanta, Fula, and Mandinka are also spoken.
Is +245 the same as +224?
No. +245 is Guinea-Bissau and +224 is Guinea (also called Guinea-Conakry). They are neighbouring but separate countries with different languages (Portuguese vs. French) and different phone number formats (7 digits vs. 9 digits).
Why won't my call to Guinea-Bissau connect?
Guinea-Bissau has limited telecom infrastructure with frequent power outages. If your call does not connect, check that you are dialing +245 (not +224), that the number is 7 digits with no leading zero, and try again after a few minutes. Evening hours are when networks are most congested.
For more West African dialing guides, see our articles on Guinea (+224), Senegal (+221), and Gambia (+220). Browse all guides on our country codes hub.