The +261 country code belongs to Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island, located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa. If you've received a call from a number starting with +261, it came from Madagascar. The island is separated from mainland Africa by the Mozambique Channel and has been isolated long enough to develop unique wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
Madagascar has about 29 million people. The capital Antananarivo (locals shorten it to "Tana") sits in the central highlands at roughly 1,300 metres elevation. Malagasy and French are both official languages, a legacy of French colonial rule that ended in 1960. The economy relies on vanilla (Madagascar produces about 80% of the world's supply), rice farming, and mining.
Quick answer: The +261 country code is Madagascar. Phone numbers are 9 digits after the country code. The trunk prefix is 0 (drop it when calling from abroad). Mobile numbers start with 32 (Orange), 33 (Airtel), or 34/38 (Telma). Dial +261 followed by 9 digits.
How to call Madagascar: quick reference
Madagascar uses the trunk prefix 0 for domestic calls. When calling from abroad, drop the leading 0 and dial +261 followed by the remaining 9 digits.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +261 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-261-[local number] |
| UK | 00-261-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-261-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-261-[local number] |
| France | 00-261-[local number] |
Understanding Madagascar phone numbers
Madagascar phone numbers are 10 digits domestically (including the trunk prefix 0) or 9 digits after the +261 country code when calling from abroad. The trunk prefix 0 must be dropped for international calls.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers make up the vast majority of phone numbers in Madagascar. After dropping the 0, they start with 32 (Orange), 33 (Airtel), or 34/38 (Telma). The international format is +261 3X XX XXX XX. For example, a domestic number 032 45 678 90 becomes +261 32 45 678 90 from abroad.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 20 (after dropping the trunk prefix 0). They are uncommon outside Antananarivo and a few larger cities like Toamasina, Mahajanga, and Antsirabe. The format is +261 20 XX XXX XX.
Number prefixes
| Prefix (after +261) | Type / operator |
|---|---|
| 32 | Orange Madagascar mobile |
| 33 | Airtel Madagascar mobile |
| 34 | Telma mobile |
| 38 | Telma mobile |
| 20 | Landline (all regions) |
Mobile carriers in Madagascar
Madagascar has three mobile operators. The fixed-line network is managed by Telma but has limited reach outside urban areas.
Telma
Telma (formerly state-owned, now privatized) is the largest operator and the only one providing both mobile and fixed-line service. Mobile numbers use the 34 and 38 prefixes. Telma has the widest 4G coverage, available in Antananarivo and most provincial capitals. It also operates the MVola mobile money service, which is widely used across the country.
Orange Madagascar
Orange Madagascar is the second-largest operator, with numbers starting with 32. Coverage is good in cities and along major highways but weaker in remote areas. Orange Money is its mobile payment platform, competing with MVola.
Airtel Madagascar
Airtel is the third operator, using the 33 prefix. It has a smaller market share and more limited coverage than Telma or Orange, particularly in rural parts of the island. Airtel Money is available but less widely adopted than its competitors.
Don't confuse +261 with nearby codes
Madagascar's +261 sits between +260 (Zambia) and +262 (Réunion), both just one digit off.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +261 | Madagascar | Indian Ocean island, 9-digit numbers, Malagasy/French |
| +260 | Zambia | Mainland Africa, 9-digit numbers, English |
| +262 | Réunion | French overseas territory, 9-digit numbers, French |
| +230 | Mauritius | Indian Ocean island, 8-digit numbers, English/French |
The +261/+262 confusion is the most common because Réunion is a French island near Madagascar, and both have French-speaking populations. If you're trying to reach someone in Madagascar and hear a French accent that sounds European rather than Malagasy, you may have dialed +262 by mistake.
Time zone considerations
Madagascar is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round. The country does not observe daylight saving time.
| Your time zone | Madagascar offset | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East (EST/EDT) | +8 hours | 6am-10am your time (2pm-6pm Tana) |
| US West (PST/PDT) | +11 hours | 6am-7am your time (5pm-6pm Tana) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | +3 / +2 hours | 9am-3pm your time |
| France (CET/CEST) | +2 / +1 hour | 9am-5pm your time |
| Réunion | -1 hour | Nearly the same time |
France is included because it's where most of the Malagasy diaspora lives. The 2-hour difference (1 hour in summer) makes calling between France and Madagascar straightforward.
