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Country dialing code · zone 2

Sierra Leone +232

To call Sierra Leone from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 232, then the local number without its leading 0. In full: +232 25 123456.

CapitalFreetown Dialing zone2 — Africa Local time04:51 UTC+0 Exit code from Sierra Leone00
Quick answer

The country calling code for Sierra Leone is +232. A number starting +232 or 00232 is a call to or from Sierra Leone. From abroad: +232 25 123456.

Country code+232
CapitalFreetown
ContinentAfrica
Time zoneAfrica/Freetown
LanguageEnglish (official
CurrencyLeone
Emergency019 / 999
Exit code00
Trunk prefix0
Population7,650,154

To call Sierra Leone from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 232, then the local number without its leading 0. The +232 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).

How to call Sierra Leone from abroad

From the US / Canada011 232 25 123456
From the UK & Europe00 232 25 123456
From Australia0011 232 25 123456
From any mobile+232 25 123456

25 123456 is a real-format Sierra Leone mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.

Sierra Leone area codes

In Sierra Leone, landlines usually include an area code after +232 (without its leading 0). Mobiles have no area code.

Number format

Landline, written locally(022) 221234from abroad+232 22 221234
Mobile, written locally(025) 123456from abroad+232 25 123456

Landline numbers in Sierra Leone have 8 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 8 digits. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +232.

Calling abroad from Sierra Leone

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

A Sierra Leone number in international format is written +232 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America). Switching to international format, drop the leading 0.

Cheapest ways to call Sierra Leone

With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Sierra Leone 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 +232?

Sierra Leone has the country calling code +232.

How do I call Sierra Leone from the United States?

Dial 011, then 232, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 25 123456.

What does +232 mean?

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

Is +232 mobile or landline?

The +232 code identifies the country, not the line type; Sierra Leone landlines and mobiles share it.

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

Mobile networks in Sierra Leone

6 mobile network operators run their own networks in Sierra Leone. The largest is Africell, with about 2.90 million subscribers (Feb 2015). Pick the one with the best coverage where you will spend most of your time.

Africell3G2G
2.90 M subscribers · Feb 2015

Owned by Lintel Limited

Orange4G3G2G
0.64 M subscribers · Feb 2012

Owned by Orange

Sierratel4G2G

Owned by government, managed by MDIC

Qcell

Owned by Qcell

Comium
0.65 M subscribers · 2009

Owned by Comium licence revoked since October 2014, while NATCOM managers have been sacked in 2015

GreenN

Owned by Ambitel (LapGreen) licence revoked since September 2014

Before you travel
  • 4G/5G frequency bands used in Sierra Leone: LTE. 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 Sierra Leone

Mobile subscriptions108 per 100 people2022
Internet users25 % of population2024
Fixed lines0.0 per 100 people2022

With 108 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, almost everyone in Sierra Leone has a mobile — a WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call is usually the easiest way in. Only 25 % 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.

Neighbouring countries

All countries in zone 2 — Africa