Quick answer: +252 is Somalia, including Somaliland and Puntland. Mobile numbers have 9 digits after +252 and start with 6, 7 or 9. If the number you were given starts with 0, drop the 0. Example:
+252 615 123 456.
How to dial Somalia
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +252 + 9 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 252 + 9 digits |
| UK, Sweden or UAE landline | 00 252 + 9 digits |
| Kenya landline | 000 252 + 9 digits |
Somali numbers are sometimes written with a leading 0, like 0615 123 456. That 0 is only for calls inside Somalia. From abroad, leave it out: 0615 123 456 becomes +252 615 123 456. Many people write the number without the 0, so if you have 9 digits, dial them as they are.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles carry almost every call to Somalia. They are 9 digits, and the first two show the network: 61 and 77 are Hormuud, 62, 65 and 66 are Somtel, 63 is Telesom, 68 is SomNet, 69 is NationLink and 90 is Golis.
Landlines are rare. Under the 2021 national numbering plan they are also 9 digits and start with 2, with the second digit showing the region: 21 for Mogadishu, 22 for Somaliland and 25 for Puntland.
Codes that get mixed up with +252
+251 is Ethiopia and +254 is Kenya, both neighbours with large Somali communities. +253 is Djibouti. Check the last digit before you dial.
Time difference
Somalia is on East Africa Time (UTC+3) all year, with no daylight saving time. The gap changes when your own clocks change.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Somalia is 7h ahead | Somalia is 8h ahead |
| Minneapolis (US Central) | Somalia is 8h ahead | Somalia is 9h ahead |
| UK | Somalia is 2h ahead | Somalia is 3h ahead |
| Sweden or Norway | Somalia is 1h ahead | Somalia is 2h ahead |
| UAE | Somalia is 1h behind all year | |
A 9 AM call from Minneapolis reaches Mogadishu at 5 PM in the US summer and 6 PM in the US winter.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
Do Somaliland and Puntland use +252?
Yes. Neither has a country code of its own, so you dial +252 for both. Numbers in Somaliland often start with 63 (Telesom) and numbers in Puntland with 90 (Golis).
Why won't my call to +252 go through?
Check that you have exactly 9 digits after +252, that you left out any leading 0, and that you dialed 252, not 251 or 254. If the number is right, try again later: coverage outside the main towns can be patchy.