Communication in Madagascar
Business hours and calling patterns
Business hours in Madagascar are 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday, with a lunch break from noon to 2pm that many people take seriously. Saturday mornings are working time for shops and markets. Sunday is a rest day. Government offices can be slow and may not answer phones reliably, even during official hours.
Language considerations
Malagasy is the native language spoken by everyone. French is the second official language and is used in business, government, and higher education. Most urban Malagasy speak both. In rural areas, Malagasy is often the only language. If you're calling a business or office in Antananarivo, French is usually fine. For personal calls to rural family, Malagasy will be needed.
Network quality
Mobile coverage in Antananarivo and major cities (Toamasina, Mahajanga, Fianarantsoa, Antsirabe) is decent, with 4G from Telma in urban areas. Outside the cities, coverage thins out quickly. Much of rural Madagascar has no mobile signal at all, particularly in the south and the remote eastern rainforest regions. Power outages are common nationwide, and many people in rural areas charge phones at solar charging stations or in town. If a call doesn't go through, the person may simply be out of coverage or battery.
The Madagascar diaspora
Where they went
The Malagasy diaspora is overwhelmingly concentrated in France, the former colonial power. Paris and its suburbs have the largest community, with smaller groups in Marseille, Lyon, and other French cities. Significant numbers also live in Réunion (the nearby French overseas territory), Mauritius, Canada (particularly Quebec, due to the French language), and Comoros. The US has a smaller Malagasy community, mostly in the New York and Washington DC areas.
Why they call
Family ties are the main reason for calls, particularly from France. Many Malagasy in France send money home regularly and call to coordinate with family. Call volumes increase around Malagasy holidays like Independence Day (June 26), the Famadihana (turning of the bones ceremony, typically June-September), and Christmas. The vanilla harvest season (June-August) also prompts more calls, as many families in the northeast SAVA region depend on vanilla income and need to discuss prices and logistics.
Dialing examples
Calling a Telma mobile in Antananarivo
Local number: 034 12 345 67. Drop the leading 0:
From US/Canada mobile: +261 34 12 345 67
From US/Canada landline: 011-261-34-12-345-67
From France: 00-261-34-12-345-67
Calling an Orange mobile
Local number: 032 98 765 43. Drop the leading 0:
From US/Canada mobile: +261 32 98 765 43
From UK: 00-261-32-98-765-43
From France: 00-261-32-98-765-43
Calling a landline in Antananarivo
Local number: 020 22 123 45. Drop the leading 0:
From US/Canada mobile: +261 20 22 123 45
From US/Canada landline: 011-261-20-22-123-45
From France: 00-261-20-22-123-45
Common mistakes to avoid
Forgetting to drop the trunk prefix 0
This is the most common mistake. If someone gives you their number as 034 12 345 67, you must drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad. The correct international format is +261 34 12 345 67, not +261 034 12 345 67. The extra zero will cause the call to fail.
Confusing +261 with +262
+261 is Madagascar and +262 is Réunion (a French overseas territory). Both are islands in the Indian Ocean with French-speaking populations, so the confusion is understandable. If you dial +262 instead of +261, you'll reach Réunion, which has a completely different phone system and numbering.
Calling during the lunch break
Many Malagasy take the noon-2pm lunch break seriously, particularly in government offices and smaller businesses. Calls during this window are less likely to be answered. Aim for mid-morning (9-11am local) or mid-afternoon (2-4pm local) for the best chance of reaching someone at work.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +261 code?
+261 is the country code for Madagascar, the large island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. Do not confuse it with +260 (Zambia) or +262 (Réunion).
How many digits are Madagascar phone numbers?
Madagascar phone numbers are 9 digits after the +261 country code. Domestically they are 10 digits including the trunk prefix 0, which you must drop when calling from abroad.
Do I need to drop the 0 when calling Madagascar?
Yes. Madagascar uses the trunk prefix 0 for domestic calls. When calling from abroad, drop the 0. If the local number is 034 12 345 67, dial +261 34 12 345 67.
What language do they speak in Madagascar?
Malagasy is the native language spoken by everyone. French is the second official language, used in business, government, and education. Most urban residents speak both.
Why is my call to Madagascar not connecting?
Check that you dropped the leading 0 from the local number. If the format is correct, the person may be out of mobile coverage (common in rural areas) or their phone battery may be dead due to unreliable power supply. Try again at a different time.
For more Indian Ocean and East African dialing guides, see our articles on Réunion (+262), Mauritius (+230), and Mozambique (+258). Browse all guides on our country codes hub.