Burundi Country Code +257
The international country calling code for Burundi is +257. The national plan is a closed 8-digit system with no trunk prefix 0 and no classic area codes. Every standard landline or mobile number has exactly 8 digits, typically written in pairs as yy yy xx xx. From abroad, you dial +257 yy yy xx xx; inside Burundi you dial the same 8 digits with no extra prefix.
Fixed lines usually begin with 22 (for example in Bujumbura and other zones), while mobile numbers use 6X and 7X prefixes assigned to operators such as Viettel (Lumitel), UCOM and ONATEL. There is no leading 0 to remove; the 8 digits you see locally are exactly the 8 digits you dial after +257 from overseas.
This guide walks through Burundi’s +257 numbering structure, shows how to call Burundi from the US, UK and other countries, explains the local time zone Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2), and lists emergency numbers like 112, 117, 118 and 116 that matter for travellers, NGOs and businesses working in Gitega, Bujumbura and across the country.
Example landline (intl.)
+257 22 20 12 34
Country code +257 and an 8-digit fixed line starting with 22 (ONATEL / Bujumbura region).
Example mobile
+257 71 23 45 67
Mobile numbers use prefixes such as 61–69, 71–72, 75–77, 79; all remain 8 digits after +257.
Time & daylight saving
CAT (UTC+2) · Africa/Bujumbura
Burundi keeps Central Africa Time all year; there are no daylight saving changes.
Overview – where +257 is used
The country code +257 is used exclusively in Burundi, a small, densely populated country in the African Great Lakes region, bordering Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You will encounter +257 numbers on coffee and tea exporters, NGOs and UN agencies, logistics and lake transport operators and government offices in Gitega and Bujumbura.
Burundi’s national numbering plan, overseen by the telecommunications regulator ARCT, uses an 8-digit national significant number (NSN) with a closed dialing format – there is no separate area code and no trunk prefix. Fixed numbers are built on prefixes such as 22 (historically associated with ONATEL and geographic zones), while mobile networks use 61–69, 71–72, 75–77 and 79 and similar ranges allocated to Lumitel, UCOM and other operators.
For data quality, this is convenient: any valid Burundi phone number that you store in your CRM or contact list should match the pattern +257 plus 8 digits. If you see leading zeros after +257, or numbers with fewer or more than 8 digits, they likely need correction.
Typical +257 use cases in business & field work
- Agriculture & commodities – coffee, tea and cotton exporters using +257 numbers for trading and logistics coordination.
- NGOs & development projects – humanitarian, health and infrastructure programs spread across rural provinces, often reachable primarily via mobiles.
- Transport & regional trade – truckers and lake transport linking Burundi to ports in Tanzania and beyond the Great Lakes region.
Across all sectors, the rule of thumb is simple: Domestic: 8 digits, international: +257 + the same 8 digits.
Burundi phone number formats (+257)
Generic pattern: +257 yy yy xx xx (8 digits)Burundi’s numbers follow a simple structure: yy yy xx xx. All standard fixed and mobile numbers use 8 digits with no national trunk prefix. Inside Burundi you dial those 8 digits directly; from abroad you prepend the country code +257.
- • Landlines (fixed): commonly start with 22 and are written as 22 20 12 34 or similar. International format: +257 22 20 12 34.
- • Other fixed ranges: additional blocks such as 22 30 xx xx or 22 40 xx xx can be used for different zones and operators under the same closed plan.
- • Mobile numbers: prefixes in the 61–69 range (Viettel / Lumitel), 71–72, 76, 79 (UCOM) and 77 (ONATEL) are used for GSM services, all followed by six more digits to make a total of eight. Example: 71 23 45 67 → +257 71 23 45 67.
- • Short codes & services: 3-digit numbers such as 112, 117, 118, 116 and 109 are used for emergency and social services.
When normalising lists, strip non-digit characters and confirm you have exactly 8 digits. Then attach the +257 prefix for international format. Do not add, drop or “fix” any leading 0 – it should not be there in the first place.
Sample Burundi numbers
Illustrative onlyLocal format 22201234 – eight digits starting with 22.
Another fixed block under the 22 prefix; national users dial 22405678.
Mobile example with 69 prefix (Lumitel). Locally dialed as 69123456.
How to dial Burundi (+257)
1. From the USA or Canada
To call Burundi from North America, use exit code 011, then country code 257, then the 8-digit local number.
- Dial 011 – US/Canada exit code.
- Dial 257 – Burundi country code.
- Dial the 8-digit fixed or mobile number.
Example (New York → Bujumbura landline 22201234): 011 257 22 20 12 34.
2. From the UK, EU or most other countries
In much of Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the international prefix is 00. The rest of the sequence is: 00 + 257 + the 8-digit national number.
- Dial 00 – international access code.
- Dial 257 – Burundi country code.
- Dial the 8-digit local number.
Example (London → mobile 71234567): 00 257 71 23 45 67.
3. Dialing within Burundi
- Local & national calls: dial the 8-digit number directly (e.g. 22201234, 69123456).
