+251 explained
The Ethiopia country code, 251, is what you dial before a Ethiopia number when you call from abroad. It is also known as the Ethiopia dialing code, Ethiopia calling code, or Ethiopia phone code. In the Ethiopia phone number format, +251 comes first, then the area code, such as 11 for Addis Ababa, then the local number.
- Country code
- +251
- The 00251 country code is the same number
- ISO country codes
- ET, ETH
- Use the ET country code or the ETH country code on forms and passports. To call Ethiopia, dial +251
- Used in
- Ethiopia
- No other country or territory dials +251
- Exit code
- 00
- From most countries. Also 011 from United States and Canada, 0011 from Australia, and + from any mobile
- Trunk prefix
- 0
- Drop it after +251
- Number length
- 9 digits
- After +251
- Time now in Ethiopia
- Ethiopia mobile number format
- 091 123 4567
- From abroad: +251 91 123 4567
- Ethiopia landline number format
- 011 111 2345
- From abroad: +251 11 111 2345
+251 area codes of main cities
Each +251 area code below is in the form you dial from abroad: +251, then the city code, then the local number. Inside Ethiopia, callers leave out +251 and put 0 in front of the city code. So Addis Ababa is +251 11 from abroad and 011 at home.
- Addis Ababa
- +25111
- Dire Dawa
- +25125
- Mekelle
- +25134
- Adama
- +25122
- Bahir Dar
- +25158
- Hawassa
- +25146
- Gondar
- +25158
- Jimma
- +25147
Ethiopia phone number types
The first digits of a Ethiopia number tell you what kind of number it is: a landline, a mobile, a free number, or one that costs more to call. Here is a sample of each type of Ethiopia phone number, as dialed inside Ethiopia and from abroad.
Good to know before you call Ethiopia
“ሰላም”
Sälam
It means peace. No source gives a phrase made only for the telephone, so this is the everyday Amharic greeting
Reply
“ሰላም”
Sälam
Safaricom Ethiopia began commercial service in October 2022.
Safaricom EthiopiaThe Ethiopian Communications Authority runs the National Telecommunications Numbering Plan under Communications Service Proclamation No. 1148/2019.
Ethiopian Communications AuthorityEthiopia's current numbering plan took effect on 17 September 2005, five days after the regulator announced it.
ITU, Ethiopia national numbering plan
What it costs to call Ethiopia (using Suparelay)
Landline from $0.54/minMobile from $0.53/min
Only 86 of 220 countries cost more to call than Ethiopia.
Enter a numberEach bar counts the countries at that price
Want to call Ethiopia?
Call any phone from this tab. Nothing to install on either side, and you pay cents a minute.
Why a call to Ethiopia fails
You call from: 🇺🇸 United States
The 0 is still in the number
The 0 at the start of an Ethiopian number is for calls inside the country. From abroad, leave it out: +251 takes its place.
- Connects
- 011 251 11 111 2345
- Does not connect
- 011 251 011 111 2345
The exit code is wrong for your country
00 works from Ethiopia and most of the world. From the US and Canada the exit code is 011.
- Connects
- 011 251 11 111 2345
- Does not connect
- 00 251 11 111 2345
Questions about +251
Which country is +251?
+251, or country code 251, belongs to Ethiopia. No other country shares this code.
What is +251?
+251 is the part you dial before an Ethiopian number when you call from another country, such as +251 11 111 2345 for Addis Ababa. It replaces the first 0 of the number.
What is the difference between +251 and 00251?
The + stands for your exit code. 00 is the exit code in Ethiopia and most of the world, so 00251 and +251 reach the same number from there. From the US and Canada, dial 011 251 instead.
Do I drop the 0 after +251?
Yes. The 0 is Ethiopia's trunk prefix and works only inside the country. Dial +251 11 111 2345, not +251 011 111 2345.
Can I text a +251 number?
Yes. Write the number as +251 without its first 0. Ethiopian mobile numbers start with 07, 08, or 09, and your phone sends the text abroad at your carrier's international rate.
How much does it cost to call Ethiopia?
A call to an Ethiopian mobile can cost more than a call to a landline. The dialer on this page shows the exact price of the number you enter before you call.
When did Ethiopia's current phone numbers start?
Ethiopia's current numbering plan took effect on 17 September 2005, five days after the regulator announced it.
The information on this page is accurate as of September 26, 2026.
Ethiopian Communications Authority, numbering services