The +252 country code is for Somalia. This covers all of Somalia, including Mogadishu, Hargeisa (the capital of the self-declared Somaliland), Kismayo, and Bosaso. If a number starts with +252, it's a Somali number.

Quick answer: The country code +252 is for Somalia. Somali mobile numbers are 7-8 digits after +252. The first two digits tell you the carrier: 61/62 for Hormuud, 63 for Telesom, 90 for Golis. A typical number looks like +252 61 XXX XXXX.

How to call Somalia: quick reference

Somalia doesn't use a consistent domestic trunk prefix like many other countries. When dialing from abroad, you just dial +252 followed by the number.

Calling from Dialing format
US/Canada mobile +252 [7-8 digit number]
US/Canada landline 011-252-[7-8 digit number]
United Kingdom (UK) 00-252-[7-8 digit number]
Sweden 00-252-[7-8 digit number]
Norway 00-252-[7-8 digit number]
Kenya 000-252-[7-8 digit number]
UAE 00-252-[7-8 digit number]

The Somali diaspora is one of the largest in the world relative to the country's population. The biggest communities are in the US (Minneapolis, Columbus, Seattle), the UK (London), Sweden (Stockholm), Norway, Canada (Toronto, Ottawa), Kenya (Nairobi's Eastleigh neighbourhood), and the UAE. Calls to +252 numbers are a daily routine for these communities.

Understanding Somali phone numbers

Somalia's phone system is almost entirely mobile. The country effectively skipped the landline era. During the civil war, private telecom companies stepped in where the government couldn't, and the result is a competitive mobile market with some of the cheapest call rates in Africa.

Mobile numbers

Somali mobile numbers are 7-8 digits after the +252 country code. The first two digits identify the carrier:

  • Hormuud Telecom: The largest carrier, dominant in south/central Somalia including Mogadishu. Uses 61 and 62 prefixes.
  • Telesom: The dominant carrier in Somaliland. Uses 63 prefix.
  • Golis Telecom: Dominant in Puntland (northeast Somalia). Uses 90 prefix.
  • Somtel: Cross-regional carrier operating in both Somaliland and south/central. Uses 68 prefix.
  • NationLink: Smaller carrier in south/central Somalia. Uses 67 prefix.

The carrier prefix matters because each operator built its own network independently. Calling between carriers within Somalia sometimes costs more than calling within the same network. Many Somalis carry two SIM cards -- one for Hormuud and one for whatever carrier their contacts in other regions use.

  • Length: 7-8 digits after +252.
  • Example: A Hormuud number looks like +252 61 234 5678.

Landlines

Landlines in Somalia are rare. The fixed-line infrastructure that existed before 1991 was largely destroyed during the civil war and was never rebuilt at scale. A few businesses in Mogadishu and Hargeisa maintain landline connections, but for practical purposes, every call to Somalia is a call to a mobile phone.

Carrier coverage by region

Somalia's telecom market is split along political and geographic lines. Which carrier someone uses tells you roughly where they are:

Region Dominant carrier Prefix
South/Central (Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa) Hormuud Telecom 61, 62
Somaliland (Hargeisa, Berbera, Burao) Telesom 63
Puntland (Garowe, Bosaso, Galkayo) Golis Telecom 90
Cross-regional Somtel 68

Somtel is the main carrier that operates across the Somaliland-Somalia divide. If someone in Hargeisa wants to reach someone in Mogadishu, they might use Somtel to avoid cross-network charges.

Don't confuse +252 with +251

Somalia is +252. Ethiopia is +251. One digit off, and the two countries share a long border. If you're calling family in Mogadishu and reach someone speaking Amharic, you probably dialed Ethiopia.

Code Country Region
+252 Somalia East Africa
+251 Ethiopia East Africa

This confusion is common in the diaspora, where people regularly call both countries. The Somali Ogaden region borders Ethiopia, and ethnic Somalis live on both sides of the border. Double-check the last digit: 2 for Somalia, 1 for Ethiopia.

