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This free Ethiopian phone number checker shows whether a number is valid.

An Ethiopian phone number checker tells you whether a number is real, which means it follows Ethiopia's numbering rules and is assigned. Enter a +251 number above and 1Lookup's free checker returns valid or invalid in seconds, with the line type and country, checked against Ethiopia's numbering plan.

Country code
+251
Mobile numbers
9 digits after +251, or 10 written at home, starting 07, 08 or 09
Landlines
9 digits after +251, starting 01, 03, 04 or 05, such as +251 11 5XX XXXX
Written at home
091 123 4567
Written for apps and SMS
+251911234567
Dialed from the US
011 251 91 123 4567

An Ethiopian mobile number is +251 followed by 9 digits, and the first one is 7, 8 or 9.

How an Ethiopian mobile number is built

Written with the country code

  1. +251Country code
  2. 9Mobile start
  3. 1 123 45678 more digits

Written at home

  1. 0Replaces +251
  2. 9Mobile start
  3. 1 123 45678 more digits

The +251 and the 0 do the same job, so a number is never written with both.

An Ethiopian phone number checker reads a number's format first and then checks it against Ethiopia's numbering plan.

This is the path one check takes. A number can be written correctly and still not be assigned to anyone, so the format check alone is not the answer.

What one Ethiopian phone number check does
  1. You enter the numberType it the way it is written at home, such as 091 123 4567, or paste it with +251.
  2. Its format is checkedEach type of number has its own rules. A mobile needs 9 digits after +251 and starts with 07, 08 or 09 at home.
  3. It is checked against the numbering planNumbers outside the US and Canada are checked against the numbering plan of their country, which for this page is Ethiopia's.Nothing is sent to the number, so it never rings and its owner is never told.
  4. You see valid or invalidWith the line type and country in a few seconds, and the carrier or network where one is listed.

An Ethiopian mobile number has 9 digits after +251 and starts with 07, 08 or 09, so any other length is not a valid mobile.

These lengths come from the numbering data for Ethiopia. A mobile number has 10 digits when it is written at home with its 0.

Number typeStarts with at homeDigits after +251Written at home
Mobile07, 08 or 099091 123 4567
Landline01, 03, 04 or 059011 5XX XXXX

Three common mistakes make an Ethiopian number fail the check, and each one is quick to fix.

  1. Keeping the 0 after +251 adds a digit.

    The 0 is only for dialing inside Ethiopia, so +251 091 123 4567 is wrong. Drop the 0 and write +251 91 123 4567.

  2. Typing too few or too many digits makes a number invalid.

    A mobile number has 9 digits after +251. With 8 or 10 it cannot be a valid mobile, so look for a missing or doubled digit.

  3. Leaving the wrong country selected changes how the number is read.

    The checker reads a number by the rules of the country selected above, so keep Ethiopia selected for a +251 number. Paste a number with its + and country code and the country is read from the number itself.

These are the questions people ask most about checking Ethiopian phone numbers.

How do I check if an Ethiopian phone number is valid?

Enter the number in the box above with Ethiopia selected. The free checker returns valid or invalid in seconds, with the line type and country. Type it the way it is written at home, such as 091 123 4567, or in full as +251 91 123 4567.

How many digits is an Ethiopian phone number?

A mobile number has 9 digits after +251, or 10 written at home. A landline has 9 digits after +251, such as +251 11 5XX XXXX.

What does an Ethiopian mobile number start with?

Mobile numbers start with 07, 08 or 09 at home, which is 7, 8 or 9 after +251.

How do I write an Ethiopian number for an app or an SMS tool?

Use the E.164 form: a plus sign, 251, then the number without its leading 0 and no spaces, such as +251911234567.

Does the Ethiopian phone number checker show the carrier?

It shows the carrier or network where one is listed. Numbers outside the US and Canada are checked against the numbering plan of their country rather than live carrier data, so some come back with no carrier name.

Does valid mean the Ethiopian number is active?

No. Valid means the number is real, correctly written for Ethiopia and assigned. Whether a line is switched on and reachable right now is a different question, and the free HLR lookup answers it.

Can I check a whole list of Ethiopian phone numbers?

Yes. This free tool checks one number at a time. A 7-day free trial opens CSV upload and the API, at 1 credit a number.

Does the person know I checked their number?

No. The check reads records only. No call or text goes to the number, so its owner is never told.

What is the landline area code of Addis Ababa?

At home the code is 011 for Addis Ababa. From abroad the 0 is dropped, so Addis Ababa is +251 11. The area code is part of a landline's digits, and a mobile number has none.

You can check numbers from other countries on their own pages.

Sources: Google's libphonenumber numbering data for lengths, mobile starts and landline starts, as of September 24, 2026; the ITU list of country codes.

You can check a whole list of numbers with a 7-day free trial.

This free tool checks one number at a time. A 7-day free trial opens CSV upload and the API, at 1 credit a number.