Benin Country Code +229
國家/地區代碼為 Benin 是 +229. Since late 2024, Benin has been migrating to a 10-digit national number format that starts with a leading 0 which is kept even when calling from abroad. A modern Beninese phone number now looks like +229 01 20 12 34 56 in international format, where 01 and the following digits identify region and service.
Previously, Benin used 8 位數字 （例如 97 12 34 56). Those legacy numbers are being upgraded by adding a prefix (such as 01 或者 0Z) to create a 10-digit number. If you still see an 8-digit Benin number in an old contact list, double-check with the owner or your carrier which 10-digit version to use.
This guide walks through how Beninese phone numbers are structured after the reform, how to dial to and from Benin, 需要了解什麼 West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1)，以及哪個 emergency numbers (112 / 117 / 118) to keep handy when dealing with ports in Cotonou, cotton exporters, NGOs or government offices in Porto-Novo.
Example fixed line (intl.)
+229 01 20 12 34 56
Illustrative format for a post-reform fixed number: +229 (country) · 01… (national prefix) · local digits.
手機示例
+229 01 96 12 34 56
Benin mobile ranges sit inside the new 10-digit scheme, often starting with 01 4x–01 9x when written in expanded format.
時間和夏令時
West Africa Time (UTC+1) · No DST
Benin uses a single zone, Africa/Porto-Novo, with clocks fixed at UTC+1 all year round.
Overview – where +229 is used
國家/地區代碼 +229 被專門分配給 Benin, a francophone West African state on the Gulf of Guinea between Nigeria and Togo. You will see +229 numbers on shipping agents in the port of Cotonou, cotton and cashew exporters in the interior, development NGOs, regional banks, universities and public authorities headquartered in Porto-Novo and the economic capital.
Benin’s telecom regulator has recently expanded capacity by moving from an 8位封閉編號方案 to a 10-digit plan that begins with 0. In the new structure, national numbers are written as 0ZXXXXXXXX, and that leading 0 is dialed from inside and outside Benin. This is slightly unusual compared with many countries, where the 0 is removed in international format.
For most users, the practical rule is simple: copy the number exactly as a Beninese contact writes it, including the initial 0, then add +229 (or your exit code + 229) in front when dialing from abroad. For legacy 8-digit numbers you find on older paperwork, ask for the updated 10-digit version or consult your carrier’s mapping table.
Typical scenarios involving +229 numbers
- Port & logistics – shipping lines, customs brokers and freight forwarders serving the port of Cotonou.
- Agribusiness – cotton ginners, cashew processors and traders arranging export contracts with Europe and Asia.
- NGOs & development – health, education and infrastructure projects with field offices across the country.
If you operate a global CRM or call centre, it’s worth running a one-time cleanup to convert historic 8-digit Benin numbers into their correct 10-digit forms before you start outbound campaigns.
Benin phone number formats (+229)
Structure: +229 · 0ZXXXXXXXX (10-digit national number)Today Benin uses a 10-digit national number for both fixed and mobile services. The new format can be summarised as:
- • 國家格式： 0ZXXXXXXXX (10 digits; Z is 1–9, X is 0–9).
- • International format (E.164): +229 0ZXXXXXXXX - 這 leading 0 stays for international calls.
- • Fixed-line ranges: certain 01 20–01 29 and nearby prefixes are used for geographic landlines linked to departments like Littoral, Atlantique, Mono, Zou, Borgou and others.
- • Mobile ranges: many mobile prefixes come from earlier 8-digit blocks such as 9x, 6x–9x; in the 10-digit system these are embedded into 0x… ranges (for example patterns like 01 40–01 69 或者 01 90–01 99 after reform).
- • 舊版 8 位數字： older formats like 97 12 34 56 have been expanded by adding a prefix (for example 01) to become 10 digits. Always confirm the new number with the subscriber or your telecom provider.
Because Benin’s renumbering is recent, you may still see both 8-digit and 10-digit formats online. For reliable delivery, follow the 10-digit version including the leading 0 whenever possible.
Sample Benin numbers
僅供參考Example of a fixed line in the Littoral/Atlantique area. The exact prefix depends on the allocation used by the operator.
Northern departments like Borgou and Alibori have their own fixed-line blocks, now integrated into the expanded 10-digit plan.
Typical use case for Moov or MTN Benin mobile subscribers after renumbering, reachable nationwide and from abroad using +229.
How to dial Benin (+229) numbers
1. 來自美國或加拿大
From North America, Benin is an international destination. Use the exit code 011, then +229, then the full 10-digit national number including its leading 0。
- 撥號 011 – 美國/加拿大退出代碼。
- 撥號 229 – Benin country code.
- 撥打 10-digit national number, starting with 0.
Example (New York → Cotonou office): 011 229 01 21 23 45 67。
2. From the UK, Europe or most of Africa
Many countries in Europe and Africa use 00 as the international prefix. Then dial 229 and the 10-digit Benin number (0ZXXXXXXXX).
- 撥號 00 – 國際接入碼。
- 撥號 229 – Benin country code.
- 撥打 10位數字 of the Beninese number, including the leading 0.
Example (Paris → Parakou number): 00229 01 23 61 23 45。
3. Dialing within Benin
- 本地和國內電話： 撥打完整的 0ZXXXXXXXX 10-digit number, even if you are in the same city or department.
- 對於手機： mobile numbers also follow the 10-digit scheme; dial all digits starting from the initial 0.
- International from Benin: 撥號 00 + 國家代碼 + 目的地號碼。
Example: Cotonou → Lagos (Nigeria) landline: 00234 1 280 0000。
重要的： Because Benin’s numbering reform explicitly keeps the leading 0 in the international format, avoid “clean-up” rules that automatically strip 0 from foreign numbers. Doing so can break +229 calls in some PBXs and cloud telephony platforms.
