Calling to Namibia
- Do not dial a leading ‘0’ in the international call sequence – it is only used in Namibia for domestic long distance calls and domestic calls to a mobile phone.
- 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 ’60’, ’81’, or ’85’. These area codes are often listed with a leading ‘0’ that is not dialed when called from outside Namibia.
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.
VoIP phone numbers occupy area code ’83’ (often listed as ‘083’. Do not dial a leading ‘0’ when calling from outside Namibia).
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
Lesotho 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 Namibia (domestic dialing)
‘0’ is used as a trunk prefix for calling to a different area code within Namibia.
Local calling (within the same area code)
To call within the same area code in Namibia dial only the local six-digit local number. Do not dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ or the area code.
| ”six |
| ”local |
Long distance calling (to a different area code, or from a mobile phone)
To call to a different area code within Namibia dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the two digit area code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | two digits | six digits |
| trunk prefix | area code | local phone number |
Mobile calling (to a mobile phone)
To call a mobile phone within Namibia dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the two digit area code/carrier code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | two digits | seven digits |
| trunk prefix | area code / carrier code | local phone number |
Namibia’s phone numbers explained
Number details
Namibian numbers are eight digits (nine including a leading ‘0’ that is not dialed when called from outside the country).
The first two digits are an area code that designates whether the phone number is a mobile or landline as well as area (geographic) code.
Mobile numbers are represented by area codes starting with ’60’, ’81’, and ’85’.
An example of a Namibian phone number
The National Art Gallery of Namibia lists its phone number in Windhoek as +264 (061) 231 160.
Number explanation
| 264 | 61 | 231 160 |
| country code for Namibia | area (geographic) code for Windhoek | local number within Windhoek |
Local example – calling from another location in Windhoek, Namibia
To call within the same area code dial only the local phone number. Do not dial the trunk prefix ‘0’ or the area code.
| 231 160 |
| local phone number within Windhoek |
Long distance example – calling from Katima Mulilo, Namibia (on the other side of the country)
To call to a different area code dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | 61 | 231 160 |
| long distance trunk number | area (geographic) code for Windhoek | local phone number within Windhoek |
Mobile phone example – calling from a mobile phone (including a foreign mobile phone roaming in Namibia)
To call from a mobile phone dial the trunk prefix ‘0’, then the area code, then the local phone number.
| 0 | 61 | 231 160 |
| long distance trunk number | area (geographic) code for Windhoek | local phone number within Windhoek |
International example – calling from outside Namibia
To call from outside Namibia, dial the exit code of the country the call is dialed from, followed by Namibia’s country code of ‘264’, followed by the local phone number.
Do not dial any leading ‘0’ listed in the Namibian phone number.
| exit code | 264 | 61 | 231 160 |
| exit code of the country the call is dialed from | country code for Namibia | area (geographic) code for Windhoek | local phone number within Windhoek |
Calling from Namibia
’00’ is used as an exit code when dialing an international call from Namibia.
Sources and more resources
- Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia– Namibia’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 – Namibia (country code +264) National Numbering Plan – Details of Namibia’s telephone numbering plan as submitted to the ITU. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in Namibia – Wikipedia entry for telephone number data for Namibia. Includes specific number ranges for each city as well as detail on calling procedures.
- BT – The Phonebook – Namibia – Entry for Namibia in the British Telecom international directory.