The +265 country code is for Malawi. A landlocked country in southeastern Africa with about 20 million people, Malawi is wedged between Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. Lake Malawi, one of Africa's Great Lakes and the third largest on the continent, takes up roughly a fifth of the country's total area and defines its eastern border. Lilongwe is the capital. Blantyre, named after the Scottish birthplace of explorer David Livingstone, is the commercial center. Malawi is sometimes called "The Warm Heart of Africa," and anyone who's been there will tell you the nickname is earned -- Malawians are genuinely, disarmingly friendly.
Quick answer: The country code +265 is for Malawi. Mobile numbers are 9 digits after +265, starting with 88 (TNM), 99 or 98 (Airtel):
+265 999 XXX XXX. Landlines are 7 digits after +265, starting with 1:+265 1 XXX XXX. Malawi uses trunk prefix 0 -- drop it when calling from abroad.
How to call Malawi: quick reference
Malawi uses trunk prefix 0. When dialing from abroad, drop the leading 0 from the domestic number. A number saved locally as 0999 123 456 becomes +265 999 123 456 internationally.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +265 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-265-[local number] |
| UK | 00-265-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-265-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-265-[local number] |
| France | 00-265-[local number] |
Understanding Malawi phone numbers
Malawi's numbering plan differs between mobile and landline numbers. Mobile numbers are longer (9 digits after +265), while landlines are shorter (7 digits after +265). The trunk prefix is 0 in both cases -- always drop it for international calls.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers follow the pattern +265 YXX XXX XXX where Y identifies the carrier:
- 88X: TNM (Telekom Networks Malawi)
- 99X, 98X: Airtel Malawi
Domestically these are dialed as 0888 XXX XXX or 0999 XXX XXX (10 digits with the trunk prefix). Drop the 0 for international calls.
Landline numbers
Landlines are shorter and embed the area in the number:
| Area | Domestic format | International format |
|---|---|---|
| Lilongwe | 01 7XX XXX | +265 1 7XX XXX |
| Blantyre | 01 8XX XXX | +265 1 8XX XXX |
| Zomba | 01 5XX XXX | +265 1 5XX XXX |
| Mzuzu | 01 3XX XXX | +265 1 3XX XXX |
Landlines are uncommon. Malawi's fixed-line penetration is below 1%. If someone gives you a +265 number, it's almost certainly a mobile.
Mobile carriers in Malawi
TNM (Telekom Networks Malawi)
Prefix 088. TNM is partly government-owned and has been operating since 1995. It was the first mobile operator in Malawi. TNM has strong coverage across the country, including rural areas around Lake Malawi. TNM Mpamba is its mobile money platform. TNM numbers are easily identified by the 88 prefix after +265.
Airtel Malawi
Prefix 099, 098. Part of India's Bharti Airtel group. Airtel entered Malawi through the acquisition of Zain, which had previously acquired Celtel. Airtel is the market leader by subscriber count, with aggressive pricing and wide 4G coverage in urban areas. Airtel Money is the competing mobile money service. The 99 prefix is more common than 98.
Malawi is a two-carrier market. There was previously a third operator, Access Communications, but it shut down in 2016 after failing to gain market share. Most Malawians pick one carrier and stick with it, though some carry two SIMs to take advantage of on-network rates.
Don't confuse +265 with nearby codes
The most common mix-up is with +260 (Zambia). Malawi and Zambia share a border, the codes are one digit apart, and both are landlocked southern African countries. Dialing +260 instead of +265 will connect you to Zambia.
| Code | Country | Region |
|---|---|---|
| +265 | Malawi | Southeastern Africa |
| +260 | Zambia | Southern Africa |
| +266 | Lesotho | Southern Africa |
| +264 | Namibia | Southern Africa |
+266 (Lesotho) and +264 (Namibia) are also close numerically but geographically distant from Malawi. If you're calling someone near Lake Malawi, make sure you're dialing +265 and not +260.
Time zone considerations
Malawi is on Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2) year-round with no daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.
| Your location | Time difference | Call Malawi 9 AM - 6 PM |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | Malawi is 7 hours ahead | 2 AM - 11 AM EST |
| US East Coast (EDT) | Malawi is 6 hours ahead | 3 AM - 12 PM EDT |
| US West Coast (PST) | Malawi is 10 hours ahead | 11 PM (prev day) - 8 AM PST |
| UK (GMT) | Malawi is 2 hours ahead | 7 AM - 4 PM GMT |
| UK (BST) | Malawi is 1 hour ahead | 8 AM - 5 PM BST |
| South Africa (SAST) | Same time zone | 9 AM - 6 PM SAST |
The South Africa-Malawi window is the easiest -- identical time zone, no math required. UK callers have a manageable 1-2 hour gap. US callers need to call in their morning to catch Malawian business hours.
