The +251 country code is for Ethiopia. Whether you're calling Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, or Mekelle, +251 is the prefix you need to reach Ethiopia's 126 million people -- the second most populous country in Africa.

Quick Answer: The country code +251 is for Ethiopia. All Ethiopian numbers have 9 digits after +251. Mobile numbers start with 9 or 7. An Addis Ababa landline looks like +251 11 123 4567 and a mobile like +251 91 123 4567.

How to call Ethiopia: quick reference

The dialing format depends on where you're calling from. Ethiopia uses a domestic trunk prefix of 0, which you drop when dialing internationally.

Calling from Dialing format
US/Canada Mobile +251 [9-digit number]
US/Canada Landline 011-251-[9-digit number]
United Kingdom (UK) 00-251-[9-digit number]
Germany 00-251-[9-digit number]
Saudi Arabia 00-251-[9-digit number]
UAE 00-251-[9-digit number]

Ethiopia has a growing diaspora worldwide. The US has the largest Ethiopian-born population outside Africa, with major communities in the Washington DC metro area (the largest concentration), Minneapolis, Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, Germany, and the UK also have large Ethiopian communities.

Understanding Ethiopian phone numbers

All Ethiopian phone numbers are exactly 9 digits after the +251 country code. Within Ethiopia, people add a 0 before the number (so 0XX-XXX-XXXX). When calling from abroad, drop that 0 and dial +251 instead.

Mobile numbers

Ethiopia's telecom market was a government monopoly until recently. Ethio Telecom (state-owned) was the only carrier for decades. Safaricom Ethiopia launched in 2022 as the first private operator, ending the monopoly.

  • Ethio Telecom: Mobile numbers start with 9 (e.g., 091, 092, 093, 094, 095, 096).
  • Safaricom Ethiopia: Mobile numbers start with 7 (e.g., 074).

Ethio Telecom still has the vast majority of subscribers. Getting a SIM card in Ethiopia historically required showing a national ID, and the process could be slow. Things have improved since competition arrived, but coverage outside major cities remains uneven.

  • Length: 9 digits after +251.
  • Example: Domestic 091-123-4567 becomes +251 91 123 4567 internationally.

Landline numbers (fixed line)

Ethiopian landlines use 2-digit area codes followed by a 7-digit local number:

  • Structure: 2-digit area code + 7-digit local number = 9 digits after +251.
  • Addis Ababa: Area code 11.
  • Other cities: Each has its own 2-digit code (e.g., 25 for Dire Dawa, 58 for Bahir Dar).
  • Trunk prefix: Drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad.

Landlines are uncommon in Ethiopia. Mobile is the primary way people communicate, though mobile penetration is lower than in East African neighbours like Kenya. Many rural areas have limited connectivity.

Ethiopia area codes reference table

Ethiopian area codes are 2 digits. Addis Ababa (11) is by far the most commonly used since it's the capital and the commercial centre.

City Area code International format
Addis Ababa 11 +251 11 XXX XXXX
Dire Dawa 25 +251 25 XXX XXXX
Bahir Dar 58 +251 58 XXX XXXX
Hawassa 46 +251 46 XXX XXXX
Mekelle 34 +251 34 XXX XXXX
Adama (Nazret) 22 +251 22 XXX XXXX
Jimma 47 +251 47 XXX XXXX
Gondar 58 +251 58 XXX XXXX
Dessie 33 +251 33 XXX XXXX
Harar 25 +251 25 XXX XXXX

Note: Some cities share area codes because they're in the same region. Bahir Dar and Gondar both use 58 (Amhara region). Dire Dawa and Harar both use 25. The 7-digit local number distinguishes them.

Ethiopia's telecom monopoly and what changed

Until 2022, Ethio Telecom was the only carrier in Ethiopia. The government controlled all telecommunications. This made Ethiopia unusual in Africa, where most countries liberalized their telecom markets in the 2000s.

Safaricom Ethiopia (backed by Vodafone and Vodacom) won a license in 2021 and launched service in 2022 with the 7XX prefix block. A second private license was on offer but hadn't been awarded as of early 2025.

For callers, the practical effect is simple: most Ethiopian numbers you'll encounter still start with 9 (Ethio Telecom). Numbers starting with 7 are Safaricom Ethiopia, which is newer and less common.

Internet and calling apps in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a complicated relationship with internet-based calling. The government has periodically shut down or throttled internet access in various regions, sometimes for months at a time. Addis Ababa generally has the most reliable internet, but speeds and uptime can still be inconsistent.

Telegram is very popular in Ethiopia, more so than in most countries. Ethiopians use it for news channels, community groups, business, and personal messaging. WhatsApp is also widely used for voice and video calls when the connection allows.

Because internet reliability varies, a traditional phone call (PSTN) to a +251 number is often more dependable than an app-based call, especially for reaching people outside Addis Ababa.

Telebirr: Ethiopia's mobile money

Ethio Telecom launched Telebirr in 2021, and it grew fast -- over 40 million registered users within two years. Like M-Pesa in Kenya, Telebirr ties your phone number to a mobile wallet for payments and money transfers.

