+265 is the country code for Malawi.
Every phone number in Malawi starts with +265 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 265, then the number without its first 0.
- Time there
- Blantyre timeCentral Africa Time, UTC+2, no daylight saving
- From the US or Canada
- 011 265 991 23 45 67
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 265 991 23 45 67
- From Australia
- 0011 265 991 23 45 67
- From any mobile phone
- +265 991 23 45 67
- Inside Malawi
- 0991 23 45 67
- Mobile numbers
- 9 digits after +265, starting 11, 21, 22, 31, 77, 88, 89, 98 or 99
Check a +265 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +265, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Mobile numbers in Malawi start with 11, 21, 22, 31, 77, 88, 89, 98 or 99, and this table shows which networks first issued each start.
| At home | From abroad | First issued by |
|---|---|---|
| 011 | +265 11 | Malawi Telecom-munications Ltd (MTL) |
| 021 | +265 21 | Zero2 |
| 022 | +265 22 | Zero2 |
| 031 | +265 31 | TNM |
| 077 | +265 77 | Globally Advanced Integrated Networks Ltd |
| 088 | +265 88 | TNM |
| 089 | +265 89 | TNM |
| 098 | +265 98 | Airtel |
| 099 | +265 99 | Airtel |
Malawi Telecom-munications Ltd (MTL) started 011, Zero2 started 021 and 022, TNM started 031, 088 and 089, Globally Advanced Integrated Networks Ltd started 077 and Airtel started 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.
In Malawi, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +265 followed by the number without its 0.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 0991 23 45 67 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +265 991 23 45 67 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +265991234567 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +265 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 Malawi 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 +265 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +265.
Which country uses the +265 country code?
Malawi. Every phone number there starts with +265 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call Malawi from the US?
Dial 011, then 265, then the number without its first 0. A mobile number written 0991 23 45 67 at home is dialed 011 265 991 23 45 67 from the US, or +265 991 23 45 67 from any mobile phone.
Is +265 the same as 00265?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in Malawi 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 Malawi?
A mobile number has 9 digits after +265, written 0991 23 45 67 at home.
What time is it in Malawi?
Malawi is on Central Africa Time, UTC+2, all year. It does not use daylight saving time.
How do I check a +265 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from Malawi 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.