Burkina Faso Country Code +226
The international country calling code for Burkina Faso is +226. The country uses a closed 8-digit numbering plan with no trunk prefix 0 and no area codes. Every standard landline or mobile number has exactly 8 digits, for example 20 49 1234 or 70 12 3456, and international callers dial +226 2049 1234 or +226 7012 3456.
Local numbers beginning with 2 are typically fixed lines (for example in Ouagadougou), while prefixes starting with 5, 6 or 7 are widely used for mobiles. There is no leading 0 to drop: the 8 digits you see locally are the same ones you dial from abroad, simply preceded by the country code +226.
This guide explains how Burkinabe phone numbers are structured, how to call Burkina Faso (+226) from different countries, how the national time zone GMT (UTC+0) affects meeting planning, and which emergency numbers (17, 18, 112) you should know when contacting partners, projects or travelers in Ouagadougou and across this landlocked Sahelian state.
Example landline (intl.)
+226 20 49 1234
Country code +226 plus an 8-digit fixed line starting with 2.
Example mobile
+226 70 12 3456
Mobiles often begin with 5, 6 or 7; all have exactly 8 digits after +226.
Time & daylight saving
GMT (UTC+0) · No DST
Same clock time as London in winter; no daylight saving time is observed in Burkina Faso.
Overview – where +226 is used
The country code +226 is used exclusively in Burkina Faso, a landlocked state in West Africa bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. You’ll see +226 numbers on gold mining and cotton exporters, NGOs and development projects, logistics operators and government institutions based in Ouagadougou and other regional centres.
Telephone numbering is built on a closed, non-geographic system: there are no area codes in the classic sense. Instead, the leading digits of the 8-digit number indicate the type of service and, in some cases, the operator. Fixed lines generally start with 2, while 5, 6 and 7 are widely assigned to mobile networks and special services use other ranges (for example starting with 8).
For international businesses, this means data hygiene is relatively straightforward: a valid Burkinabe number in your CRM should always be +226 followed by exactly eight digits. Any number with more (or fewer) digits, or with a leading 0 after +226, is almost certainly mis-entered.
Typical +226 use cases in practice
- Mining & commodities – gold and cotton trading companies, exploration contractors and service providers.
- NGOs & development projects – humanitarian and development agencies coordinating activities across the Sahel.
- Transport & logistics – road freight and customs brokers linking Burkina Faso to coastal ports in neighbouring states.
For all of these, the dialing logic is the same: +226 + 8 digits from abroad, or just the 8 digits when you are already in Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso phone number formats (+226)
Generic pattern: +226 AB PQ MC DU (8 digits)Phone numbers in Burkina Faso follow a simple AB PQ MC DU structure: four pairs of digits grouped for readability. There is no national trunk prefix, so both domestic and international calls use the same 8 digits for the subscriber. To dial from overseas, you simply prepend the country code +226.
- • Landlines (fixed): typically start with 2X and are written in pairs, for example 20 49 12 34. International format: +226 20 49 12 34.
- • Mobile numbers: generally begin with 5X, 6X or 7X and also have 8 total digits (e.g. 70 12 34 56 → +226 70 12 34 56).
- • Special services & short codes: 3- or 4-digit codes such as 17, 18 and 112 are used for emergency services and utilities (water, electricity, etc.).
When cleaning phone lists, strip spaces, dashes and punctuation, but do not add or remove a leading zero. A valid Burkinabe number will always be exactly 8 digits long before you attach the +226 prefix.
Sample Burkina Faso numbers
Illustrative onlyExample 8-digit landline starting with 20. Local users dial 20491234.
Another fixed line sample: 25334567 nationally, +226 25 33 45 67 from abroad.
Typical mobile starting with 7X. Locally dialed as 70123456; international callers use +226 70 12 34 56.
How to dial Burkina Faso (+226)
1. From the USA or Canada
To call Burkina Faso from North America, use exit code 011, then 226, then the 8-digit local number.
- Dial 011 – US/Canada exit code.
- Dial 226 – Burkina Faso country code.
- Dial the 8-digit fixed or mobile number.
Example (New York → Ouagadougou landline 20491234): 011 226 20 49 12 34.
2. From the UK, EU or most other countries
In most of Europe, Asia and Africa, the international prefix is 00. The rest is straightforward: 00 + 226 + the 8-digit national number.
- Dial 00 – international access code.
- Dial 226 – country code for Burkina Faso.
- Dial the 8-digit local number (no 0, no area code).
Example (London → mobile 70123456): 00 226 70 12 34 56.
3. Dialing within Burkina Faso
- Local & national calls: dial the 8-digit number directly (e.g. 20491234 or 70123456).
- International from Burkina Faso: use the prefix 00 + foreign country code + number (omitting that country’s trunk 0 where applicable).
- Short codes: emergency numbers such as 17, 18 or 112 are dialed without any prefix.
Example (Ouagadougou → Paris landline +33 1 44 00 00 00): 00 33 1 44 00 00 00.
