Cameroon +237
To call Cameroon from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 237, then the local number. In full: +237 6 71 23 45 67.
The country calling code for Cameroon is +237. A number starting +237 or 00237 is a call to or from Cameroon. From abroad: +237 6 71 23 45 67.
To call Cameroon from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 237, then the local number as is. The +237 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call Cameroon from abroad
011 237 6 71 23 45 6700 237 6 71 23 45 670011 237 6 71 23 45 67+237 6 71 23 45 676 71 23 45 67 is a real-format Cameroon mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, as is.
Cameroon area codes
In Cameroon, landlines usually include an area code after +237 (as is). Mobiles have no area code.
Number format
2 22 12 34 56from abroad+237 2 22 12 34 566 71 23 45 67from abroad+237 6 71 23 45 67Landline numbers in Cameroon have 9 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 9 digits. There is no national prefix to drop: dial the full local number after +237.
Calling abroad from Cameroon
To call another country from Cameroon, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Cameroon to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.
A Cameroon number in international format is written +237 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Cheapest ways to call Cameroon
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Cameroon for free. To reach a number without an app, VoIP services are usually cheaper than your operator’s international rate.
Frequently asked questions
What country has the code +237?
Cameroon has the country calling code +237.
How do I call Cameroon from the United States?
Dial 011, then 237, then the local number as is — for example 011 6 71 23 45 67.
What does +237 mean?
It is the international dialing code for Cameroon. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +237 mobile or landline?
The +237 code identifies the country, not the line type; Cameroon landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile networks in Cameroon
5 mobile network operators run their own networks in Cameroon. The largest is MTN, with about 10.1 million subscribers (dec 2014). Pick the one with the best coverage where you will spend most of your time.
Owned by MTN Group (70%)
Owned by Orange S.A.
Owned by Viettel Global, Bestinver Cameroon S.A.R.L
Owned by Camtel (government)
Owned by YooMee
- 4G/5G frequency bands used in Cameroon: LTE 1800. Most recent smartphones cover them; older or regional models may miss some.
Operators, subscriber counts, network codes and switch-off dates: Wikipedia (lists of mobile network operators, mobile network codes, 2G/3G phase-out, mobile number portability), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Figures come from each operator or regulator at the date shown.
Getting a SIM card in Cameroon
What visitors and new residents need to know before buying a local SIM or eSIM in Cameroon, with a source for each point.
Buying a SIM as a visitor
Mandatory since the decree of 3 September 2015: a SIM is activated only after identification with an original national ID card, residence permit or passport; the operator records name, ID number and expiry date, address and the phone's IMEI. Maximum 3 SIMs per person per operator (a 4th requires ART approval). 2026: phones connecting to local networks are checked by IMEI against the customs database and non-cleared devices can be blocked (blocking announced from 1 September 2026); phones of travellers on roaming are exempt, and tourists on short stays using a local SIM fall under temporary admission with duties suspended.
Source: art.cm · investiraucameroun.com · douanes.cm · burkina24.com
Where to buy it
Operator agencies and identified points of sale (MTN, Orange, Camtel/Blue); street sale of SIM cards has been banned since 2015. Bring your passport; your address and phone IMEI are recorded.
Source: investiraucameroun.com · art.cm
Scam calls and texts
Report scams and cyber incidents to ANTIC's CIRT: toll-free 8202, alerts@cirt.antic.cm, or the online incident form.
Source: cirt.cm
Emergency numbers
Police 117, Fire (sapeurs-pompiers) 118, SAMU ambulance 119. Note: GOV.UK lists ambulance 112 and fire 119, so sources differ.
Source: annuaire-medical.cm · gov.uk
WhatsApp and calling apps
No standing ban on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype calls, but disruptions occur around elections: after the 12 October 2025 presidential election NetBlocks reported blackouts (23 October and early November 2025) and restrictions on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Telegram; in October 2018 WhatsApp was throttled on the Orange network. OONI WhatsApp reachability tests between 1 June and 27 September 2026: 35,875 of 37,134 measurements OK, 0 confirmed blocks.
Source: technext24.com · netblocks.org · api.ooni.io
Checked on 28 September 2026 against the sources linked on each card (regulators, government portals and operators first). SIM and ID rules change often: confirm with the operator before you travel.
Staying connected in Cameroon
With 108 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, almost everyone in Cameroon has a mobile — a WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call is usually the easiest way in. Only 46 % of people use the internet, so a plain phone call may reach more people than an app.
Source: World Bank / ITU World Telecommunication indicators (IT.CEL.SETS.P2, IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.MLT.MAIN.P2), latest available year.
Free and premium numbers in Cameroon
+237 88 01 23 45Free from inside Cameroon (numbers starting with 88). From abroad these numbers are often unreachable or charged at the international rate.
Number ranges: ITU-T national numbering plan for Cameroon via Google libphonenumber.
Chad +235
Central African Republic +236
Gabon +241
Equatorial Guinea +240
Republic of the Congo +242
Nigeria +234