The +250 country code connects you to Rwanda, a small landlocked country in East Africa's Great Lakes region. Rwanda has undergone a sweeping transformation since the 1994 genocide, rebuilding itself as one of Africa's most technologically advanced and well-connected nations. Kigali ranks among the cleanest and safest capital cities on the continent, and the country achieved near-universal 4G coverage before many of its larger neighbors. Whether you're calling family members who remained after the post-genocide diaspora, arranging mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, or doing business in a country that regularly tops ease-of-doing-business rankings in Africa, you'll need to dial +250 followed by a 9-digit local number.
Quick answer: Rwanda's country code is +250. All Rwandan numbers are 9 digits after the country code. Mobile numbers start with 78/79 (MTN) or 72/73 (Airtel). Drop the leading 0 used in domestic dialing. From a US mobile, dial +250 78X XXX XXX. The trunk prefix is 0.
How to call Rwanda: quick reference
Rwanda uses the trunk prefix 0 for domestic calls. When calling internationally, drop the 0 and dial +250 followed by the 9-digit number. The table below shows how to reach Rwanda from common calling countries.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +250 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-250-[local number] |
| UK | 00-250-[local number] |
| Belgium | 00-250-[local number] |
| Kenya | 000-250-[local number] |
| France | 00-250-[local number] |
Understanding Rwanda phone numbers
Mobile numbers
Rwandan mobile numbers are 9 digits after the country code, all starting with 7. The second digit identifies the carrier:
- 078X / 079X - MTN Rwanda
- 072X / 073X - Airtel Rwanda
Domestically, you add a 0 prefix: 0788 XXX XXX (10 digits). Internationally, drop the 0: +250 788 XXX XXX.
Landline numbers
Fixed-line numbers are also 9 digits after the country code. They start with 2 (typically 252 for the Kigali area). Landlines are uncommon outside businesses and government offices - mobile penetration far exceeds fixed-line usage in Rwanda.
Number structure
Rwanda eliminated separate area codes in its numbering reform. Old area codes were folded into the 9-digit number format. What was previously 0252 + local number for Kigali became 252 XXX XXX as part of the unified system. In practice, you rarely need to think about area codes - just drop the leading 0 and dial the remaining 9 digits after +250.
| Number type | Prefix after +250 | Total digits after +250 |
|---|---|---|
| MTN mobile | 78X, 79X | 9 |
| Airtel mobile | 72X, 73X | 9 |
| Landline (Kigali) | 252 | 9 |
Mobile carriers in Rwanda
MTN Rwanda
MTN Rwanda dominates with roughly 60-65% market share. A subsidiary of South Africa's MTN Group, it launched in 1998 as the first mobile operator in Rwanda. MTN numbers use the 078 and 079 prefixes. MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) is the dominant mobile payment platform in the country, used by millions for everything from paying bills to receiving salaries and buying groceries. MTN also operates Rwanda's most extensive 4G network.
Airtel Rwanda
Airtel Rwanda holds the remaining 35-40% of the market. Owned by India's Bharti Airtel, it uses the 072 and 073 prefixes. In 2018, Airtel absorbed Tigo Rwanda (previously owned by Millicom), consolidating the market from three operators to two. Airtel Money competes with MTN MoMo in the mobile payments space, though with smaller market share. Airtel tends to compete on price, offering lower rates on calls and data to attract budget-conscious users.
Don't confuse +250 with nearby codes
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +256 | Uganda | 6 digits apart, neighboring East African country |
| +257 | Burundi | 7 apart, shared colonial history as Ruanda-Urundi |
| +255 | Tanzania | 5 apart, East African Community partner |
| +243 | DR Congo | Western neighbor, Great Lakes region |
The +256 (Uganda) and +257 (Burundi) mix-ups happen most often. Rwanda and Burundi were administered together as Ruanda-Urundi under Belgian mandate from 1916 to 1962, so the countries share deep cultural and linguistic ties. Uganda shares Rwanda's northern border and Kampala is one of the closest foreign capitals to Kigali. The entire 250-257 block covers East Africa (250 Rwanda, 251 Ethiopia, 252 Somalia, 253 Djibouti, 254 Kenya, 255 Tanzania, 256 Uganda, 257 Burundi), so if you're calling around the region, double-check the code before dialing.
Time zone considerations
Rwanda operates on Central Africa Time (CAT), UTC+2 year-round. There's no daylight saving time, so the offset never changes.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM in Kigali |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | +7 hours | 2:00 AM |
| US East Coast (EDT) | +6 hours | 3:00 AM |
| US West Coast (PST) | +10 hours | 11:00 PM (previous day) |
| UK (GMT) | +2 hours | 7:00 AM |
| UK (BST) | +1 hour | 8:00 AM |
| Belgium (CET) | +1 hour | 8:00 AM |
| Belgium (CEST) | Same | 9:00 AM |
| Kenya (EAT) | -1 hour | 10:00 AM |
The best calling window from the US East Coast is late afternoon (3-6 PM EST), which hits 10 PM to 1 AM in Kigali - workable for personal calls but late for business. For business calls, try early morning US time (6-8 AM EST = 1-3 PM in Kigali). UK callers have it easier: a 5 PM GMT call reaches Kigali at 7 PM. Kenya and other East African callers are essentially in the same time zone neighborhood, just one hour apart.
Communication in Rwanda
Business hours and etiquette
Standard business hours in Rwanda run 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Kigali operates with a punctuality that surprises visitors used to more flexible timekeeping elsewhere in the region. Government offices and banks close promptly. Saturday mornings are common for business meetings, especially in the private sector. The last Saturday of every month is Umuganda, a mandatory community service morning - offices, shops, and roads are largely deserted until around 11 AM, so avoid scheduling calls during this time.
