Calling Libya: telephone code and dialing format

Libya's country calling code

The international telephone calling code for Libya is +218. This is a country code, so it covers the whole of Libya. It identifies the country but not a city or region. To reach a specific line you still need the Libyan national number, which follows the code.

The plus sign is a placeholder for the international access prefix. That prefix is set by the country you are calling from, not by Libya. On most mobile phones you can type the plus sign directly, and the network replaces it with the correct prefix.

How to dial a Libyan number from another country

An international call to Libya follows this order: your country's international access prefix, then the Libyan country code 218, then the Libyan national number without any domestic trunk prefix.

[international access prefix] 218 [Libyan national number without leading 0]

Mobile shortcut:
+218 [Libyan national number without leading 0]

• International access prefix: depends on where you are calling from. Many countries use 00, while countries in the North American Numbering Plan, such as the United States and Canada, use 011. Check the prefix for your own country and phone service.
• Country code: 218 for Libya.
• National number: the Libyan number you want to reach, including any area or network digits that are part of it.

Dropping the leading zero

Within Libya, numbers are commonly written with a leading 0. This is a domestic trunk prefix used only for calls inside the country. Leave it out when you dial from abroad after the country code.

For example, a number written locally as 0 followed by the rest of the digits would be dialed from abroad as +218 followed by those remaining digits.

Worked format examples

The examples below use a placeholder in place of a real subscriber number. They are not actual Libyan numbers.

Calling from | Sequence to dial

A country whose international prefix is 00 | 00 218 [NATIONAL NUMBER]

The United States or Canada (prefix 011) | 011 218 [NATIONAL NUMBER]

Any mobile phone that accepts the plus sign | +218 [NATIONAL NUMBER]

What this guide cannot confirm

Because your calling location was not specified, the exact international access prefix cannot be given for every case. Confirm it for your country or with your phone provider. This guide also does not list Libyan city area codes, mobile network prefixes or the expected length of Libyan subscriber numbers, since the available evidence does not cover those details. If a number does not connect, check the digits with the person or organization you are calling. Your provider may also be able to confirm whether international calls to Libya are enabled on your plan.