The +975 country code is for Bhutan. A landlocked Himalayan kingdom of about 780,000 people wedged between India and China, Bhutan is one of the most isolated countries in the world by choice. It famously measures Gross National Happiness instead of GDP, didn't have television until 1999, and didn't get mobile phone service until 2003. Thimphu is the capital. The national language is Dzongkha. Tourism is tightly controlled -- visitors pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee -- but the country has been modernizing its telecoms rapidly over the past two decades.
Quick answer: The country code +975 is for Bhutan. Bhutanese phone numbers are 8 digits after +975. Mobile numbers start with 17 or 77:
+975 17 XX XX XX. Landlines start with the area code (e.g. 2 for Thimphu):+975 2 XXX XXX. There is no trunk prefix -- dial the number exactly as written.
How to call Bhutan: quick reference
Bhutan does not use a trunk prefix. When dialing domestically, you use the same digits you'd use internationally (minus the +975). No leading 0 to drop.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +975 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-975-[local number] |
| UK | 00-975-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-975-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-975-[local number] |
| France | 00-975-[local number] |
Understanding Bhutan phone numbers
Bhutanese phone numbers are 8 digits long after the country code. The first digit (or first two digits for mobiles) tells you what kind of number you're calling.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 17 or 77 and are 8 digits total. The format is:
+975 17 XX XX XX or +975 77 XX XX XX
The 17 prefix belongs to B-Mobile (state-owned), while 77 numbers are from TashiCell (private). If you see an 8-digit number starting with either prefix, it's a mobile.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with a single-digit area code followed by 6 more digits (7 digits total, which is shorter than mobiles). The format is:
+975 2 XXX XXX (Thimphu)
Area codes
Bhutan uses geographic area codes for landlines. The main ones:
| Area code | Region |
|---|---|
| 2 | Thimphu |
| 3 | Central Bhutan (Bumthang, Trongsa) |
| 4 | Eastern Bhutan (Trashigang) |
| 5 | Southern Bhutan (Phuentsholing) |
| 6 | Paro and western districts |
| 8 | Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha |
Mobile carriers in Bhutan
Bhutan has two mobile operators. That's it. The market is small enough that two carriers cover the entire population.
B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom)
The state-owned operator, a subsidiary of Bhutan Telecom (which also runs the fixed-line network). B-Mobile launched in 2003 and was the country's first mobile service. Numbers start with 17. It has the widest coverage, especially in rural areas and along highways, since the government funds infrastructure in areas that wouldn't be commercially viable. B-Mobile also operates the 4G LTE network that launched in 2019.
TashiCell
The private competitor, owned by Tashi Group (Bhutan's largest private conglomerate). Launched in 2008. Numbers start with 77. TashiCell has strong coverage in urban areas and along main routes but thinner coverage in remote eastern and northern districts. It competes on price with aggressive data plans aimed at younger users.
Both operators use GSM/UMTS standards. International roaming agreements exist with Indian carriers (Airtel, Jio) and some global carriers, but rates can be steep. If you're visiting, local prepaid SIMs are available at the airport in Paro for registered tourists.
Don't confuse +975 with nearby codes
The +975 code is fairly distinct, but a few codes in the region can cause mix-ups:
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +977 | Nepal | Off by two digits. Both are Himalayan kingdoms, and people often mix them up geographically too. |
| +91 | India | Bhutan's phone system runs on Indian infrastructure and many Bhutanese have Indian SIMs for use near the border. A call to a Bhutanese person might go to their +91 number instead. |
| +95 | Myanmar | Starts with 9-5 vs 9-7-5. Easy typo. |
| +976 | Mongolia | Off by one digit. Both are remote, mountainous, and sparsely populated -- but on opposite sides of the Himalayas. |
The most common real-world confusion is between +975 (Bhutan) and +977 (Nepal). Double-check the third digit if you're calling the Himalayan region.
Time zone considerations
Bhutan uses Bhutan Time (BTT), which is UTC+6. The country does not observe daylight saving time.
This is an unusual offset -- 30 minutes ahead of India (UTC+5:30) despite being almost entirely surrounded by it. Bhutan chose this deliberately to distinguish itself.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 10:00 AM in Bhutan |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | BTT is +11 hours | 11:00 PM previous day |
| US West Coast (PST) | BTT is +14 hours | 8:00 PM previous day |
| London (GMT) | BTT is +6 hours | 4:00 AM |
| India (IST) | BTT is +30 minutes | 9:30 AM |
| Sydney (AEDT) | BTT is -5 hours | 3:00 PM |
The time gap to North America is large. If you're on the US East Coast, your best window is early morning your time (around 7-8 AM EST), which catches Bhutan at 6-7 PM before most offices close.
Communication in Bhutan
Business hours
Government offices run Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM BTT, with a lunch break from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Friday afternoons are sometimes cut short. Private businesses keep similar hours. Saturday is a half-day for some shops; Sunday is generally closed. Bhutan has a large number of religious holidays that can shut down government operations with little advance notice.
