Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) Country Code +238
The international country calling code for Cabo Verde (also known as Cape Verde) is +238. The islands use a closed 7-digit numbering plan with no trunk prefix 0 and no separate area codes in front of subscriber numbers. Standard landline and mobile numbers both have 7 digits, usually written as xxx xxxx. From abroad you dial +238 xxx xxxx; inside the country you dial those same seven digits.
Fixed numbers start with prefixes in the 22–28 range assigned to different islands (for example 26x xxxx for Praia on Santiago), while mobiles use 9xx xxxx and 59x xxxx ranges, plus non-geographic 330 xxx allocations for certain services. Toll-free and special numbers typically begin with 800 or 808, and short emergency codes like 130, 131 and 132 are used for ambulance, fire and police.
This guide explains how Cabo Verde phone numbers are structured, how to call Cape Verde (+238) from abroad, how Cape Verde Time (CVT, UTC-1) affects meeting planning across time zones, and which emergency numbers you should know when contacting hotels in Sal and Boa Vista, ports in Mindelo, or partners in Praia.
Example landline (intl.)
+238 260 1234
Fixed line using a 26x prefix often associated with Praia (Santiago Island).
Example mobile
+238 991 2345
7-digit mobile number starting with 9; other mobile ranges include 59x xxxx and 330 xxx blocks.
Time & daylight saving
CVT (UTC-1) · Atlantic/Cape_Verde
Cabo Verde is 1 hour behind UTC and does not observe daylight saving time.
Overview – where +238 is used
The country code +238 is used exclusively in Cabo Verde, a group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic, west of Senegal. You will see +238 numbers on resorts and guesthouses in Sal and Boa Vista, shipping and fishing companies in Mindelo, banks, ports and government offices in Praia, as well as family contacts for the large Cape Verdean diaspora in Europe and North America.
The national numbering plan is regulated by ARME (Agência Reguladora Multissectorial da Economia). It uses a 7-digit national significant number (NSN) for both fixed and mobile lines – minimum and maximum length are both seven digits. Fixed ranges starting with 22–28 are tied to specific islands (for example 22 for Santo Antão, 23 for São Vicente / São Nicolau, 24 for Sal, 25 for Boa Vista / Maio, 26–27 for Santiago, and 28 for Fogo / Brava).
Mobile services sit mainly in the 9xx xxxx and 59x xxxx ranges, while 800 and 808 are common for toll-free and nationwide service numbers. For businesses and CRM systems this makes validation straightforward: a normal Cape Verde number is always +238 followed by exactly 7 digits.
Typical +238 use cases in practice
- Tourism & hotels – resorts, guesthouses, tour operators and diving centers across Sal, Boa Vista, São Vicente and other islands.
- Shipping, ports & fisheries – port authorities, shipping agents and fisheries in Mindelo, Praia and other coastal towns.
- Remittances & small business – local shops, service providers and families coordinating with diaspora communities abroad.
Whatever the sector, the dialing rule is simple: inside Cabo Verde dial the 7 digits; from abroad dial +238 plus those same 7 digits.
Cabo Verde phone number formats (+238)
Generic pattern: +238 xxx xxxx (7 digits)Cabo Verde’s national numbers are short and regular: all standard fixed and mobile lines have 7 digits in a closed plan. There are no separate area codes to add, and no trunk prefix 0 in front of numbers. Inside the country you dial xxx xxxx; from abroad you dial +238 xxx xxxx.
- • Fixed lines (geographic): prefixes 22 to 28 cover the main islands. Example: 260 1234 for a Praia office, dialed internationally as +238 260 1234.
- • Mobile numbers: typically start with 9xx or 59x, for example 991 2345 → +238 991 2345. Some non-geographic mobile or service allocations use 330 xxx.
- • Toll-free & services: 800 and 808 prefixes are used for freephone and “blue line” services, reachable from anywhere in the country at local call rates.
- • Short codes: emergency and information services use 3-digit codes such as 130, 131, 132 and 102.
When you clean data, a simple rule works well: if a Cabo Verde number doesn’t reduce to 7 digits after removing spaces and dashes, it’s likely mistyped. Then store it in full international form as +238 followed by those 7 digits.
Sample Cabo Verde numbers
Illustrative onlyA 7-digit fixed line on Santiago; nationally dialed as 2601234.
Example 24x prefix for Sal Island; national format 2415678.
Typical mobile number: 7 digits starting with 9xx; dial locally as 9912345.
How to dial Cabo Verde (+238)
1. From the USA or Canada
To call Cabo Verde from North America, use the exit code 011, then the country code 238, then the 7-digit local number.
- Dial 011 – US/Canada exit code.
- Dial 238 – Cabo Verde country code.
- Dial the 7-digit fixed or mobile number.
Example (New York → Praia hotel 2601234): 011 238 260 1234.
2. From the UK, EU or most other countries
In most of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the international prefix is 00. After that you simply add 238 and the 7-digit number.
- Dial 00 – international access code.
- Dial 238 – country code for Cabo Verde.
- Dial the 7-digit local number (no leading 0).
Example (Lisbon → Mindelo office 2304567): 00 238 230 4567.
3. Dialing within Cabo Verde
- Local & national calls: dial the 7-digit number directly (e.g. 2601234, 9912345). There are no area codes to add.
