The +291 country code connects calls to Eritrea, a narrow country along the Red Sea coast in the Horn of Africa. With a population of roughly 3.5 million and a single state-owned telecom operator, Eritrea has one of the most tightly controlled phone networks on the continent. If you're calling Eritrea from abroad, you'll need to know the 7-digit format and the difference between landline and mobile prefixes, since there are no alternative carriers to fall back on.
Quick answer: The +291 country code is for Eritrea. Phone numbers are 7 digits after the country code. Mobile numbers start with 7, landlines start with 1 (Asmara) or other area digits. Domestic callers use trunk prefix 0. Dial +291 followed by the 7-digit number.
How to call Eritrea: quick reference
When calling Eritrea, drop the trunk prefix 0 that locals use and dial +291 followed by the 7-digit number. The exit code depends on which country you're calling from.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +291 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-291-[local number] |
| UK | 00-291-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-291-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-291-[local number] |
| France | 00-291-[local number] |
Understanding Eritrea phone numbers
All Eritrean phone numbers are 7 digits after the +291 country code. The first digit tells you whether it's a mobile or landline, and for landlines, which region.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 7. The full format is +291 7 XXX XXX. All mobile service is provided by the state-owned EriTel, so there's no carrier distinction from the prefix alone.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers use area-based prefixes. The format is +291 [area digit] XX XX XX.
| Area code | Region |
|---|---|
| 1 | Maekel (Asmara) |
| 4 | Debub (Southern Region) |
| 5 | Gash-Barka (Western Region) |
| 6 | Anseba (Keren) |
| 8 | Northern Red Sea (Massawa) |
Trunk prefix
Domestically, callers dial 0 before the number (e.g., 07 XXX XXX for mobile, 01 XXX XXX for Asmara landline). When calling from abroad, drop the 0 entirely.
Mobile carriers in Eritrea
Eritrea Telecommunication Services Corporation (EriTel)
EriTel is the only telecom operator in Eritrea, providing all mobile and landline services. The government has not licensed any private or foreign operators. Mobile penetration remains low by African standards (roughly 20%), partly because of limited infrastructure outside Asmara and the major towns. SIM cards are available at EriTel offices but require identification. Internet and data services exist but are slow and expensive. If you're calling an Eritrean number, it's going through EriTel regardless of the prefix.
Don't confuse +291 with nearby codes
Eritrea's +291 sits close to several other codes in the region, and one in particular causes problems.
| Code | Country | Why it's confusing |
|---|---|---|
| +251 | Ethiopia | Neighboring country and former political union. Off by one digit. |
| +290 | Saint Helena | One digit off. Completely different location (South Atlantic). |
| +297 | Aruba | Same first two digits. Caribbean island, not Africa. |
The +251 Ethiopia confusion is the most common. Eritrea was part of Ethiopia until independence in 1993, and many Eritreans still have family connections across the border. Double-check the code before dialing.
Time zone considerations
Eritrea uses East Africa Time (EAT), which is UTC+3 year-round. There is no daylight saving time.
| Your time zone | When it's 9 AM in Asmara | When it's 6 PM in Asmara |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (EST/EDT) | 1:00 AM / 2:00 AM | 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| US Pacific (PST/PDT) | 10:00 PM prev / 11:00 PM prev | 7:00 AM / 8:00 AM |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 6:00 AM / 7:00 AM | 3:00 PM / 4:00 PM |
| Central Europe (CET/CEST) | 7:00 AM / 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM / 5:00 PM |
| Australia East (AEST/AEDT) | 4:00 PM / 5:00 PM | 1:00 AM / 2:00 AM next |
The best window for calling Eritrea from North America is late afternoon or early evening US time, which catches Eritreans in the morning before work.
Communication in Eritrea
Business hours and availability
Government offices and businesses in Asmara generally operate from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The midday break is common. Saturday mornings are working hours for some shops and markets. Friday afternoon is quieter due to Muslim prayer, though Eritrea has roughly equal Christian and Muslim populations. For personal calls, evenings after 7 PM local time work well.