Mobile money: the real story

Somalia has one of the highest mobile money adoption rates in the world. In Mogadishu, cash is almost secondary to mobile payments. The two major systems are:

  • EVC Plus (Hormuud): The dominant mobile money platform in south/central Somalia. Merchants, taxi drivers, tea shops -- almost everything in Mogadishu can be paid for with EVC Plus. You send money by dialing a USSD code, no smartphone needed.
  • Zaad (Telesom): The equivalent in Somaliland. Zaad launched in 2009 and became so widely adopted that Hargeisa is often called one of the most cashless cities in Africa.

Mobile money also handles remittances. The diaspora sends money to family in Somalia through services that deposit directly into EVC Plus or Zaad accounts. This replaced much of the traditional hawala system, though hawala brokers still operate for larger transfers and in areas with limited mobile coverage.

Time zone: UTC+3 (same as Kenya and Ethiopia)

Somalia is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round. No daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.

Your location Time difference Call Somalia 9 AM - 6 PM
US East Coast (EST) Somalia is 8h ahead 1:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST
US East Coast (EDT) Somalia is 7h ahead 2:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
US Central (CST) Somalia is 9h ahead 12:00 AM - 9:00 AM CST
UK (GMT) Somalia is 3h ahead 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM GMT
Sweden (CET) Somalia is 2h ahead 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM CET
UAE (GST) Somalia is 1h behind 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM GST
Kenya (EAT) Same time zone 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EAT

Tip: For the huge Somali community in Minneapolis, the 8-hour gap (EST+1 for Central Time = 9 hours ahead) means evening calls from Minnesota land in the early morning in Mogadishu. The sweet spot is late afternoon in Minneapolis, which is around 1-2 AM in Mogadishu -- not ideal. Weekend mornings in the US (around 8-10 AM CST) catch people in Mogadishu at 5-7 PM, which works better.

The diaspora connection

Remittances are the backbone of Somalia's economy. By some estimates, Somalis abroad send over $1.5 billion a year back home, making remittances one of the largest sources of income for the country. Calling home is tied directly to this -- families coordinate transfers, check in on relatives, and maintain connections across continents.

The biggest Somali diaspora communities:

  • United States: Minneapolis has the largest Somali population outside East Africa. The Cedar-Riverside neighbourhood is called "Little Mogadishu." Columbus, Ohio and Seattle also have large communities.
  • United Kingdom: London, particularly areas like Tower Hamlets, Ealing, and Camden. Also Bristol, Birmingham, and Manchester.
  • Sweden: Stockholm and other Swedish cities host one of Europe's largest Somali communities. Sweden was an early destination for Somali refugees in the 1990s.
  • Norway and Finland: Oslo and Helsinki both have growing Somali communities.
  • Canada: Toronto and Ottawa, with smaller communities in Edmonton and Calgary.
  • Kenya: Nairobi's Eastleigh neighbourhood is a major Somali business hub. Dadaab refugee camp in northeastern Kenya also has a large Somali population.
  • UAE and Saudi Arabia: Significant Somali worker populations in Dubai and Jeddah.

Internet and calling apps

WhatsApp is widely used in Somali cities, especially among younger people with smartphones. It's the primary messaging app for diaspora-to-home communication. Facebook is also popular -- Somalia punches above its weight in Facebook usage relative to internet penetration.

Mobile data coverage in Mogadishu and Hargeisa is decent, with 3G and 4G available. Outside major cities, coverage drops fast. In rural areas, basic voice calls over 2G are often all that's available. For calls to rural Somalia, a regular PSTN call to a +252 mobile number is more reliable than trying to use WhatsApp.

Internet shutdowns have occurred during politically sensitive periods, though less frequently than in some neighbouring countries.

How Somalia built telecom without a government

Somalia's telecom story is unusual. After the central government collapsed in 1991, there was no regulator, no state-owned telecom company, and no licensing authority. Private companies filled the gap. Hormuud started operations in 2002, but smaller operators had been running networks since the mid-1990s.

