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Country dialing code · zone 2

Republic of the Congo +242

To call Republic of the Congo from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 242, then the local number. In full: +242 06 123 4567.

CapitalBrazzaville Dialing zone2 — Africa Local time05:49 UTC+1 Exit code from Republic of the Congo00
Quick answer

The country calling code for Republic of the Congo is +242. A number starting +242 or 00242 is a call to or from Republic of the Congo. From abroad: +242 06 123 4567.

Country code+242
CapitalBrazzaville
ContinentAfrica
Time zoneAfrica/Brazzaville
LanguageFrench
CurrencyFranc
Emergency117 / 118
Exit code00
Trunk prefixnone
Population5,244,363

To call Republic of the Congo from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 242, then the local number as is. The +242 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).

How to call Republic of the Congo from abroad

From the US / Canada011 242 06 123 4567
From the UK & Europe00 242 06 123 4567
From Australia0011 242 06 123 4567
From any mobile+242 06 123 4567

06 123 4567 is a real-format Republic of the Congo mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, as is.

Republic of the Congo area codes

In Republic of the Congo, landlines usually include an area code after +242 (as is). Mobiles have no area code.

Number format

Landline, written locally22 212 3456from abroad+242 22 212 3456
Mobile, written locally06 123 4567from abroad+242 06 123 4567

Landline numbers in Republic of the Congo have 9 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 9 digits and start with 026. There is no national prefix to drop: dial the full local number after +242.

Calling abroad from Republic of the Congo

To call another country from Republic of the Congo, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Republic of the Congo to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.

A Republic of the Congo number in international format is written +242 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).

Cheapest ways to call Republic of the Congo

With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Republic of the Congo 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 +242?

Republic of the Congo has the country calling code +242.

How do I call Republic of the Congo from the United States?

Dial 011, then 242, then the local number as is — for example 011 06 123 4567.

What does +242 mean?

It is the international dialing code for Republic of the Congo. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).

Is +242 mobile or landline?

The +242 code identifies the country, not the line type; Republic of the Congo landlines and mobiles share it.

A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.

Mobile networks in Republic of the Congo

3 mobile network operators run their own networks in Republic of the Congo. The largest is MTN, with about 2.25 million subscribers (Q4 2015). Pick the one with the best coverage where you will spend most of your time.

MTN5G4G3G2G
2.25 M subscribers · Q4 2015

Owned by MTN

Airtel4G3G2G
1.85 M subscribers · Q4 2015

Owned by Bharti Airtel (90%)

Azur
0.31 M subscribers · Q4 2015

Owned by Bintel

Before you travel
  • 4G/5G frequency bands used in Republic of the Congo: 5G 3500, LTE 2600. 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.

Staying connected in Republic of the Congo

Mobile subscriptions96 per 100 people2024
Internet users47 % of population2024
Fixed lines0.3 per 100 people2022

With 96 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, mobile coverage in Republic of the Congo is not universal — keep a landline number as a backup when you can. Only 47 % 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 Republic of the Congo

Premium rate+242 8 0012 3456

Surcharged services — ranges starting with 800–802. Do not call back an unknown missed call from such a range: the cost is far above a normal call.

Number ranges: ITU-T national numbering plan for Republic of the Congo via Google libphonenumber.

Neighbouring countries

Central African Republic +236Gabon +241Democratic Republic of the Congo +243Cameroon +237Angola +244

All countries in zone 2 — Africa