Communication in Malawi
Business hours and culture
Government offices typically run 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Private businesses often follow 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Saturday mornings are common for shops and markets. Malawians are known for being polite and indirect in communication -- expect greetings before getting to the point on a phone call. "How are you? How is the family?" comes first.
Languages
English and Chichewa are both official languages. English is used in business, government, and education. Chichewa (also called Chewa or Nyanja) is the most widely spoken language and is what most people use at home and in daily life. In the north, Tumbuka is common. When calling a business or government office, English is reliable. When calling someone's personal number, you might hear Chichewa first.
Network quality
Mobile coverage in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and along the M1 highway (the main north-south road) is generally good with 4G available. Once you move away from major roads and into rural areas -- particularly around the lake shore or in the mountainous districts -- coverage drops to 3G or 2G, and calls can be unreliable. Power outages are frequent in Malawi, which affects cell towers. If a call doesn't go through, try again later -- the tower might have lost power.
The Malawi diaspora
Where they went
South Africa is the primary destination by a wide margin. Hundreds of thousands of Malawians work in South Africa, many in agriculture, mining, domestic work, and informal trade. The migration pipeline between Malawi and South Africa goes back over a century -- during the colonial era, Malawian men (then called Nyasas) were recruited to work in South African mines. That pattern continues today, though now it's broader across economic sectors.
The United Kingdom has a growing Malawian community, concentrated in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. The colonial connection (Malawi was the British protectorate of Nyasaland until 1964) established the link. Many Malawians in the UK are professionals -- nurses, doctors, engineers, academics.
Smaller communities exist in the United States (concentrated in the Washington DC area, Boston, and Dallas), Mozambique (neighboring country with a long shared border), and Zambia (also neighboring).
Why they call
Remittances matter enormously to Malawi's economy. Malawians working in South Africa send money home to support families, pay school fees, and fund construction projects. Phone calls to coordinate these transfers, check on family, and stay connected are the backbone of the diaspora relationship. Mobile money (Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba) is increasingly used for the final mile of remittance delivery.
Dialing examples
Example 1: Calling a Lilongwe mobile (Airtel) from the US
- Malawian number: 0999 123 456
- Drop the 0: 999 123 456
- From a US mobile:
+265 999 123 456 - From a US landline:
011 265 999 123 456
Example 2: Calling a Blantyre mobile (TNM) from the UK
- Malawian number: 0888 456 789
- Drop the 0: 888 456 789
- From UK:
00 265 888 456 789
Example 3: Calling a Lilongwe landline from South Africa
- Malawian number: 01 712 345
- Drop the 0: 1 712 345
- From South Africa:
00 265 1 712 345
Example 4: Calling a Mzuzu mobile from Australia
- Malawian number: 0991 234 567
- Drop the 0: 991 234 567
- From Australia:
0011 265 991 234 567
Common mistakes to avoid
Forgetting to drop the trunk prefix
Malawi uses trunk prefix 0. If the domestic number is 0999 123 456, you dial +265 999 123 456 from abroad. Dialing +265 0999 123 456 (keeping the 0) won't connect.
Confusing +265 with +260
+265 is Malawi. +260 is Zambia. They share a border, the codes are one digit apart, and both are landlocked. Double-check before dialing.
Using the wrong digit count
Mobile numbers are 9 digits after +265 (e.g., +265 999 123 456). Landlines are only 7 digits after +265 (e.g., +265 1 712 345). If your number has 8 digits after +265, something is wrong -- you might have an old number or a mistyped one.
Calling during power outages
Malawi has frequent electricity shortages. Cell towers rely on backup generators, which sometimes run out of fuel. If a call consistently fails to a rural area, the local tower might be down. Try again after a few hours.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +265 country code?
The +265 country code is for Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa bordering Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania.
How many digits is a Malawian phone number?
Mobile numbers are 9 digits after +265 (e.g., +265 999 123 456). Landlines are 7 digits after +265 (e.g., +265 1 712 345). Domestically, both have a leading 0 that you drop for international calls.
How do I call Malawi from the USA?
From a mobile, dial +265 followed by the number without the leading 0. From a landline, dial the exit code 011, then 265, then the number without the 0.
Does Malawi have a trunk prefix?
Yes. Malawi uses 0 as its trunk prefix. Drop it when dialing from abroad. A domestic number like 0888 123 456 becomes +265 888 123 456 internationally.
What is the difference between +265 and +260?
+265 is Malawi (capital: Lilongwe). +260 is Zambia (capital: Lusaka). They are neighboring countries with codes one digit apart.
For more African dialing guides, see our complete country codes directory. You can also check guides for neighboring Zambia (+260) and Mozambique (+258).