Calling to the Gambia
- A leading '+' in the phone number means 'dial your country's exit code'.
- Calling from a mobile phone: dial from on the country where you're currently located.
- Calling from a VoIP or satellite phone: dial from on the country where the phone is registered.
… to a mobile (cellular) phone or text (sms)
Use the same call sequence.
Mobile phone numbers begin with ‘3’, ‘6’, ‘7’, and ‘9’. There is a range of fixed wireless phones starting with ‘8’.
When calling a mobile phone user, dial to the country where the mobile phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.
… to a VoIP phone
Use the same call sequence.
When calling a VoIP phone user, dial to the country where the VoIP phone is registered, regardless of where the person is roaming.
… to a satellite phone
The Gambia does not have a country-specific satellite phone system.
Most satellite phones operate on their country code – calls to these satellite phones follow their call sequence.
… sending a fax
Use the same call sequence.
Calling within the Gambia (domestic dialing)
Dial the entire phone number as it is listed. There is no trunk or long distance number used in the Gambian phone network.
Gambian phone numbers explained
Number details
Gambian phone numbers are seven digits.
The first digit signifies whether the phone number is a mobile or landline phone.
Landline phones begin with ‘4’ and ‘5’. The first three to four digits represent a geographic (area) of the country.
Numbers beginning with ‘8’ are fixed wireless phones. These phones operate on a wireless phone network but are not mobile and portable like a traditional mobile phone.
Mobile numbers typically begin with a ‘3’, ‘6, ‘7’ or ‘9’. The first two digits signify the mobile phone carrier.
An example of a Gambian phone number
The Lacio Atlantic Hotel lists its phone number in Banjul as (+220) 4228601-6.
Phone number explanation
| 220 | 42 | 28601 6 |
| country code for the Gambia | designates a land-line (fixed line) phone number in Banjul | remainder of the phone number |
Local example – calling from another location in Banjul
Dial the entire eight-digit phone number for all calls within the Gambia.
| 42 | 28601 6 |
| designates a land-line (fixed line) phone number in Banjul | remainder of the phone number |
Long distance example – calling from Basse Santa Su, Gambia (on the other side of the country)
Dial the entire eight-digit phone number for all calls within the Gambia.
| 42 | 28601 6 |
| designates a land-line (fixed line) phone number in Banjul | remainder of the phone number |
Mobile phone example – calling from a mobile phone (including a foreign mobile roaming in the Gambia)
Dial the entire eight-digit phone number for all calls within the Gambia.
| 42 | 28601 6 |
| designates a land-line (fixed line) phone number in Banjul | remainder of the phone number |
International example – calling from outside the Gambia
To call from outside the Gambia, dial the exit code of the country the call is dialed from, followed by the Gambia’s country code of ‘220’, followed by the local phone number.
| exit code | 220 | 42 | 28601 6 |
| exit code of the country the call is dialed form | country code for the Gambia | designates a land-line (fixed line) phone number in Banjul | remainder of the phone number |
Calling from the Gambia
’00’ is used as an exit code when dialing an international call from the Gambia.
Sources and more resources
- Gambian Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) – The Gambia’s telephone systems regulator.
- ITU (International Telecommunications Union) – United Nations specialized agency for information and communications technologies.
- International Telecommunications Union – DIALLING PROCEDURES (INTERNATIONAL PREFIX, NATIONAL (TRUNK) PREFIX AND NATIONAL (SIGNIFICANT) NUMBER) (IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITU-T RECOMMENDATION E.164 (11/2010)) – A collection of dialing procedures for all countries and regions of the world. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- International Telecommunications Union – The Gambia (country code +220) National Numbering Plan – Details of the Gambia’s telephone numbering plan as submitted to the ITU. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in the Gambia – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for the Gambia. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
- BT – The Phonebook – The Gambia – Entry for the Gambia in the British Telecom international directory.