+265 explained
The Malawi country code, 265, is what you dial before a Malawi number when you call from abroad. It is also known as the Malawi dialing code, Malawi calling code, or Malawi phone code. In the Malawi phone number format, +265 comes first, then the area code and the local number.
- Country code
- +265
- The 00265 country code is the same number
- ISO country codes
- MW, MWI
- Use the MW country code or the MWI country code on forms and passports. To call Malawi, dial +265
- Used in
- Malawi
- No other country or territory dials +265
- 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 +265
- Number length
- 7 or 9 digits
- After +265
- Time now in Malawi
- Malawi mobile number format
- 0991 23 45 67
- From abroad: +265 991 23 45 67
- Malawi landline number format
- 01 234 567
- From abroad: +265 1 234 567
Malawi phone number types
The first digits of a Malawi 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 Malawi phone number, as dialed inside Malawi and from abroad.
Good to know before you call Malawi
“Muli bwanji?”
It means how are you.
Reply
“Ndili bwino”
Emergency number
997
997 works free of charge. No government page names a separate ambulance or fire number.
Malawi Police ServiceMalawi's current numbering plan took effect in 2009. Numbers in it are usually seven or nine digits long.
Wikipedia: Telephone numbers in MalawiThe Malawi Police Service tells callers to dial 997 toll-free for any emergency.
Malawi Police ServiceMalawi had 10.23 million mobile phone connections in 2022, roughly one for every two of its 22 million people.
Wikipedia: Malawi
What it costs to call Malawi (using Suparelay)
Landline from $0.87/minMobile from $0.77/min
Only 41 of 221 countries cost more to call than Malawi.
Enter a numberEach bar counts the countries at that price
Want to call Malawi?
Call any phone from this tab. Nothing to install on either side, and you pay cents a minute.
Why a call to Malawi fails
You call from: 🇺🇸 United States
The 0 is still in the number
A Malawian number keeps its 0 only for calls inside the country. From abroad, drop it: +265 replaces that first 0.
- Connects
- 011 265 1 234 567
- Does not connect
- 011 265 01 234 567
The exit code is wrong for your country
Most countries dial 00 before a country code. Callers in the United States and Canada dial 011 instead.
- Connects
- 011 265 1 234 567
- Does not connect
- 00 265 1 234 567
Questions about +265
Which country is +265?
+265, or country code 265, belongs to Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa.
What is +265?
+265 is the code you dial before a Malawian number when you call from outside Malawi. Malawi has no area codes, so only the leading 0 changes to +265.
What is the difference between +265 and 00265?
The + stands for your own exit code. Where that exit code is 00, 00265 and +265 reach the same Malawian number. From the United States and Canada, dial 011 265 instead.
Do I drop the 0 after +265?
Yes. The 0 is Malawi's trunk prefix and works only for calls inside the country. Dial +265 1 234 567, not +265 01 234 567.
Can I text a +265 number?
Yes. Drop the first 0, write the number after +265, and your phone sends the text at your carrier's international rate.
How much does it cost to call Malawi?
A call to a Malawian mobile number often costs more than a call to a landline. The dialer on this page shows the exact price of the number you enter before you call.
Does Malawi have area codes?
No. Every Malawian landline number starts with 1 and has 7 digits. Mobile numbers have 9 digits and no area code either.
The information on this page is accurate as of September 26, 2026.
Wikipedia: Telephone numbers in Malawi