- International from Burundi: use 00 + foreign country code + number (dropping any trunk 0 where applicable).
- Emergency & short codes: use 3-digit numbers such as 112, 117, 118, 116 or 109 without any prefix.
Example (Gitega → Paris landline +33 1 44 00 00 00): 00 33 1 44 00 00 00.
Normalisation tip: A “clean” Burundi number should look like +257XXXXXXXX (1 plus sign + 3-digit country code + 8 digits). If you see any extra leading 0s or 9-digit patterns, fix them before using the numbers in campaigns or dialers.
Time in Burundi – Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2)
Burundi uses a single national time zone: Central Africa Time (CAT) with an offset of UTC+02:00. There is no daylight saving time, so the time in Bujumbura or Gitega stays the same all year relative to UTC.
Compared with Europe, Burundi is usually 1 hour ahead of Central European Time (CET) in winter and aligned with Eastern European Time (EET). Relative to North America, it is typically 7 hours ahead of New York during US standard time and 6 hours ahead when the US is on daylight saving time.
In scheduling tools and APIs, use the specific zone Africa/Bujumbura to keep offsets correct over time and avoid confusion when other regions change their clocks but Burundi does not.
Burundi vs other major time zones
| City / region | Time zone | Offset vs Bujumbura |
|---|---|---|
| Bujumbura / Gitega | CAT (UTC+2) | Reference |
| London (winter) | GMT (UTC+0) | −2 hours |
| Paris / Berlin (winter) | CET (UTC+1) | −1 hour |
| New York (standard) | ET (UTC−5) | −7 hours |
| Dubai | GST (UTC+4) | +2 hours |
For many teams, late morning in Burundi overlaps well with Asia, while mid-afternoon in Burundi overlaps with morning in Europe and very early morning in North America.
Emergency numbers in Burundi
Several short emergency codes are used nationwide in Burundi. The most consistently reported are 112 for ambulance/medical, 117 for police, and 118 for fire brigade. Some directories also list 116 as a child helpline and 109 for the Red Cross.
Police
117
Call 117 for police assistance, security incidents, crimes or threats to personal safety anywhere in Burundi.
Ambulance / medical
112
112 is widely documented as the main number for ambulance and medical emergencies in Burundi and may also be used for combined emergency services in some areas.
Fire & rescue
118
Dial 118 in case of fire, explosions or other incidents requiring fire brigade and rescue services.
Child & Red Cross support
116 / 109
Some resources list 116 as a helpline for children and 109 for Red Cross support. Confirm locally which numbers are active in your area.
Mobile networks and roaming providers may handle emergency calls differently, so travellers should confirm numbers with local contacts or their embassy on arrival and program 112, 117 and 118 into their phones.
Examples: calling +257 numbers
US (Chicago) → Bujumbura office (fixed)
Office number shown locally as: 22 20 12 34.
- Keep the 8 digits: 22201234.
- From the US, dial exit code 011.
- Dial country code 257, then the 8-digit number.
Result: 011 257 22 20 12 34
Germany (Berlin) → Burundi mobile
Mobile number: 69 12 34 56.
- From Germany, dial the international prefix 00.
- Dial the Burundi country code 257.
- Dial the 8-digit mobile number 69 12 34 56.
Result: 00 257 69 12 34 56
Inside Burundi – mobile → fixed
A government office fixed line: 22 40 56 78.
- From any Burundian mobile, dial 22405678 directly.
- No trunk prefix and no area code are added.
International callers use: +257 22 40 56 78.
Burundi country code +257 – FAQ
How many digits are in a Burundi phone number?
Standard landline and mobile numbers in Burundi have 8 digits in the national significant number. There is no separate area code and no national trunk 0 in front of the number.
Do I need to dial 0 before a Burundi number?
No. Burundi uses a closed plan without a national trunk prefix. Whether you are calling domestically or from abroad, you always use the same 8 digits (just add +257 in front for international calls).
What do Burundi mobile numbers look like?
Mobile numbers usually start with 6X or 7X and have 8 digits total (for example 69123456, 71234567, 77234567). In international format, they look like +25769123456 or +25771234567.
What emergency number should I use in Burundi?
The main emergency codes are 112 for ambulance/medical, 117 for police and 118 for fire brigade. Some sources also list 116 (child support) and 109 (Red Cross). When in doubt, ask local partners which numbers they rely on most.
Does Burundi observe daylight saving time?
No. Burundi stays on Central Africa Time (UTC+2) all year, with no daylight saving changes. Time differences with Europe and the Americas only change when those regions adjust their clocks.
Are +257 numbers used for WhatsApp and other apps?
Yes. As in many African countries, people in Burundi typically register WhatsApp and other messaging apps with their normal mobile number in the format +257XXXXXXXX. For reliable messaging, always store contacts with the +257 prefix and all 8 digits.
Download the Burundi (+257) dialing & time zone cheat sheet
Get a one-page reference with Burundi’s +257 country code, 8-digit number formats, fixed and mobile prefixes, CAT (UTC+2) time offset and emergency numbers – ideal for dispatchers, support teams and sourcing managers.