Cameroon Country Code +237: Complete Calling Guide 2026
Complete guide to Cameroon country code +237. Learn how to call Yaoundé, Douala, mobile carriers (MTN, Orange, Nexttel), and the cheapest ways to call Cameroon.
The Cameroon country code is +237. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about calling Cameroon in 2026, including how to dial Yaounde and Douala, mobile carrier prefixes (MTN, Orange, Nexttel), and the cheapest ways to call Cameroon from abroad. Cameroon uses a closed numbering plan with 9-digit numbers and no area codes, making dialing straightforward once you understand the system.
Quick Reference: Cameroon +237
Country Code: +237
Exit Code: 00
Trunk Prefix: None
Capital: Yaounde
Time Zone: WAT (UTC+1)
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
How to Call Cameroon
International Dialing Format
To call Cameroon from abroad:
+ 237 + 9-digit phone numberNote: Cameroon uses 9-digit phone numbers with no area codes. All numbers are dialed directly after the country code.
Dialing Examples
Cameroon Number Format
| Type | Starting Digits | Region/Carrier | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landline (Yaounde) | 222 | Centre Region | +237 222 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Douala) | 233 | Littoral Region | +237 233 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Bafoussam) | 234 | West Region | +237 234 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Bamenda) | 236 | Northwest Region | +237 236 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Garoua) | 227 | North Region | +237 227 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Maroua) | 229 | Far North Region | +237 229 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Bertoua) | 224 | East Region | +237 224 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Buea) | 233 | Southwest Region | +237 233 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Ebolowa) | 228 | South Region | +237 228 XXX XXX |
| Landline (Ngaoundere) | 225 | Adamawa Region | +237 225 XXX XXX |
| Mobile (MTN) | 67X, 650-654 | MTN Cameroon | +237 6XX XXX XXX |
| Mobile (Orange) | 69X, 655-659 | Orange Cameroun | +237 69X XXX XXX |
Mobile Carriers in Cameroon
| Carrier | Prefix | Market Share | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN Cameroon | 67X, 650-654, 680-681 | ~58% | 2G / 3G / 4G LTE |
| Orange Cameroun | 69X, 655-659 | ~32% | 2G / 3G / 4G LTE |
| Nexttel (Viettel) | 66X | ~10% | 2G / 3G / 4G LTE |
MTN Cameroon dominates the mobile market with the widest network coverage, reaching most urban and semi-urban areas. Orange Cameroun is the second-largest carrier and has been aggressively expanding its 4G LTE network. Nexttel, a joint venture between the Cameroonian government and Vietnam's Viettel, entered the market in 2014 and offers competitive pricing but has more limited coverage outside major cities. Mobile money services (MTN MoMo and Orange Money) are extremely popular and widely used for payments and transfers.
Special & Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police | 117 | National police emergency |
| Gendarmerie | 113 | Military police (rural areas) |
| Fire Department | 118 | Sapeurs-pompiers |
| Ambulance / SAMU | 119 | Medical emergency (major cities) |
| Directory Enquiries | 12 | CAMTEL directory assistance |
Cheapest Ways to Call Cameroon
Free app-to-app calls when internet is available.
Best Times to Call Cameroon
Cameroon uses West Africa Time (WAT), UTC+1, year-round with no daylight saving time. Business hours are typically Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM (government offices) or 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (private sector). Saturday morning is often a half work day.
From US East (EST): Cameroon is +6 hours. Call between 2 AM and 11 AM EST to reach them during business hours.
From US West (PST): Cameroon is +9 hours. Call between 11 PM and 8 AM PST.
From UK (GMT): Cameroon is +1 hour. Call between 7:30 AM and 4 PM GMT.
From France: Same time zone (CET). Call during normal business hours.
Tip: Cameroon is a bilingual country (French and English). Government offices in francophone regions close for lunch from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. In anglophone regions (Northwest and Southwest), the schedule follows a more British pattern with a shorter lunch break.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Calls to anglophone regions fail or have internet shutdowns
The Cameroonian government has periodically imposed internet shutdowns and telecommunications restrictions in the Northwest and Southwest (anglophone) regions since 2017 due to political unrest. If calls or data services fail to these areas, it may be due to a government-imposed blackout rather than a technical issue. Check news sources for current connectivity status.
Number seems to have wrong number of digits
All Cameroonian phone numbers are exactly 9 digits (not counting the +237 country code). If you have a number with fewer digits, it may be an old format from before the 2014 numbering change, when numbers were migrated from 8 to 9 digits. Try adding a "2" prefix for landlines or checking which carrier prefix applies for mobiles.
Mobile money transfer numbers do not work for voice calls
Some short codes used for MTN MoMo (*126#) and Orange Money (*150#) are USSD service codes, not phone numbers. These only work from within the Cameroonian mobile network and cannot be dialed from abroad. For voice calls, always use the full 9-digit number with the +237 country code.
Call quality is poor or call drops frequently
Network congestion is common in densely populated areas like Douala and Yaounde, especially during peak hours (6-9 PM). If call quality is poor, try calling during off-peak hours (early morning or midday). Alternatively, use a VoIP service over WiFi for more stable connections, as WiFi quality in urban Cameroon has improved significantly.
Cannot reach landline numbers
Cameroon's fixed-line network operated by CAMTEL has limited coverage and reliability. Many landline numbers may be disconnected or unreachable. Over 95% of Cameroon's telephone subscribers use mobile phones. If a landline does not connect, ask for the person's mobile number instead.