Network quality
Call quality within Asmara is generally acceptable, but coverage drops off quickly outside urban areas. Rural parts of Gash-Barka and the Danakil lowlands have patchy or no signal. Mobile data speeds are slow even in the capital. If your call doesn't connect on the first attempt, wait a few minutes and try again -- the network can get congested, particularly in the evenings when usage peaks.
Language considerations
Tigrinya is the most widely spoken language, followed by Arabic. English is taught in secondary schools and understood by younger educated Eritreans, but don't assume it for cold calls. Italian has some residual presence among older residents of Asmara due to the colonial period.
The Eritrea diaspora
Where Eritreans settled
Eritrea has one of the world's largest diasporas relative to its population. An estimated one-third of Eritreans live outside the country. The largest communities are in the United States (concentrated in Washington D.C., Dallas, and the Bay Area), Germany, Sweden, and Israel. Substantial populations also live in Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Canada, and Italy. Many left during the independence war with Ethiopia (1961-1991) or afterward due to mandatory national service.
Why they call home
Phone calls are often the only reliable way to stay in touch. Internet access in Eritrea is among the most limited in the world, and most messaging apps work poorly or intermittently. Voice calls through the international phone network remain the primary link between diaspora families and relatives in Eritrea. Calls tend to spike around Eritrean holidays, particularly Independence Day (May 24) and religious celebrations for both Christian and Muslim communities.
Dialing examples
Calling an Asmara landline
To call an Asmara landline with local number 01 123 456:
Dial +291 1 123 456 (drop the leading 0).
Calling an Eritrean mobile
To call a mobile number 07 234 567:
Dial +291 7 234 567 (drop the leading 0).
Calling Massawa (Northern Red Sea)
To call a Massawa landline 08 345 678:
Dial +291 8 345 678 (drop the leading 0).
Calling from a US landline
To call the same Asmara landline from a US landline:
Dial 011-291-1-123-456 (011 is the US exit code).
Common mistakes to avoid
Leaving the trunk prefix on
Eritreans dial 0 before the number domestically (07 XXX XXX for mobile, 01 XXX XXX for Asmara). When calling from abroad, that 0 must be dropped. Dialing +291 07 XXX XXX gives you 8 digits instead of 7, and the call won't connect.
Dialing +251 instead of +291
Ethiopia's country code is +251, Eritrea's is +291. Because of the shared history and family ties across the border, this mix-up happens frequently. If your call lands in Addis Ababa instead of Asmara, check the country code.
Expecting callbacks or texts
Eritrea's telecom costs are high relative to local incomes, and many people have prepaid SIM cards with limited credit. Don't expect a callback after leaving a message. If the call doesn't go through, try again at a different time rather than waiting.
Calling during peak hours
With only one carrier and limited infrastructure, the network gets congested during evening hours (7-10 PM local time). Calls may fail to connect or have poor audio quality. Morning calls tend to go through more reliably.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +291 code?
Eritrea. Any phone number beginning with +291 is an Eritrean number.
How many digits are in an Eritrean phone number?
Seven digits after the +291 country code. Domestically, numbers are dialed with a leading 0 (making 8 digits total), but you drop the 0 when calling from abroad.
Is there more than one mobile carrier in Eritrea?
No. EriTel (Eritrea Telecommunication Services Corporation) is the sole operator for both mobile and landline service. There are no private or foreign carriers.
Can I use WhatsApp or messaging apps to call Eritrea?
Internet speeds in Eritrea are very slow, and access is limited. VoIP and messaging apps work unreliably. Traditional voice calls through the phone network are the most dependable way to reach someone in Eritrea.
What language should I expect when calling Eritrea?
Tigrinya is the most common language. Arabic is also widely spoken. English is understood by some younger, educated Eritreans but is not universal.
What's the best time to call Eritrea from the US?
Late afternoon or early evening US Eastern time (4-7 PM EST) reaches Eritrea in the morning (10 AM - 1 PM EAT), before the midday break. Avoid calling during Eritrean evening peak hours (7-10 PM EAT / 11 AM - 2 PM EST) when the network is most congested.
For more dialing guides, see our complete country code directory. You may also find these nearby guides useful: +251 Ethiopia and +253 Djibouti.