+243 is the country code for the Congo - Kinshasa.
Every phone number in the Congo - Kinshasa starts with +243 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 243, then the number without its first 0.
- Time there
- Kinshasa timeWest Africa Time, UTC+1, no daylight saving, one of several time zones in the Congo - Kinshasa
- From the US or Canada
- 011 243 991 234 567
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 243 991 234 567
- From Australia
- 0011 243 991 234 567
- From any mobile phone
- +243 991 234 567
- Inside the Congo - Kinshasa
- 0991 234 567
- Mobile numbers
- 7 to 9 digits after +243
- Landlines
- 7 to 10 digits after +243, such as +243 1X XXXXX in Kinshasa
Check a +243 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +243, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Mobile numbers in the Congo - Kinshasa start with 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 96, 97, 98 or 99, and this table shows which networks first issued each start.
| At home | From abroad | First issued by |
|---|---|---|
| 080 | +243 80 | Orange |
| 081 | +243 81 | Vodacom |
| 082 | +243 82 | Vodacom |
| 083 | +243 83 | Vodacom |
| 084 | +243 84 | Orange |
| 085 | +243 85 | Orange |
| 086 | +243 86 | Vodacom |
| 088 | +243 88 | Yozma Timeturns sprl -YTT |
| 089 | +243 89 | Orange |
| 090 | +243 90 | Africell |
| 091 | +243 91 | Africell |
| 096 | +243 96 | Airtel |
| 097 | +243 97 | Airtel |
| 098 | +243 98 | Airtel |
| 099 | +243 99 | Airtel |
Orange started 080, 084, 085 and 089, Vodacom started 081, 082, 083 and 086, Yozma Timeturns sprl -YTT started 088, Africell started 090 and 091 and Airtel started 096, 097, 098 and 099. 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.
6 landline areas cover the Congo - Kinshasa, from 01 in Kinshasa to 06 in North Kivu/South Kivu/Maniema.
| At home | From abroad | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | +243 1 | Kinshasa |
| 02 | +243 2 | Katanga |
| 03 | +243 3 | Bas-Congo/Bandundu |
| 04 | +243 4 | Kasai-Oriental/Kasai-Occidental |
| 05 | +243 5 | Oriental Province (Kisanga/Mbandaka) |
| 06 | +243 6 | North Kivu/South Kivu/Maniema |
In the Congo - Kinshasa, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +243 followed by the number without its 0.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 0991 234 567 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +243 991 234 567 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +243991234567 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +243 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 - Kinshasa 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 +243 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +243.
Which country uses the +243 country code?
Congo - Kinshasa. Every phone number there starts with +243 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call the Congo - Kinshasa from the US?
Dial 011, then 243, then the number without its first 0. A mobile number written 0991 234 567 at home is dialed 011 243 991 234 567 from the US, or +243 991 234 567 from any mobile phone.
Is +243 the same as 00243?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in the Congo - Kinshasa 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 - Kinshasa?
A mobile number has 7 to 9 digits after +243, written 0991 234 567 at home. A landline has 7 to 10 digits, written 01X XXXXX at home.
What are the area codes in the Congo - Kinshasa?
01 for Kinshasa, 02 for Katanga, 03 for Bas-Congo/Bandundu, 04 for Kasai-Oriental/Kasai-Occidental, 05 for Oriental Province (Kisanga/Mbandaka) and 06 for North Kivu/South Kivu/Maniema. From abroad, drop the 0 and put +243 in front.
What time is it in the Congo - Kinshasa?
The Congo - Kinshasa spans several time zones. In Kinshasa it is West Africa Time, UTC+1, all year.
How do I check a +243 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from the Congo - Kinshasa 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.