Normalisation tip: any valid Burkina Faso number should be stored as +226 plus exactly 8 digits. If you see fewer digits, or a leading 0 after +226, the record likely needs correction.
Time in Burkina Faso – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0)
Burkina Faso follows a single national time zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), with an offset of UTC+00:00. There is no daylight saving time, and the clocks in Ouagadougou remain the same throughout the year.
In winter, this puts Burkina Faso on the same local time as London. When the UK and EU switch to summer time, Burkina Faso stays at UTC+0, meaning it is then one hour behind most of Western Europe. Compared with the US East Coast (New York), Burkina Faso is generally 5 hours ahead during US winter and 4 hours ahead in US summer.
For scheduling, set the zone explicitly to Africa/Ouagadougou or GMT/UTC in your calendar. This avoids confusion when other regions change their clocks but Burkina Faso does not.
Burkina Faso vs other major time zones
| City / region | Time zone | Offset vs Ouagadougou |
|---|---|---|
| Ouagadougou | GMT (UTC+0) | Reference |
| London (winter) | GMT (UTC+0) | Same local time |
| Paris / Berlin (winter) | CET (UTC+1) | +1 hour |
| New York (standard) | ET (UTC−5) | −5 hours |
| Dubai | GST (UTC+4) | +4 hours |
For most global teams, late morning in Burkina Faso overlaps reasonably with Asia, and late afternoon overlaps with Europe and early-morning North America.
Emergency numbers in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso uses several short emergency numbers. The most widely documented are 17 for police, 18 for fire/ambulance in many sources, and 112 as a general emergency number supported by some networks and international providers. Additional sector-specific codes such as 1111 (water) and 1130 (electricity) may be in use in certain areas.
Police / security
17
Call 17 to reach the police in case of crime, threats to personal safety or public security incidents.
Fire & rescue
18
18 is commonly listed for fire brigade and, in some references, as a combined fire/ambulance line. It connects you with civil protection services.
General emergency
112
112 is listed by multiple international sources as a general emergency number in Burkina Faso and may be reachable from some landline and mobile networks.
Water & electricity
1111 / 1130
Some directories list 1111 for water-related emergencies and 1130 for electricity issues. These are not substitutes for 17 or 18 in life-threatening situations.
Mobile phones may handle emergency calls differently depending on SIM and roaming provider. As a visitor, always confirm emergency numbers with your embassy, local partners or hotel on arrival.
Examples: calling +226 numbers
US (Houston) → Ouagadougou office (fixed)
Office number displayed as: 20 49 12 34.
- Keep the eight digits as-is: 20491234.
- From the US, dial exit code 011.
- Add country code 226, then the 8-digit number.
Result: 011 226 20 49 12 34
Germany (Berlin) → Burkina Faso mobile
Mobile listed as: 70 12 34 56.
- From Germany, dial the international prefix 00.
- Dial country code 226.
- Dial the 8-digit mobile number: 70 12 34 56.
Result: 00 226 70 12 34 56
Inside Burkina Faso – mobile to fixed
A company fixed line is 25 33 45 67.
- From any Burkinabe mobile, dial 25334567 directly.
- No area code and no trunk 0 are needed.
International callers use: +226 25 33 45 67.
Burkina Faso country code +226 – FAQ
How many digits are in a Burkina Faso phone number?
Standard phone numbers in Burkina Faso have 8 digits, both for landlines and mobiles. There is no separate area code, and there is no national trunk prefix 0 in front of the number.
Do I need to dial a 0 when calling Burkina Faso from abroad?
No. Burkina Faso does not use a national trunk 0. You always dial +226 followed by the 8-digit number exactly as it appears in local notation (apart from removing spaces or punctuation).
Are there area codes in Burkina Faso?
No. Unlike many countries, Burkina Faso uses a closed, non-geographic numbering plan. The 8-digit number as a whole identifies the operator and service; you don’t add an extra area code on top.
What emergency number should I use in Burkina Faso?
The most commonly referenced emergency numbers are 17 (police), 18 (fire / rescue, sometimes combined with ambulance) and 112 as a general emergency number on some networks. As a visitor, 17 and 18 are the safest to remember, and you can also ask local partners which numbers they recommend.
Does Burkina Faso observe daylight saving time?
No. Burkina Faso remains on GMT (UTC+0) all year, with no daylight saving time. Time differences with Europe and North America change only when those regions shift their clocks.
Are WhatsApp and mobile numbers usually the same?
In most cases, yes. People and businesses in Burkina Faso typically register WhatsApp and similar messaging apps with their standard mobile number in full +226XXXXXXXX format. To avoid issues, make sure your contact list uses the international format with the +226 prefix.
Download the Burkina Faso (+226) dialing & time zone cheat sheet
Get a one-page PDF covering Burkina Faso’s +226 country code, 8-digit number structure, typical fixed and mobile prefixes, GMT time zone and key emergency numbers. Ideal for support desks, sourcing teams and travel coordinators.