Quick answer: Nigeria's country code is +234. To call a Nigerian number from abroad, dial your exit code (
011from the US,00from Europe, or just+from a mobile), then234, then the number without the leading 0. Within Nigeria, dial all 11 digits including the leading 0. Lagos's area code is 1, Abuja's is 9. Mobile prefixes are 3-digit: 803/806/810/813/814/816/903 = MTN, 802/808/812/901/902/904 = Airtel, 805/807/811/815 = Glo, 809/817/818/908/909 = 9mobile.
What is the +234 country code?
A number that starts with +234 is calling from Nigeria — Africa's most populous country (~220 million people) and biggest economy. The country code was assigned to Nigeria by the ITU under the Africa region's 2-zone (2XX) range.
Nigerian numbers run 10 digits total (after dropping the leading 0 used domestically), in the format +234 X XXX XXXX for landlines or +234 XXX XXX XXXX for mobiles.
This guide comes from My Country Mobile (MCM), a virtual phone provider that issues local numbers across the world.
The anatomy of a Nigerian phone number
A Nigerian phone number has three logical pieces plus the leading 0 trick:
Segment 1: +234 — the country code
Nigeria's ITU country code. Use + from mobiles, 00 from European landlines, 011 from US/Canadian landlines.
Segment 2: The next 1–3 digits
This is where it gets a little different from US numbers:
- For landlines: a single digit area code (
1for Lagos,9for Abuja,2for Ibadan). - For mobiles: a 3-digit prefix that identifies the carrier (
803= MTN,802= Airtel, etc.).
Segment 3: The subscriber number
The remaining 7 digits — the actual unique line.
The leading 0 — the catch
Within Nigeria, every number is written and dialed with a leading 0 (e.g. 0803 123 4567). When you call from abroad, you drop that 0 because +234 already plays the role of the trunk prefix.
Nigeria's city codes + mobile carrier prefixes
Major cities (landline area codes)
| Code | City | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| +234 1 | Lagos | ~21M metro | Economic capital · Africa's biggest city |
| +234 9 | Abuja | ~3.5M | Federal capital |
| +234 2 | Ibadan | ~3.5M | Oyo State capital · oldest city |
| +234 84 | Port Harcourt | ~1.9M | Oil + petrochemical capital |
| +234 64 | Kano | ~4M | Kano State capital · largest northern city |
| +234 62 | Kaduna | ~1.1M | Northern hub |
| +234 52 | Benin City | ~1.5M | Edo State capital |
| +234 87 | Aba | ~1.5M | Abia State commercial center |
Mobile prefixes (by carrier)
Mobile networks dominate Nigerian telecoms — there are about 220 million mobile lines for ~220 million people:
| Carrier | Prefixes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MTN | 803, 806, 810, 813, 814, 816, 903, 906 | Largest carrier · ~75M subscribers · South African parent |
| Airtel | 802, 808, 812, 901, 902, 904, 907 | India's Bharti Airtel · ~50M subscribers |
| Glo (Globacom) | 805, 807, 811, 815, 905 | Nigerian-owned · ~40M subscribers |
| 9mobile | 809, 817, 818, 908, 909 | Formerly Etisalat Nigeria · smaller share |
When a Nigerian gives you a mobile number, the first 3 digits after the 0 tell you immediately which network carries the line.
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How to dial a Nigerian number from anywhere
Three scenarios cover almost every case:
Within Nigeria
0803 123 4567
Dial all 11 digits including the leading 0. The 0 is Nigeria's national trunk prefix.
From the United States
011 234 803 123 4567
011— US international exit code234— Nigeria's country code- Then the Nigerian number without the leading 0
From anywhere (E.164 format)
+234 803 123 4567
Or in compact E.164 with no spaces: +2348031234567. This is the format every CRM, SMS API, and dialer expects.
Format conventions when writing Nigerian numbers
| Format | Example | Used where |
|---|---|---|
| Nigerian domestic | 0803 123 4567 | Print, Nigerian websites, signage |
| International with spaces | +234 803 123 4567 | Business cards, international comms |
| E.164 | +2348031234567 | CRMs, dialers, mobile-friendly |
| Lagos landline | 01 XXX XXXX (domestic) · +234 1 XXX XXXX (intl) | Lagos-based businesses |
For storing in CRM, always use E.164.
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Frequently asked questions about +234 (Nigeria)
What is the country code for Nigeria?
+234.
How many digits is a Nigerian phone number?
11 digits within Nigeria (including the leading 0). 10 digits when calling from abroad (without the 0), or 13 digits including +234 in E.164 format.
Do I drop the leading 0 when calling Nigeria from abroad?
Yes. Always. The 0 is the national trunk prefix and is replaced by +234 for international calls.
What's Lagos's area code?
1. So a Lagos landline is +234 1 XXX XXXX from abroad, or 01 XXX XXXX within Nigeria.
What's Abuja's area code?
9. Abuja landlines look like +234 9 XXX XXXX internationally.
How do I tell which carrier a Nigerian mobile number is on?
By the first 3 digits after the 0. 803/806/810/813/814/816/903 = MTN. 802/808/812/901/902/904 = Airtel. 805/807/811/815 = Glo. 809/817/818/908/909 = 9mobile.
Can I get a Nigerian phone number from outside Nigeria?
Yes. Virtual phone providers (including MCM) issue Nigerian numbers that forward to any device worldwide.
What does +234 look like in E.164 format?
A compact string like +2348031234567 — +, country code, mobile prefix, and 7-digit subscriber line concatenated with no spaces.
Do Nigerian SMS messages have any special rules?
Yes — SMS to Nigeria is regulated under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Bulk SMS senders typically need a sender ID registered with each carrier, and Do-Not-Call lists are enforced.
