Cameroon Country Code +237
The international country calling code for Cameroon is +237. Cameroon uses a closed, 9-digit national numbering plan with no trunk prefix 0 and no separate area codes. All standard fixed and mobile numbers are dialed as 9 digits inside the country, and +237 followed by those same 9 digits from abroad. Fixed lines typically begin with 2, while mobile numbers begin with 6.
Before the current scheme, Cameroon expanded several times (from six to seven, eight and finally nine digits). Since the 2014 renumbering, all old 8-digit numbers were migrated by prefixing them with 2 for fixed lines or 6 for mobiles. Today a typical landline appears as 2XX XX XX XX, while mobiles often follow patterns such as 69X XX XX XX or 65X XX XX XX.
This guide explains how Cameroon phone numbers are structured, how to call +237 numbers from the US, UK and other countries, what to know about West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1), and which emergency numbers to use such as 117, 118, 119 and the general GSM code 112 when calling Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam or smaller towns.
Example landline (intl.)
+237 222 21 00 07
Fixed line in Douala or Yaoundé: dialed inside Cameroon as 222 21 00 07, abroad as +237 222 21 00 07.
Example mobile
+237 690 12 34 56
Mobile number beginning with 6; dial nationally as 690 12 34 56 using all 9 digits.
Time & daylight saving
WAT (UTC+1) · Africa/Douala
Cameroon keeps West Africa Time all year and does not observe DST.
Overview – where +237 is used
The country code +237 covers all of Cameroon, stretching from the Atlantic ports of Douala and Limbe through the capital Yaoundé to the northern Sahel regions. You will see +237 numbers on shipping and logistics companies, agribusiness and cocoa exporters, oil and gas services, NGOs, universities and government agencies.
Cameroon’s national numbering plan is defined in ITU documentation as a closed 9-digit plan in the format SABPQMCDU, where the first digit S indicates the service type. For most users, the key distinction is simple: numbers starting with 2 are fixed (geographic), and numbers starting with 6 are mobile. Special services and non-geographic numbers occupy other starting digits, but everyday business contacts will almost always begin with 2 or 6.
There is no trunk prefix like 0 and no separate area code to add for different cities. Inside Cameroon you dial the 9-digit number exactly as written. From abroad you prepend +237 and dial all 9 digits without removing or inserting anything. This makes data validation and CRM normalisation much easier than in countries with variable-length national numbers.
Typical +237 use cases in practice
- Ports & logistics – shipping lines, freight forwarders and warehouses in Douala, Limbe and Kribi.
- Agriculture & commodities – cocoa, coffee, timber, cotton and palm-oil exporters across the country.
- NGOs & education – projects and campuses in Yaoundé, Buea, Bamenda and Garoua using +237 mobiles for coordination.
For all of these, the normalised form +237 + 9 digits is the safest way to store the contact, especially for messaging apps and cloud phone systems.
Cameroon phone number formats (+237)
Generic pattern: +237 X XX XX XX XX (9 digits)Cameroon’s telephone numbers are structured so that the national significant number (NSN) – the part after +237 – always has 9 digits. The first digit of this 9-digit block indicates the service:
- • Fixed lines (geographic): begin with 2, followed by 8 digits. Older documentation shows spacing as 2 XX XX XX XX. These numbers are associated with regions and cities but do not require a separate area code – dialing the full 9 digits is enough.
- • Mobile numbers: begin with 6. The next digits indicate operator families such as 69 and 655–659 for Orange, 67 and 650–654 for MTN, and 66 for Nexttel, among others. All mobile numbers have 9 digits in total after +237, for example 690 12 34 56.
- • Special & premium ranges: other starting digits (e.g. 8 or 9) are reserved for value-added services, toll-free, premium and other non-standard uses. These are less common in everyday personal contact lists.
- • Short codes: 3-digit numbers like 117, 118, 119 and 112 are set aside for emergency and public services and are not part of the 9-digit NSN structure.
For data cleaning, a simple rule works well: if a Cameroon number (ignoring spaces and dashes) is not exactly 9 digits long, it is either incomplete, mis-keyed or includes an extra international prefix that should be removed before you add +237.
Sample Cameroon numbers
Illustrative onlyDial in Cameroon as 233 42 10 20 – all 9 digits, starting with 2 for a fixed line.
Example NSN 222210007; there is no separate city code beyond the leading 2-block.
Domestic format 690 12 34 56; mobiles always start with 6 when stored correctly.
Another 9-digit mobile example: 675 43 21 09 nationally, +237 675 43 21 09 internationally.
How to dial Cameroon (+237)
1. From the USA or Canada
To call Cameroon from North America, you first dial the international exit code 011, then the country code 237, then the 9-digit local number.
- Dial 011 – US/Canada exit code.
- Dial 237 – Cameroon’s country code.
- Dial the 9-digit Cameroon number (no trunk 0 to remove).
Example (New York → mobile 690 12 34 56): 011 237 690 12 34 56.
2. From the UK, EU or most other countries
In most of Europe, the Middle East and many parts of Africa, you start with 00 as the international prefix, then dial 237 and the 9-digit number.
- Dial 00 – international access code.
- Dial 237 – Cameroon country code.
- Dial the 9-digit local number.
Example (Paris → Douala fixed line 233 42 10 20): 00 237 233 42 10 20.
3. Dialing within Cameroon
- Landlines: dial all 9 digits (for example 222 21 00 07) whether you call across regions or within the same city.
- Mobiles: dial the full 9-digit mobile such as 690 12 34 56 or 675 43 21 09; there is no extra prefix.