Language
Rwanda has four official languages: Kinyarwanda (spoken by virtually everyone), English, French, and Swahili. The country switched its education system from French to English in 2008, creating a generational divide. Older professionals tend to be more comfortable in French, while younger Rwandans increasingly prefer English. Business calls may switch between languages mid-conversation. Government communications are increasingly in English.
Network quality
Rwanda invested heavily in telecommunications infrastructure as part of its Vision 2020 modernization program. 4G LTE covers most of the country, including rural areas - unusual for the region. Kigali has fiber-optic broadband and free public WiFi in parts of the city center. Voice call quality is generally good by regional standards, though rural mountainous areas near the DRC border can have patchy coverage. Power outages occur but are less frequent than in neighboring countries, and most cell towers have backup generators.
The Rwanda diaspora
Where they went
Rwanda's diaspora is shaped primarily by the 1994 genocide and its aftermath. An estimated 2 million Rwandans fled during and after the genocide, and while many have returned, large communities remain abroad. The Democratic Republic of Congo hosts the largest concentration, particularly in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, where the line between Rwandan diaspora and indigenous Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese is politically contentious. Uganda has 200,000-400,000 Rwandans, many from families that fled earlier waves of ethnic violence in the 1950s and 60s. Belgium, the former colonial power, has 30,000-50,000. France has 10,000-20,000 despite the fractured diplomatic relationship over France's role during the genocide. The US has growing communities in Atlanta, Dallas, and the Washington DC area, estimated at 20,000-30,000. Canada (particularly Toronto and Montreal), the UK, and Kenya also have notable Rwandan populations.
Why they call
Calls to Rwanda carry weight beyond catching up. Many diaspora families were separated by the genocide and its aftermath, and phone calls maintain connections that were violently disrupted. April - the genocide commemoration month (Kwibuka) - sees increased call volumes as families check on relatives and participate in remembrance. The Rwandan government actively encourages diaspora engagement, and many abroad invest in property or businesses back home, requiring regular coordination calls. Remittances from the diaspora are a significant part of Rwanda's economy, and mobile money transfers often accompany phone calls - you'll hear someone send money via MTN MoMo and then call to confirm receipt.
Dialing examples
Calling an MTN mobile in Kigali
Your contact's local number: 0788 123 456
From a US mobile: +250 788 123 456
From a US landline: 011-250-788-123-456
What happened: dropped the leading 0, dialed +250 then the 9-digit number.
Calling an Airtel mobile
Your contact's local number: 0722 456 789
From a UK phone: 00-250-722-456-789
From a Belgian phone: 00-250-722-456-789
What happened: same process - drop the 0, use your country's international access code (00 for both UK and Belgium), then +250 and the 9-digit number.
Calling a Kigali landline
Your contact's local number: 0252 123 456
From a US mobile: +250 252 123 456
What happened: the old Kigali area code (252) is now part of the 9-digit number. Drop the trunk prefix 0 and dial as usual.
Calling from Kenya
Your contact's local number: 0789 012 345
From a Kenyan mobile: +250 789 012 345
From a Kenyan landline: 000-250-789-012-345
What happened: Kenya's international access code is 000 for landlines. Mobile phones can use the + prefix directly.
Common mistakes to avoid
Forgetting to drop the 0
Rwandan numbers as given locally start with 0 (e.g., 0788 XXX XXX). If you dial +250-0788, you've added an extra digit and the call won't connect. Always drop the leading 0 when dialing internationally: +250-788 XXX XXX.
Confusing +250 with +256 (Uganda)
These two get swapped constantly, especially by people calling the East African region. If you dial +256 instead of +250, you'll reach Uganda, not Rwanda. Both countries share a border and are in the East African Community, so the confusion is understandable - but your call will connect to the wrong country with no warning.
Calling during Umuganda
The last Saturday of every month, from roughly 8 AM to 11 AM, Rwanda holds Umuganda - compulsory community work. Businesses close, traffic stops, and many people won't answer their phones. If you can't reach anyone in Rwanda on a Saturday morning, this is probably why. Wait until after 11 AM Kigali time.
Assuming French is the business language
Rwanda switched from French to English as its primary language of instruction in 2008. While older professionals speak French fluently, younger Rwandans increasingly work in English. If you're preparing for a business call, ask which language your contact prefers rather than assuming either one.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +250 code?
Rwanda. Any phone number beginning with +250 is a Rwandan number. Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
How many digits are in a Rwandan phone number?
9 digits after the country code (+250). Domestically, numbers are 10 digits including the trunk prefix 0. So +250 788 XXX XXX internationally, or 0788 XXX XXX locally.
How do I tell if a Rwandan number is mobile or landline?
Mobile numbers start with 7 (specifically 72, 73, 78, or 79). Landline numbers start with 2 (typically 252 for the Kigali area). Mobile numbers are far more common - Rwanda has high mobile penetration and relatively few active landlines.
What time should I call Rwanda from the US?
Rwanda is UTC+2 year-round (no daylight saving time). From the US East Coast, that's 7 hours ahead in winter (EST) and 6 hours ahead in summer (EDT). For business calls, try 6-8 AM EST (1-3 PM in Kigali). For personal calls, 4-6 PM EST (11 PM - 1 AM in Kigali) works if your contact keeps late hours.
Is mobile money widely used in Rwanda?
Yes. MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) and Airtel Money are used for everything from paying bills and buying groceries to receiving salaries and government payments. Rwanda is one of the most mobile-money-penetrated countries in Africa. A Rwandan phone number is effectively a financial account number.
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