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How to Call South Africa from the United States
Country code +27 — Dial 011 27 71 XXX XXXX from a US landline or +27 71 XXX XXXX from a mobile phone.
What to Dial
- 1Dial 011 from a US landline, or + from a mobile (hold the 0 key).
- 2Dial 27, the country code of South Africa.
- 3Dial the number: 5 to 9 digits for mobiles and 9 for landlines, without the leading 0 used for calls inside South Africa.
| Calling a… | Written in South Africa | From a US landline | From a cell phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | 071 XXX XXXX |
011 27 71 XXX XXXX |
+27 71 XXX XXXX |
| Landline (Johannesburg) | 010 XXX XXXX |
011 27 10 XXX XXXX |
+27 10 XXX XXXX |
X stands for any digit. Mobile numbers start with 01, 05, 06, 07 or 08. More number types: South Africa phone number format.
Mobile or Landline?
South Africa had 179 mobile subscriptions and 1.6 landlines per 100 people in 2024. Most people you call will be on a mobile, so ask for their mobile number and check what your plan charges for calls to South Africa mobiles.
Source: World Bank (ITU).
Calling Tips for South Africa
Best Time to Call
To reach someone between 9 AM and 8 PM in Pretoria, call between 3:00 AM–2:00 PM EDT (12:00 AM–11:00 AM PDT). South Africa doesn’t change its clocks, so the gap moves by an hour when the US does.
South Africa is on UTC+2, 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time right now.
Cost Saving Tips
- VoIP services such as Google Voice or Vonage usually charge less per minute than a carrier's standard international rate.
- 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.