- International from Cameroon: prefix with 00 then the foreign country code and number, e.g. 00 33 1 44 00 00 00 for a Paris landline.
- Short codes: emergency codes like 117, 118, 119 and the GSM code 112 are dialed directly without 00 or +237.
Example (Douala mobile → Lagos landline +234 1 271 0000): 00 234 1 271 0000.
Normalisation tip: A well-formed Cameroon number always has the shape +237XXXXXXXXX – one plus sign, 3-digit country code, 9 digits. Anything longer usually still contains an exit code or extra zeros that should be stripped.
Time in Cameroon – West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1)
Cameroon uses a single national time zone: West Africa Time (WAT) with a UTC offset of +01:00. The official IANA time zone identifier is Africa/Douala. The country has never observed daylight saving time, so the offset remains UTC+1 throughout the year.
For scheduling, Cameroon is typically 1 hour ahead of UTC, in line with countries such as Nigeria and neighboring Chad. This translates to around 6 hours ahead of New York in US winter and 5 hours ahead when the US is on daylight time. Compared to central Europe, Cameroon is usually just 1 hour behind during European winter.
When configuring meetings or software systems, choose “Africa/Douala” specifically instead of a generic GMT+1 label. That ensures accurate historical offsets and keeps your data aligned with other WAT countries.
Cameroon vs other major time zones
| City / region | Time zone | Offset vs Douala |
|---|---|---|
| Douala / Yaoundé | WAT (UTC+1) | Reference |
| Lagos | WAT (UTC+1) | Same time |
| London (winter) | GMT (UTC+0) | −1 hour |
| Berlin (winter) | CET (UTC+1) | Same time |
| New York (standard) | ET (UTC−5) | −6 hours |
| Beijing | CST (UTC+8) | +7 hours |
For most European partners, late morning in Cameroon overlaps well with their workday; for North American teams, afternoon in Cameroon corresponds to early morning on the US East Coast.
Emergency numbers in Cameroon
Cameroon uses several short emergency codes available nationwide from fixed and mobile lines. The most important are 117 for police, 118 for the fire brigade and 119 for ambulance and medical emergencies. The general GSM emergency code 112 is also recognised on many mobile networks, and may be used as a backup when in doubt.
Police
117
Dial 117 to reach the national police for crime, security threats and serious traffic accidents. In some areas, the gendarmerie can also be reached on 113.
Fire & civil protection
118
Use 118 to report building fires, vehicle fires and other incidents requiring the fire brigade or rescue services.
Ambulance / medical
119
Call 119 for ambulance and urgent medical emergencies. Response capacity can vary by region; travellers should also keep hospital and clinic numbers saved.
General mobile emergency
112
The GSM emergency code 112 is supported by many networks and may route to local emergency services. If 117 / 118 / 119 fail, 112 is a useful fallback.
In practice, English may not always be available. State your location clearly, keep hotel, embassy and local contact numbers handy, and ask local partners which emergency codes work best in your area.
Examples: calling +237 numbers
US (Houston) → Douala shipping office (fixed)
Office number printed in Cameroon as: 233 42 10 20.
- No trunk 0 to remove – keep all 9 digits.
- From the US/Canada, dial exit code 011.
- Add country code 237, then the 9-digit number.
Result: 011 237 233 42 10 20
UK (London) → Cameroon mobile
Mobile displayed as: 690 12 34 56.
- Confirm the number has 9 digits – here it does.
- From the UK, dial 00 for international access.
- Dial 237 and then 690 12 34 56.
Result: 00 237 690 12 34 56
Inside Cameroon – Yaoundé mobile → Buea university
University contact: 233 33 20 45.
- From any Cameroon mobile, dial 233 33 20 45 directly.
- No city code or extra digits are needed; the 9-digit NSN is always used in full.
International callers use: +237 233 33 20 45.
Cameroon country code +237 – FAQ
How many digits are in a Cameroon phone number?
Standard fixed and mobile numbers in Cameroon have a 9-digit national significant number after +237. There is no trunk 0 and no extra area code – the full 9 digits are dialed everywhere in the country.
Do Cameroon numbers ever start with 0?
In the current plan, no. Valid national numbers start with 2 (fixed) or 6 (mobile) and have 9 digits total. If you see a contact stored as 00237… or something longer, it usually means an exit code or duplicates that should be removed when you normalise to +237XXXXXXXXX.
How can I tell if a +237 number is mobile or landline?
Look at the first digit of the 9-digit block after +237. If it begins with 2 (for example 2xx xx xx xx) it is a fixed line. If it begins with 6 (for example 690 12 34 56) it is a mobile. Special services use other leading digits.
What emergency number should I use in Cameroon?
The primary codes are 117 for police, 118 for the fire brigade and 119 for ambulance service. The GSM emergency code 112 also works on many mobile networks and may forward to local responders.
Does Cameroon observe daylight saving time?
No. Cameroon stays on West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1) all year. The time difference between Cameroon and countries that use summer time changes only when they switch, not when Cameroon does.
Are +237 numbers used for WhatsApp and other apps?
Yes. People and companies in Cameroon typically register WhatsApp, Signal and other apps with their mobile number in the format +237XXXXXXXXX. Saving contacts in full international format improves matching across devices and services.
Download the Cameroon (+237) dialing & time zone one-pager
Export this guide as a compact PDF covering Cameroon’s +237 country code, 9-digit closed numbering plan, fixed vs mobile prefixes, WAT (UTC+1) and emergency contacts. Ideal for logistics teams, call centres and travel coordinators.