+260 is the country code for Zambia.
Every phone number in Zambia starts with +260 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 260, then the number without its first 0.
- Time there
- Lusaka timeCentral Africa Time, UTC+2, no daylight saving
- From the US or Canada
- 011 260 95 5123456
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 260 95 5123456
- From Australia
- 0011 260 95 5123456
- From any mobile phone
- +260 95 5123456
- Inside Zambia
- 095 5123456
- Mobile numbers
- 9 digits after +260
- Landlines
- 9 digits after +260, such as +260 211 XXX XXX in Lusaka Province
- Toll-free numbers
- Start with 0800
Check a +260 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +260, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Mobile numbers in Zambia start with 55, 56, 57, 58, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 95, 96, 97 or 98, and this table shows which networks first issued each start.
| At home | From abroad | First issued by |
|---|---|---|
| 055 | +260 55 | ZAMTEL |
| 056 | +260 56 | MTN |
| 057 | +260 57 | Airtel |
| 058 | +260 58 | Beeline Telecoms |
| 075 | +260 75 | ZAMTEL |
| 076 | +260 76 | MTN |
| 077 | +260 77 | Airtel |
| 078 | +260 78 | Beeline Telecoms |
| 095 | +260 95 | ZAMTEL |
| 096 | +260 96 | MTN |
| 097 | +260 97 | Airtel |
| 098 | +260 98 | Beeline Telecoms |
ZAMTEL started 055, 075 and 095, MTN started 056, 076 and 096, Airtel started 057, 077 and 097 and Beeline Telecoms started 058, 078 and 098. 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.
8 landline areas cover Zambia, from 0211 in Lusaka Province to 0218 in Mongu/North-Western Province.
| At home | From abroad | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 0211 | +260 211 | Lusaka Province |
| 0212 | +260 212 | Ndola/Copperbelt and Luapula Provinces |
| 0213 | +260 213 | Livingstone/Southern Province |
| 0214 | +260 214 | Kasama/Northern Province |
| 0215 | +260 215 | Kabwe/Central Province |
| 0216 | +260 216 | Chipata/Eastern Province |
| 0217 | +260 217 | Solwezi/Western Province |
| 0218 | +260 218 | Mongu/North-Western Province |
In Zambia, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +260 followed by the number without its 0.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 095 5123456 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +260 95 5123456 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +260955123456 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +260 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 Zambia 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 +260 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +260.
Which country uses the +260 country code?
Zambia. Every phone number there starts with +260 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call Zambia from the US?
Dial 011, then 260, then the number without its first 0. A mobile number written 095 5123456 at home is dialed 011 260 95 5123456 from the US, or +260 95 5123456 from any mobile phone.
Is +260 the same as 00260?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in Zambia 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 Zambia?
A mobile number has 9 digits after +260, written 095 5123456 at home. A landline has 9 digits, written 0211 XXX XXX at home.
What are the area codes in Zambia?
0211 for Lusaka Province, 0212 for Ndola/Copperbelt and Luapula Provinces, 0213 for Livingstone/Southern Province, 0214 for Kasama/Northern Province, 0215 for Kabwe/Central Province, 0216 for Chipata/Eastern Province, 0217 for Solwezi/Western Province and 0218 for Mongu/North-Western Province. From abroad, drop the 0 and put +260 in front.
What time is it in Zambia?
Zambia is on Central Africa Time, UTC+2, all year. It does not use daylight saving time.
How do I check a +260 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from Zambia 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.