- International from Cabo Verde: use 00 + foreign country code + number (dropping any trunk 0 where required by that country).
- Emergency & short codes: codes like 130, 131 and 132 are dialed with no prefix.
Example (Praia → Lisbon landline +351 21 000 0000): 00 351 21 000 0000.
Normalisation tip: A well-formatted Cabo Verde contact always looks like +238xxxxxxx – one plus sign, 3-digit country code, 7-digit subscriber number. Anything longer or shorter needs a second look.
Time in Cabo Verde – Cape Verde Time (CVT, UTC-1)
Cabo Verde uses a single national time zone: Cape Verde Time (CVT), also called Cabo Verde Standard Time, with an offset of UTC−01:00. The archipelago does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset is stable all year.
In practice this means Cabo Verde is usually 1 hour behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 2 hours behind central Europe in winter, and 3–4 hours ahead of New York depending on whether the US is on standard or daylight time.
When you configure calendars or APIs, use the explicit zone Atlantic/Cape_Verde so that systems recognise the correct permanent UTC−1 offset and don’t apply DST rules by mistake.
Cabo Verde vs other major time zones
| City / region | Time zone | Offset vs Praia |
|---|---|---|
| Praia / Mindelo | CVT (UTC−1) | Reference |
| London (winter) | GMT (UTC+0) | +1 hour |
| Lisbon (winter) | WET (UTC+0) | +1 hour |
| Berlin (winter) | CET (UTC+1) | +2 hours |
| New York (standard) | ET (UTC−5) | −4 hours |
| São Paulo (standard) | BRT (UTC−3) | −2 hours |
For most European partners, afternoon in Cabo Verde overlaps with early evening at home; for North America, late afternoon Cabo Verde is mid-day on the US East Coast.
Emergency numbers in Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde uses a series of short 3-digit codes for emergency services. The most commonly documented are 130 for ambulance/hospitals, 131 for the fire brigade and 132 for the police. Some official and travel sources also mention 800 1112 as a civil protection and fire service hotline.
Police
132
Dial 132 to contact the national police in cases of crime, threats to personal safety or serious public order incidents.
Ambulance / hospitals
130
Use 130 for medical emergencies and ambulance assistance. This code is widely listed on official travel and emergency contact pages.
Fire brigade
131
131 connects you to the fire service for fires, building collapses, floods and other incidents requiring rescue operations.
Civil protection
800 1112
Some local resources cite 800 1112 as a national civil protection and fire service hotline, especially for larger-scale incidents. Check locally which numbers are promoted on your island.
Emergency numbers can vary slightly in how they are described (for example whether 130 is labelled “ambulance” or “hospital”), but 130 / 131 / 132 remain the core set to remember. As a visitor, confirm details with your hotel or tour operator and store the relevant codes in your phone.
Examples: calling +238 numbers
US (Boston) → Praia hotel (fixed)
Hotel number shown locally as: 260 1234.
- Keep the seven digits: 2601234.
- From the US, dial exit code 011.
- Dial country code 238, then the 7-digit number.
Result: 011 238 260 1234
Portugal (Lisbon) → Cabo Verde mobile
Guide’s mobile: 991 2345.
- From Portugal, dial the international prefix 00.
- Dial country code 238.
- Dial the 7-digit mobile number 991 2345.
Result: 00 238 991 2345
Inside Cabo Verde – Sal mobile → Mindelo office
Mindelo office: 230 4567.
- From any Cabo Verde mobile, dial 2304567 directly.
- No extra digits, no trunk prefix, no island code are needed.
International callers use: +238 230 4567.
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) country code +238 – FAQ
How many digits are in a Cabo Verde phone number?
Most regular phone numbers in Cabo Verde have 7 digits in the national significant number – both landlines and mobiles. Short codes like 130, 131 and 132 are exceptions used for emergency and service lines.
Do I need to dial a 0 before Cape Verde numbers?
No. Cabo Verde uses a closed plan without a trunk 0. Inside the country you dial the 7-digit number directly; from abroad you dial +238 followed by those same 7 digits – nothing is added or removed.
Are there area codes for different islands?
There are no separate area codes that you add to subscriber numbers, but the first digits of a landline (22–28) do indicate the island or group of islands (for example 24 for Sal, 25 for Boa Vista / Maio, 26–27 for Santiago).
What emergency number should I use in Cabo Verde?
The key emergency numbers are 130 (ambulance / hospital), 131 (fire brigade) and 132 (police). Some listings also show 800 1112 for civil protection. As a visitor, ask your hotel which numbers are recommended on your island and save them before you need them.
Does Cabo Verde observe daylight saving time?
No. Cabo Verde stays on Cape Verde Time (CVT, UTC−1) all year. The islands used UTC−2 in the past, but now effectively keep a permanent one-hour advance as standard time with no clock changes.
Are +238 numbers used for WhatsApp and messaging apps?
Yes. People and businesses in Cabo Verde commonly register WhatsApp and other apps with their normal mobile number in the form +238xxxxxxx. For reliable messaging, always save contacts using the full international format with +238 and all 7 digits.
Download the Cabo Verde (+238) dialing & time zone cheat sheet
Get a one-page PDF summarising Cabo Verde’s +238 country code, 7-digit numbering plan, island prefixes, mobile ranges, CVT (UTC−1) time offset and key emergency numbers. Handy for travel desks, call centres and logistics teams.