Ethiopia Country Code (+251): Complete Dialing Guide 2026
Complete guide to calling Ethiopia with country code +251. Learn Addis Ababa area codes, mobile prefixes (Ethio Telecom, Safaricom), and cheap calling options.
The Ethiopia country code is +251. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about calling Ethiopia in 2026, including how to dial Addis Ababa and other cities, mobile carrier info (Ethio Telecom, Safaricom Ethiopia), and the cheapest ways to call Ethiopia from abroad.
Quick Reference: Ethiopia +251
Country Code: +251
Exit Code: 00
Trunk Prefix: 0
Capital: Addis Ababa
Time Zone: EAT (UTC+3)
Currency: Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
How to Call Ethiopia
International Dialing Format
To call Ethiopia from abroad:
+ 251 + area/mobile code + numberImportant: Drop the leading "0" from Ethiopian numbers when calling from abroad. Example: 011 becomes 11.
Dialing Examples
Ethiopia Area Codes
| City | Region | Area Code | International Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa | Addis Ababa City | 11 | +251 11 |
| Dire Dawa | Dire Dawa City | 25 | +251 25 |
| Bahir Dar | Amhara | 58 | +251 58 |
| Mekelle | Tigray | 34 | +251 34 |
| Hawassa | Sidama | 46 | +251 46 |
| Adama (Nazret) | Oromia | 22 | +251 22 |
| Jimma | Oromia | 47 | +251 47 |
| Gondar | Amhara | 58 | +251 58 |
| Dessie | Amhara | 33 | +251 33 |
| Harar | Harari | 25 | +251 25 |
| Jijiga | Somali | 25 | +251 25 |
Mobile Carriers in Ethiopia
| Carrier | Prefix | Market Share | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethio Telecom | 91X, 92X, 93X, 94X, 95X, 96X | ~92% | 4G/LTE | State-owned incumbent, dominant nationwide |
| Safaricom Ethiopia | 97X | ~8% | 4G/LTE | Launched Oct 2022, expanding coverage from major cities |
Note: Ethiopia's telecom market was a state monopoly until 2022 when Safaricom Ethiopia (backed by Kenya's Safaricom and Vodafone) launched as the first private operator. Mobile penetration sits around 55%, well below the African average of 80%, meaning there is significant room for growth. Ethio Telecom still controls the vast majority of subscribers but Safaricom is expanding rapidly in Addis Ababa and regional capitals.
Special & Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 991 | Police Emergency | Addis Ababa police; regional numbers may vary |
| 907 | Ambulance | Ethiopian Red Cross ambulance service |
| 939 | Fire Brigade | Addis Ababa fire service |
| 994 | Traffic Police | Report traffic accidents |
| 917 | Ethio Telecom Customer Service | Billing and service inquiries |
| 0800 (prefix) | Toll-Free Numbers | Free to call from within Ethiopia |
| 0900 (prefix) | Premium-Rate Numbers | Higher per-minute charges apply |
Cheapest Ways to Call Ethiopia
Telegram/Viber
Free app-to-app calls when internet is available. Telegram is particularly popular in Ethiopia.
Best Times to Call Ethiopia
Ethiopia uses East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3 year-round. There is no daylight saving time. Ethiopia also follows the Ethiopian calendar, which is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar, and uses a 12-hour clock starting at 6:00 AM (dawn).
The best window for calling Ethiopia from the US is early morning US time, which corresponds to late afternoon/evening in Ethiopia when people are typically available.
| Your Location | Offset to Ethiopia | Best Calling Window (your time) |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | Ethiopia is +8 hours | 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST |
| US West Coast (PST) | Ethiopia is +11 hours | 3:00 AM - 6:00 AM PST |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | Ethiopia is +3 hours | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM GMT |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Call not connecting or "number not in service"
Make sure you have removed the leading "0" from the Ethiopian number. If the local number is 0911 234 567, you should dial +251 911 234 567 internationally. The trunk prefix 0 is only used for domestic calls within Ethiopia.
Poor call quality or dropped calls
Ethiopia's mobile infrastructure is still developing outside major cities. Network congestion is common during peak hours (evenings and weekends). If calling a rural area, try during off-peak morning hours for better connection quality.
Cannot reach Safaricom Ethiopia numbers
Safaricom Ethiopia (97X prefixes) is a newer network and some international carriers have not yet completed interconnection agreements. If you cannot reach a 97X number, try calling through a VoIP provider like BubblyPhone which routes through direct carrier connections.
Internet-based calling blocked or unreliable
Ethiopia has historically throttled or blocked VoIP services during periods of political unrest. If Telegram or WhatsApp calls are not working, the government may have imposed temporary restrictions. VoIP services like BubblyPhone that terminate to regular phone numbers are not affected by app-level blocks.
Confusion between +251 country code and US area code 251
US area code 251 (Mobile, Alabama) and Ethiopia's country code +251 are different. If calling Ethiopia, always include the "+" or your country's exit code (011 from the US). A call to 251-XXX-XXXX without the exit code will reach Alabama, not Ethiopia.