Communication style
Bhutanese communication tends to be formal and indirect. People may say "yes" to mean "I heard you" rather than "I agree." Titles matter -- use "Dasho" for senior officials or "Aum" and "Apa" as respectful forms of address. Business calls are usually conducted in English (the language of education) or Dzongkha. In southern Bhutan, Nepali is widely spoken. Don't expect rapid responses to voicemail -- text and WhatsApp are far more common for follow-ups.
Network quality
Voice call quality in Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing is generally good. 4G LTE is available in major towns. Coverage gets patchy in the mountainous interior -- the road between Thimphu and Bumthang crosses several passes above 3,000 meters where signal drops out entirely. International call routing usually goes through India, which adds some latency but is otherwise reliable. VoIP services like WhatsApp calling work well in areas with data coverage.
Who calls Bhutan?
Bhutanese abroad
Bhutan's diaspora is small but growing. The largest group outside Bhutan is the Lhotshampa (ethnic Nepali-Bhutanese) population, about 100,000 people who were resettled as refugees in the 1990s, mostly to the United States (concentrated in Columbus OH, Pittsburgh PA, and Burlington VT), Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Many maintain family ties in southern Bhutan. A smaller but growing number of Bhutanese students study in India, Australia, and Thailand.
Tourism and trekking
Bhutan attracts about 300,000 tourists per year (pre-pandemic numbers; recovery is ongoing). Tour operators, hotels, and trekking agencies in Bhutan receive frequent international calls for booking and logistics. Most tourist communication happens through WhatsApp or email, but phone calls remain common for last-minute itinerary changes, especially during the popular spring and autumn trekking seasons.
Development and NGO workers
International organizations (UN agencies, World Bank, JICA, various European development agencies) maintain offices in Thimphu. Staff rotate in and out, generating regular international call traffic. India's embassy and its DANTAK road-building project are among the largest foreign presences in the country.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile phone in Bhutan (B-Mobile)
Your friend's number in Bhutan is 17 12 34 56.
- From a US mobile: +975 17 12 34 56
- From a US landline: 011-975-17-12-34-56
- From India: 00-975-17-12-34-56
Calling a TashiCell mobile
The number is 77 34 56 78.
- From a UK phone: 00-975-77-34-56-78
- From a US mobile: +975 77 34 56 78
Calling a Thimphu landline
A hotel in Thimphu has the number 2 321 456.
- From a US mobile: +975 2 321 456
- From a US landline: 011-975-2-321-456
- From India: 00-975-2-321-456
Calling Paro (airport area)
A travel agency in Paro has the number 6 271 234.
- From a US mobile: +975 6 271 234
- From Australia: 0011-975-6-271-234
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing +975 with +977 (Nepal)
This is the most common error. Both are Himalayan countries, both start with 97. If your call connects but nobody speaks Dzongkha, check whether you dialed +975 or +977. Nepal's numbers are also 8-10 digits, so length won't help you catch the mistake.
Dialing an Indian number for someone in Bhutan
Many Bhutanese, especially in border towns like Phuentsholing, carry Indian SIM cards (Airtel, Jio) alongside their Bhutanese ones. If someone gives you their "Bhutan number" and it starts with +91, that's actually their Indian SIM. Check which number is currently active before calling.
Expecting landline and mobile numbers to be the same length
They're not. Landlines are 7 digits (area code + 6 digits). Mobiles are 8 digits (2-digit prefix + 6 digits). If you're dialing a landline number and add an extra digit to "make it 8," you'll get a wrong number or no connection.
Calling during Bhutanese holidays
Bhutan has numerous public holidays tied to the Buddhist calendar, and dates shift year to year. Government offices and many businesses close entirely. If you're making a business call, check the Bhutanese holiday calendar first -- there can be week-long closures around Tshechu (religious festival) periods.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +975 code?
Bhutan. Every phone number starting with +975 is a Bhutanese number. No other country shares this code.
How many digits are in a Bhutanese phone number?
Mobile numbers are 8 digits after +975 (starting with 17 or 77). Landline numbers are 7 digits after +975 (starting with the area code). So a complete international number is either +975 + 8 digits (mobile) or +975 + 7 digits (landline).
Does Bhutan have a trunk prefix?
No. Bhutan does not use a trunk prefix (no leading 0). When dialing domestically, you dial the same digits as you would internationally, minus the +975. This keeps things simple.
Can I use WhatsApp to call Bhutan?
Yes. WhatsApp is widely used in Bhutan, especially in urban areas with 4G coverage. In rural and mountainous areas, data coverage can be spotty, so a regular phone call may be more reliable.
How much does it cost to call Bhutan?
With CallSky, calls to Bhutan landlines start at $0.13/min (Economy) or $0.22/min (Premium). Mobile calls start at $0.15/min (Economy) or $0.22/min (Premium). No subscription required.
For more dialing guides, see the full country code directory. You might also find these related guides useful: Nepal (+977), India (+91), and Myanmar (+95).