The 91 country code belongs to India, the world's most populous country with over 1.4 billion people. Whether you're calling family in Mumbai, conducting business in Bangalore, or reaching friends in Delhi, the +91 prefix connects you to one of the world's fastest-growing economies and a nation with one of the largest diaspora populations globally.
Quick Answer: The country code +91 is for India. Indian phone numbers have 10 digits after the +91 prefix. Mobile numbers start with 6, 7, 8, or 9. Example:
+91 98765 43210.
How to Call India: Quick Reference
The key to calling India is remembering to drop the leading 0 from landline area codes. Here's a quick-reference table:
| Calling From | Dialing Format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada Mobile | +91 [10-digit number] |
| US/Canada Landline | 011-91-[10-digit number] |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 00-91-[10-digit number] |
| UAE | 00-91-[10-digit number] |
| Australia | 0011-91-[10-digit number] |
| Singapore | +91 [10-digit number] |
India has one of the world's largest diasporas, with significant populations in the US, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, making international calling to India common.
Understanding Indian Phone Numbers
After dialing the +91 country code, you will always dial a 10-digit number. The format differs slightly between mobile and landline numbers.
Mobile Numbers
Indian mobile numbers start with 6, 7, 8, or 9:
- Length: Always 10 digits after +91.
- Starting digits: Always start with 6, 7, 8, or 9.
- No area code: Mobile numbers don't have area codes.
- Format: XXXXX XXXXX (often written as 5+5 digits).
- Example:
+91 98765 43210or+91 70123 45678.
Mobile numbers are by far the most common in India, with over 1.1 billion mobile subscribers.
Landline Numbers
Indian landline numbers include geographic area codes:
- Structure: Area code (2-4 digits) + local number = 10 digits total.
- Domestic format: 0XX-XXXXXXXX (starts with 0).
- International format: +91 XX XXXXXXXX (drop the 0).
- Major cities: Use 2-digit area codes (e.g., 11 for Delhi, 22 for Mumbai).
- Smaller cities: Use 3 or 4-digit area codes.
Important: When calling a landline from abroad, always drop the leading 0 from the area code.
India Area Codes Reference Table
Major Indian cities and their area codes. Remember to drop the leading 0 when dialing internationally:
| City | Domestic Code | International Format |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 011 | +91 11 xxxx xxxx |
| Mumbai | 022 | +91 22 xxxx xxxx |
| Kolkata | 033 | +91 33 xxxx xxxx |
| Chennai | 044 | +91 44 xxxx xxxx |
| Bangalore | 080 | +91 80 xxxx xxxx |
| Hyderabad | 040 | +91 40 xxxx xxxx |
| Ahmedabad | 079 | +91 79 xxxx xxxx |
| Pune | 020 | +91 20 xxxx xxxx |
| Jaipur | 0141 | +91 141 xxx xxxx |
| Lucknow | 0522 | +91 522 xxx xxxx |
Note: Metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad) use 2-digit area codes with 8-digit local numbers. Smaller cities use 3-4 digit area codes with 6-7 digit local numbers.
Mobile vs. Landline: How to Tell the Difference
You can tell Indian number types by the first digit:
- Starts with 6, 7, 8, or 9: Mobile number (no area code needed)
- Starts with 0 domestically (or 1-5 after +91): Landline number (includes area code)
This distinction matters because calling rates to Indian mobiles may differ from landlines depending on your provider.
Dialing Examples
Here are practical examples for calling India from various locations:
Example 1: Calling an Indian Mobile from the US
- Indian Number: 98765 43210
- From a US Mobile:
+91 98765 43210 - From a US Landline:
011 91 98765 43210
Example 2: Calling a Mumbai Landline from the US
- Indian Number: 022-2345-6789 (domestic format)
- From a US Mobile:
+91 22 2345 6789(drop the 0) - From a US Landline:
011 91 22 2345 6789
Example 3: Calling Delhi from the UK
- Indian Number: 011-2345-6789 (domestic format)
- From the UK:
00 91 11 2345 6789
Example 4: Calling Bangalore from UAE
- Indian Number: 080-2345-6789 (domestic format)
- From UAE:
00 91 80 2345 6789
Best Times to Call India
India operates on a single time zone: Indian Standard Time (IST), which is UTC+5:30. The half-hour offset makes time calculations slightly tricky.
| Your Location | Time Difference | Call India 9 AM - 9 PM |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | India is 10.5 hours ahead | 10:30 PM - 10:30 AM EST (prev day) |
| US West Coast (PST) | India is 13.5 hours ahead | 7:30 PM - 7:30 AM PST (prev day) |
| UK (GMT) | India is 5.5 hours ahead | 3:30 AM - 3:30 PM GMT |
| UAE (GST) | India is 1.5 hours ahead | 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM GST |
| Australia (AEDT) | India is 5.5 hours behind | 2:30 PM - 2:30 AM AEDT |
Tip: For US callers, late evening calls (8-10 PM EST) reach India in the morning (6:30-8:30 AM IST). Early morning US calls (6-8 AM EST) reach India in the evening (4:30-6:30 PM IST).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't let these common errors prevent your call from connecting:
- Keeping the leading 0: For landlines, never dial +91 022... - drop the 0.
- Adding 0 to mobiles: Mobile numbers don't have a leading 0. Don't add one.
- Wrong number of digits: Indian numbers are exactly 10 digits after +91.
- Confusing country codes: Don't mix up +91 (India) with +92 (Pakistan) or +94 (Sri Lanka).
- Forgetting the half-hour offset: IST is UTC+5:30, not UTC+5 or UTC+6.
Cheapest Ways to Call +91 Numbers
International calls to India are affordable due to high competition:
- VoIP Services: Services like CallSky.io offer rates as low as $0.01/minute to India. Check our India rates.
- Messaging Apps: WhatsApp is popular in India - nearly universal among smartphone users. Free calls over WiFi or data.
- International Calling Cards: India calling cards are widely available and competitive. See our guide to calling India from the US.
Given India's massive diaspora and high call volume, rates to India are among the lowest for international calls.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What country has the +91 country code?
The +91 country code is exclusively for India. Any call from a number starting with +91 originates from India.
How many digits is an Indian phone number?
Indian phone numbers have exactly 10 digits after the +91 country code. Mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 6, 7, 8, or 9. Landlines include the area code within those 10 digits.
What is the area code for Mumbai?
The area code for Mumbai is 022 domestically. When calling internationally, drop the leading 0 and dial +91 22 followed by the 8-digit local number.
What is the area code for Delhi?
The area code for New Delhi is 011 domestically. When calling internationally, drop the leading 0 and dial +91 11 followed by the 8-digit local number.
How do I call India from the USA?
From a US mobile, dial +91 followed by the 10-digit Indian number. For landlines, remember to drop the leading 0 from the area code. From a US landline, dial 011-91 then the number.
What time should I call India from the US?
India is on IST (UTC+5:30), which is 10.5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time and 13.5 hours ahead of Pacific Time. Evening calls from the US reach India in the morning.
How do I identify an Indian mobile number?
Indian mobile numbers always start with 6, 7, 8, or 9 and are exactly 10 digits. For example: +91 98765 43210. Landlines start with area codes like 011 (Delhi) or 022 (Mumbai).
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