+242 is the country code for the Congo - Brazzaville.
Every phone number in the Congo - Brazzaville starts with +242 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 242, then the full number.
- Time there
- Brazzaville timeWest Africa Time, UTC+1, no daylight saving
- From the US or Canada
- 011 242 06 123 4567
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 242 06 123 4567
- From Australia
- 0011 242 06 123 4567
- From any mobile phone
- +242 06 123 4567
- Inside the Congo - Brazzaville
- 06 123 4567
- Mobile numbers
- 9 digits after +242, starting 01, 02, 04, 05 or 06
- Landlines
- 9 digits after +242, such as +242 22 21X XXXX in Cuvette
Check a +242 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +242, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Mobile numbers in the Congo - Brazzaville start with 0, and this table shows which networks first issued each start.
| At home | From abroad | First issued by |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | +242 01 | Equateur Telecom |
| 02 | +242 02 | Congo telecom |
| 04 | +242 04 | Warid |
| 05 | +242 05 | Airtel |
| 06 | +242 06 | MTN |
Equateur Telecom started 01, Congo telecom started 02, Warid started 04, Airtel started 05 and MTN started 06. People keep their number when they switch networks, so the start shows where a number began. Our free number portability lookup shows the network it is on today.
7 landline areas cover the Congo - Brazzaville, from 2221 in Cuvette to 2229 in Pointe-Noire.
| At home | From abroad | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2221 | +242 2221 | Cuvette |
| 2222 | +242 2222 | Likouala/Sangha |
| 2223 | +242 2223 | Pool |
| 2224 | +242 2224 | Plateaux |
| 2225 | +242 2225 | Bouenza/Lekoumou/Niari |
| 2228 | +242 2228 | Brazzaville |
| 2229 | +242 2229 | Pointe-Noire |
In the Congo - Brazzaville, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +242 followed by the full number.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 06 123 4567 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +242 06 123 4567 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +242061234567 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +242 number you don't know can be a one-ring scam, so check it before calling back.
One-ring scams call once and hang up, hoping you call back a line that bills you international or premium rates.
- Don't call back an international number you don't know. A real caller leaves a message or sends a text.
- Check the number in the box above. A number that is not a working mobile or landline in the Congo - Brazzaville is a warning sign.
- Hang up on anyone who wants gift cards, crypto or a wire transfer, or asks you to read out a code that was just texted to you.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and see the FCC's guide to one-ring scams.
The codes next to +242 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +242.
Which country uses the +242 country code?
Congo - Brazzaville. Every phone number there starts with +242 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call the Congo - Brazzaville from the US?
Dial 011, then 242, then the full number. A mobile number written 06 123 4567 at home is dialed 011 242 06 123 4567 from the US, or +242 06 123 4567 from any mobile phone.
Is +242 the same as 00242?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in the Congo - Brazzaville and most of the world, and the + on a mobile phone stands in for whatever exit code your network uses. From the US and Canada the exit code is 011 instead.
How many digits is a phone number in the Congo - Brazzaville?
A mobile number has 9 digits after +242, written 06 123 4567 at home. A landline has 9 digits, written 22 21X XXXX at home.
What are the area codes in the Congo - Brazzaville?
2221 for Cuvette, 2222 for Likouala/Sangha, 2223 for Pool, 2224 for Plateaux, 2225 for Bouenza/Lekoumou/Niari, 2228 for Brazzaville and 2229 for Pointe-Noire. From abroad, drop the leading digit and put +242 in front.
What time is it in the Congo - Brazzaville?
The Congo - Brazzaville is on West Africa Time, UTC+1, all year. It does not use daylight saving time.
How do I check a +242 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from the Congo - Brazzaville and whether it is a mobile, a landline or a VoIP line, which helps you spot a one-ring scam before you call back.
Sources: Google's libphonenumber numbering data for lengths, mobile starts, area code places, first-issuing networks and time zones, as of September 24, 2026; the ITU list of country codes.