Time in Benin – West Africa Time (UTC+1)
Benin uses a single time zone: 西非時間（WAT，UTC+01:00）. Clocks are the same across the country, from the coastal cities of Cotonou and Porto-Novo to inland areas such as Parakou and Natitingou, and Benin does not observe daylight saving time。
In the IANA time zone database, Benin is represented as Africa/Porto-Novo. When you set up meeting tools, calendars or APIs, selecting this zone ensures the fixed 世界標準時間+1 offset is applied all year.
Because many of Benin’s trading partners (for example in Europe) do change their clocks twice per year, the time difference between Benin and those markets shifts by one hour when they move into or out of daylight saving time. It’s best practice to show both local time in Benin 和 counterparty time on trading or call-centre dashboards.
Typical time differences vs Benin (UTC+1)
| 城市 | 區 | 大約。不同之處 |
|---|---|---|
| 倫敦 | 世界標準時間/英國夏令時 | Same time in winter; Benin is −1h when the UK is on summer time |
| Paris / Berlin | 歐洲中部夏令時間/歐洲中部夏令時間 | Benin is −1h in winter, −2h when Europe is on daylight saving |
| 拉各斯 | 西非時間 | Usually the same clock time (both UTC+1) |
| 紐約 | 東部時間 (UTC-5 / -4) | Benin is typically +6h in winter, +5h when New York is on DST |
To avoid calling too early or too late, many exporters schedule Benin calls in the late morning WAT, which lines up with early afternoon in Europe and early trading hours in the UK.
Emergency numbers in Benin
Benin uses a combination of 112 and traditional three-digit short codes. Travellers should remember 112 as a general emergency line on many mobile networks, and the older codes 117 （警察）和 118 (fire/ambulance).
一般緊急情況
112
In many parts of Benin, 112 works as a general emergency number, especially from mobile phones. It is commonly used for medical help and life-threatening incidents.
警察
117
直接專線到 police for crimes, assaults, serious road accidents and public safety issues.
消防與救援
118
用於 fire brigade and civil protection. In practice, many people still use 118 for fires and 112 for medical emergencies.
For non-emergency matters (for example, following up on a case or obtaining information) use the specific landline numbers provided by hospitals, police stations or your embassy in Cotonou or Porto-Novo.
Example: calling +229 numbers in real life
US (Houston) → Cotonou logistics company
Company lists its number as: 01 21 23 45 67。
- 撥號 011 （美國退出代碼）。
- 撥號 229。
- 撥號 01 21 23 45 67。
結果： 011 229 01 21 23 45 67
UK (London) → Benin mobile
Sales contact provides: +229 01 96 12 34 56。
- 從英國出發，撥打 00。
- 撥號 229。
- 撥號 01 96 12 34 56。
結果： 00229 01 96 12 34 56
Cotonou → Parakou trader
Trader’s business card shows: 01 23 61 23 45。
- Both caller and receiver are in Benin.
- From Cotonou, simply dial the full 10 digits: 01 23 61 23 45。
For storage in a CRM, keep the leading 0 and save it as +229 01 23 61 23 45 。
Benin country code +229 – FAQ
Are Benin phone numbers 8 digits or 10 digits now?
Historically, Benin used 8 位數字. As part of a capacity expansion, the plan is moving to a 10-digit national number that starts with 0 (0ZXXXXXXXX). During the transition you may see both formats, but new and updated numbers should use the 10-digit version。
Do I keep the leading 0 when dialing Benin from abroad?
Yes. Unlike many European numbering plans where the 0 is dropped in international format, Benin’s current plan requires the leading 0 to be dialed even from abroad. If a contact writes their number as 01 xx xx xx xx, you should dial +229 01 xx xx xx xx。
How can I tell if a Benin number is mobile or fixed line?
In the 10-digit scheme, both fixed and mobile numbers begin with 0, but the following digits indicate the service. 地理固定電話 tend to sit in ranges mapped to departments (for example variants of 01 20–01 29, 01 22–01 23, etc.), while mobile numbers typically derive from earlier 9x and 6x–9x mobile blocks and are found inside 01 4x–01 9x ranges. Because allocations change over time, it’s safest to treat any valid 10-digit 0ZXXXXXXXX beginning with +229 as a reachable Benin number in your system.
Does Benin observe daylight saving time?
No. Benin stays on 西非時間 (UTC+1) 全年和 does not change clocks for summer time. What changes instead is the offset relative to partners that do observe daylight saving, such as the EU, the UK or North America.
作為訪客我應該使用哪個緊急電話號碼？
The safest approach is: 112 for general emergencies (especially from a mobile), 117 specifically for the police, and 118 for fire and civil protection. Some consular services also publish direct phone numbers for ambulance services in major cities – keep those in your travel notes if you are staying for an extended period.
Are calls to +229 expensive? How can I reduce costs?
Tariffs for Benin depend heavily on your operator. Traditional mobile roaming can be expensive, while VoIP, cloud PBX and over-the-top apps often offer significantly better rates to +229 0ZXXXXXXXX numbers. Many exporters and NGOs use virtual numbers, SIP trunks or call-through services to keep in touch with contacts in Benin while controlling costs and keeping analytics in one place.
Download the Benin (+229) dialing & time cheat sheet
Get a one-pager with Benin’s +229 country code, the new 10-digit 0ZXXXXXXXX formats, West Africa Time (UTC+1) and emergency numbers 112 / 117 / 118 – ideal for call centres, shipping desks, trade teams and travel coordinators working regularly with Benin.