How to Call Democratic Republic of the Congo from the United States

Country code +243 — Dial 011-243 from a US landline or +243 from a mobile phone.

+243
Democratic Republic of the Congo Country Code

Step-by-Step Dialing Instructions

1

Dial 011

This is the US international access code. It tells your carrier you are making an international call.

2

Dial +243

This is Democratic Republic of the Congo's country code. Every call to Democratic Republic of the Congo requires this code.

3

Dial the Area Code

Dial the city or area code for the region in Democratic Republic of the Congo you are calling (if applicable).

4

Dial the Local Number

Dial the remaining local phone number of the person or business you are trying to reach.

Visual Dialing Example

Here is how a complete call to Democratic Republic of the Congo looks from a US landline:

011-243-XX-XXXX XXXX
011
Exit Code
243
Country Code
XX
Area Code
XXXX XXXX
Local Number

Calling from a Mobile Phone

When calling Democratic Republic of the Congo from a US cell phone, you can replace 011 with the + symbol. This is simpler and works worldwide.

+243-XX-XXXX XXXX
Tip: On most smartphones, press and hold the 0 key to type the + symbol.

Calling Tips for Democratic Republic of the Congo

Best Time to Call

Early morning US time (7 AM - 10 AM EST) works best to reach people during their business hours.

Democratic Republic of the Congo is UTC+1, which is +6 hours from US Eastern Time (EST).

Cost Saving Tips

  • Use VoIP services like Skype, Google Voice, or Vonage for rates as low as $0.01/min.
  • WiFi calling apps (WhatsApp, Viber, FaceTime) are free when both parties have the app.
  • Check your carrier's international plan — many offer add-on packages.
  • Avoid calling from hotel phones; they charge premium rates.

Time Difference

United States (EST)
--:--
UTC-5
+6h
Democratic Republic of the Congo
--:--
UTC+1

Frequently Asked Questions

The country code for Democratic Republic of the Congo is +243. You need to dial this code after the international access code (011 from a US landline or + from a mobile phone).

From a US cell phone, dial + then 243 (the country code for Democratic Republic of the Congo), then the area code and local phone number. You can hold the 0 key to type the + symbol.

Democratic Republic of the Congo is +6 hours from US Eastern Time (EST). Early morning US time (7 AM - 10 AM EST) works best to reach people during their business hours.

Costs vary by carrier. Traditional carriers charge $1-$5/min. VoIP services like Skype or Google Voice offer rates from $0.01-$0.10/min. WiFi calling apps like WhatsApp and Viber are free when both parties have the app.

From a US landline, yes - dial 011 + 243 + local number. From a US mobile phone, you can dial + instead of 011, which is easier.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Quick Info
Country Code+243
ISO CodeCD
CapitalKinshasa
Time ZoneUTC+1
Exit Code (US)011
Full Country Profile
Related Pages
Nearby Countries
Popular Calling Guides