This is relevant for callers because, as with Kenya, Ethiopians increasingly treat their phone number as a financial account. People are less likely to change numbers when money flows through them.

Mobile vs. landline: how to tell the difference

You can tell whether a +251 number is mobile or landline by the first digit after the country code:

  • Starts with 9: An Ethio Telecom mobile number.
  • Starts with 7: A Safaricom Ethiopia mobile number.
  • Starts with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6: Likely a landline number (city area code).

Calling rates to Ethiopian mobile numbers are typically higher than landline rates.

Dialing examples

Here are practical examples for calling different types of Ethiopian numbers:

Example 1: Calling an Addis Ababa landline from the US

  • Ethiopian number (domestic): 011-123-4567
  • From a US mobile: +251 11 123 4567
  • From a US landline: 011 251 11 123 4567

Example 2: Calling an Ethiopian mobile from the US

  • Ethiopian number (domestic): 091-234-5678
  • From a US mobile: +251 91 234 5678
  • From a US landline: 011 251 91 234 5678

Example 3: Calling a Dire Dawa landline from the UK

  • Ethiopian number (domestic): 025-345-6789
  • From the UK: 00 251 25 345 6789

Example 4: Calling from Saudi Arabia

  • Ethiopian number (domestic): Any mobile (e.g., 091-567-8901)
  • From Saudi Arabia: 00 251 91 567 8901

Best times to call Ethiopia

Ethiopia is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round. Ethiopia does not observe daylight saving time.

Here's how Ethiopian time relates to other time zones:

Your location Time difference Call Ethiopia 9 AM - 6 PM
US East Coast (EST) Ethiopia is 8 hours ahead 1 AM - 10 AM EST
US East Coast (EDT) Ethiopia is 7 hours ahead 2 AM - 11 AM EDT
US West Coast (PST) Ethiopia is 11 hours ahead 10 PM - 7 AM PST (night before)
UK (GMT) Ethiopia is 3 hours ahead 6 AM - 3 PM GMT
Saudi Arabia (AST) Same time zone 9 AM - 6 PM AST
UAE (GST) Ethiopia is 1 hour behind 10 AM - 7 PM GST

Tip: Ethiopia is on the same UTC+3 as Kenya, Turkey, and Moscow. Saudi Arabia is also on UTC+3, so there's no time difference between Addis Ababa and Riyadh -- convenient given the large Ethiopian community in Saudi Arabia.

Ethiopian calendar note: Ethiopia uses its own calendar, which is roughly 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. The Ethiopian New Year falls on September 11 (or 12 in a leap year). When scheduling calls, confirm dates using the Gregorian calendar to avoid confusion.

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are the most common mistakes when dialing the +251 country code:

  • Keeping the leading 0: Ethiopian numbers start with 0 domestically. Drop it when dialing +251. Dial +251 91 (not +251 091).
  • Confusing +251 with +252: Somalia is +252, Ethiopia is +251. One digit off.
  • Wrong digit count: Ethiopian numbers are exactly 9 digits after +251. If you have 8 or 10 digits, double-check.
  • Assuming the internet works: Internet shutdowns and throttling happen in Ethiopia. If you can't reach someone on WhatsApp or Telegram, try a regular phone call instead.

Cheapest ways to call +251 numbers

International calls to Ethiopia tend to be expensive compared to other African countries. Traditional carriers often charge $2-$5 per minute. Here's how to bring the cost down:

  • VoIP services: Services like CallSky.io offer competitive per-minute rates to Ethiopian mobile and landline numbers. Check our international calling rates.
  • WhatsApp/Telegram: Free when the internet connection is stable. Telegram is especially popular in Ethiopia. Both are unreliable during internet disruptions.
  • International calling plans: US carriers with Ethiopian community plans exist, especially in the DC and Minneapolis markets. Check our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.

Ethiopia's calling rates are higher than average because Ethio Telecom historically charged steep interconnect fees. Competition from Safaricom may push prices down over time, but for now, a VoIP service with good Ethiopia rates is your best option for regular calls.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What country has the +251 country code?

The +251 country code is for Ethiopia. Any call from a number starting with +251 originates from Ethiopia.

How many digits is an Ethiopian phone number?

Ethiopian phone numbers have 9 digits after the +251 country code. Mobile numbers start with 9 (Ethio Telecom) or 7 (Safaricom Ethiopia). Landlines use a 2-digit area code plus a 7-digit local number.

What is the area code for Addis Ababa?

The area code for Addis Ababa is 11. Internationally, dial +251 11 followed by the 7-digit local number.

How do I call Ethiopia from the USA?

From a mobile phone, dial +251 followed by the 9-digit Ethiopian number (drop the leading 0). From a landline, dial the US exit code 011, then 251, then the 9-digit number.

What time zone is Ethiopia in?

Ethiopia is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round with no daylight saving time. That's 8 hours ahead of New York (EST), 3 hours ahead of London (GMT), and the same time as Riyadh.

Does WhatsApp work in Ethiopia?

WhatsApp works in Ethiopia when the internet is available, but connectivity can be unreliable, especially outside Addis Ababa. The government has imposed internet shutdowns in the past. Telegram is also widely used. For reliable communication, a regular phone call to a +251 number is often the safer bet.

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