The result: Somalia had some of the cheapest call rates in Africa by the early 2000s. A minute of airtime cost a fraction of what it cost in regulated markets like Kenya or Ethiopia (which had a state monopoly until recently). The tradeoff was no coordination between operators -- each built towers where they wanted, and interconnection between networks was limited.

The National Communications Authority was established to bring some order, but the practical reality is that carriers still operate with significant autonomy, especially in Somaliland and Puntland.

Dialing examples

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

Example 1: Calling a Mogadishu mobile (Hormuud) from the US

  • Somali number: 61 234 5678
  • From a US mobile: +252 61 234 5678
  • From a US landline: 011 252 61 234 5678

Example 2: Calling a Hargeisa mobile (Telesom) from the UK

  • Somali number: 63 456 7890
  • From the UK: 00 252 63 456 7890

Example 3: Calling a Puntland mobile (Golis) from Sweden

  • Somali number: 90 123 4567
  • From Sweden: 00 252 90 123 4567

Example 4: Calling from Kenya

  • Somali number: Any mobile (e.g., 61 567 8901)
  • From Kenya: 000 252 61 567 8901

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are the most common mistakes when dialing the +252 country code:

  • Confusing +252 with +251: Ethiopia is +251, Somalia is +252. One digit apart, and people who call both countries mix them up constantly. Remember: 2 at the end for Somalia.
  • Adding a leading 0: Some sources list Somali numbers with a leading 0 (like 061...), but this isn't standard. When dialing internationally, just use +252 followed by the carrier prefix (61, 63, 90, etc.).
  • Wrong digit count: Somali numbers are 7-8 digits after +252. If you have 6 or 9 digits, check the number.
  • Assuming all Somali numbers start with 61: That's Hormuud only. If you're calling Somaliland, the number probably starts with 63. Puntland numbers start with 90.
  • Cross-network issues: Some calls between carriers can fail or have poor quality. If you can't get through, try again -- interconnection between Somali operators isn't always reliable.

Cheapest ways to call +252 numbers

International calls to Somalia through major US or European carriers often cost $1-$5 per minute. That adds up fast for regular callers. Here's how to cut costs:

  • VoIP services: Services like CallSky.io offer competitive per-minute rates to Somali mobile numbers. Check our international calling rates.
  • WhatsApp/Facebook Messenger: Free when both sides have a good data connection. The catch is that data coverage outside Mogadishu and Hargeisa can be spotty.
  • Calling cards: Still popular in the Somali diaspora. Many Somali-owned shops in Minneapolis, London, and Stockholm sell calling cards specifically for Somalia.
  • Carrier add-ons: Some US carriers offer Africa calling packages. T-Mobile and some MVNOs have Somalia included in their international plans. Check our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.

Given how central phone calls are to Somali family life and remittance coordination, a VoIP service with good Somalia rates pays for itself quickly.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What country has the +252 country code?

The +252 country code is for Somalia. This includes all regions: south/central Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland.

How many digits is a Somali phone number?

Somali mobile numbers are 7-8 digits after the +252 country code. The first two digits indicate the carrier (61/62 for Hormuud, 63 for Telesom, 90 for Golis, 68 for Somtel, 67 for NationLink).

What are the main mobile carriers in Somalia?

Hormuud Telecom (61/62) is the largest, covering south/central Somalia. Telesom (63) dominates Somaliland. Golis Telecom (90) covers Puntland. Somtel (68) operates cross-regionally.

How do I call Somalia from the USA?

From a mobile phone, dial +252 followed by the Somali number. From a landline, dial 011, then 252, then the number. There is no leading 0 to drop.

What time zone is Somalia in?

Somalia is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round with no daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as Kenya and Ethiopia.

Does WhatsApp work in Somalia?

Yes, WhatsApp works in Somali cities with 3G/4G coverage, particularly Mogadishu and Hargeisa. In rural areas, voice calls to +252 mobile numbers are more reliable than data-based apps.

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