Ever tried calling a friend in Abidjan only to get that annoying "number not recognized" recording? It happens more often than you'd think. Honestly, the Côte d'Ivoire country code isn't just a simple three-digit prefix you slap onto the front of a phone number and hope for the best. Since the country overhauled its entire telecommunications numbering plan a few years ago, things have gotten a bit more complex for travelers and business people alike.
You need to know that the country code for Côte d'Ivoire is +225.
That's the starting point. But if you just dial +225 and then the old eight-digit number you found on a business card from 2019, it’s not going to work. Ivory Coast moved to a ten-digit system in early 2021. It was a massive undertaking managed by the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications de Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI). They had to do it because they were literally running out of numbers. With a population nearing 30 million and almost everyone carrying at least one—sometimes two or three—SIM cards, the old system just broke.
Why the Côte d'Ivoire country code changed your dialing habits
If you’re looking at an old contact list, you’re probably seeing eight digits. To fix this, you have to add a specific two-digit prefix after the Côte d'Ivoire country code but before the original number. This prefix depends entirely on which mobile operator the person uses.
Basically, it works like this. For Moov subscribers, you add 01. If they are on MTN, you add 05. For Orange, it’s 07.
Imagine you’re calling a business partner. Their old number was 07 12 34 56. To reach them now from outside the country, you would dial +225 07 07 12 34 56. It feels redundant, right? Dialing 07 twice? It’s confusing, but that's the reality of the 10-digit migration. If you’re calling a landline—yes, people still use those in offices across Plateau—the prefix is usually 21, 25, or 27, depending on the provider (mostly Moov Africa or Orange).
People often ask if they still need the "0" at the start. When you're inside the country, you dial the full ten digits starting with the prefix (like 07...). But when you use the +225 international prefix, you usually drop that initial trunk code in most systems, though with the new 10-digit Ivory Coast system, the prefix (01, 05, 07) is considered an integral part of the number itself.
WhatsApp and the +225 headache
Technology is great until it isn't. When the ARTCI changed the numbering plan, millions of WhatsApp accounts in West Africa suddenly had a problem. WhatsApp identifies you by your phone number. When the numbers changed from 8 to 10 digits, many users found themselves "locked out" or unable to be found by international contacts because their registered number didn't match the new Côte d'Ivoire country code format.
If you’re trying to message someone in Abidjan or San Pedro and they aren't showing up, check your contact list. You likely have them saved as +225 followed by eight digits. You need to manually update that contact to the ten-digit format.
I’ve seen people lose weeks of chat history because they tried to register a "new" account with their 10-digit number instead of using the "Change Number" feature inside the app. If you're traveling there and picking up a local SIM from a vendor at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, make sure they show you the "ten-digit" version of your new number. The SIM card packaging might still be confusing.
The cost of calling West Africa
Let's be real. Calling West Africa from the US, UK, or Europe can be insanely expensive if you're just using your standard carrier. Even though you're using the correct Côte d'Ivoire country code, your local provider might charge you $2 or $3 per minute.
Why? Because international termination rates to Ivory Coast are notoriously high.
Most people have switched to VoIP services like Rebtel, Vonage, or just staying on data-based apps like Telegram or Signal. But if you have to call a government office or a hotel that doesn't use WhatsApp, you’re stuck with the bill. One trick is to use "calling cards" available in many digital stores, but even then, ensure the card supports the new 10-digit format. Some older, cheaper systems haven't updated their routing tables, so they might fail when they see that extra pair of digits.
Breaking down the technical side of ARTCI
The ARTCI isn't just being difficult for the sake of it. In their 2020 white paper on the numbering migration, they pointed out that the 8-digit system only allowed for about 10 million unique combinations per provider. Orange Côte d’Ivoire was hitting that ceiling fast. By moving to 10 digits, the country now has a capacity for billions of numbers.
That’s a lot of growth.
It also allowed the government to better categorize services. For instance, short codes for emergency services or banking "USSD" codes (those *123# things you see people typing) remain standardized. But for the average person just trying to reach family, the technicalities don't matter as much as just getting the call to ring.
Troubleshooting your connection to +225
So, you dialed +225, you added the 07 for Orange, you put in the rest of the number, and it still fails. What gives?
First, check the "plus" sign. On most smartphones, you hold the "0" key to get the +. If you are on a landline in the US, you might need to dial 011 first, then 225. If you’re in Europe, it’s usually 00 then 225.
Second, verify the network. Côte d'Ivoire has three major players:
- Orange (07): The largest coverage, usually the best bet for rural areas.
- MTN (05): Very popular in urban centers and for mobile money (MTN MoMo).
- Moov (01): Often has aggressive pricing and a loyal user base.
If you have a number starting with anything else, it’s either a specialized service or it's an old number that hasn't been updated.
There's also the issue of "grey routing." Sometimes, cheap international calling apps route your call through low-quality internet patches to save money. If the call drops or the audio sounds like it's underwater, that's usually why. It has nothing to do with the Côte d'Ivoire country code itself and everything to do with how the call is being "hopped" across the globe.
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Common misconceptions about Ivorian numbers
A lot of people think that because Côte d'Ivoire is in West Africa, it shares a code with its neighbors. Nope.
Ghana is +233. Liberia is +231. Burkina Faso is +226. If you’re off by even one digit in that country code, you’re calling a different country entirely.
Another weird thing? People often mistake the +225 code for a scam area code. While "Wangiri" scams (where you get a one-second call from an international number hoping you'll call back) do sometimes originate from West African blocks, +225 is a legitimate national identifier for millions of people. Don't block the whole country code just because of a few bad actors; you might miss a call from a legitimate business or friend.
Practical steps for your contacts
Don't wait until you're in a rush to fix your address book. It's a pain to do it one by one, but there are apps that can help "mass update" numbers by adding prefixes, though you have to be careful with those.
Here is the most reliable way to format your Ivorian contacts for 2026:
Start with the international prefix. Use the plus sign. Add 225. Then add the 2-digit operator code. Finally, add the 8-digit subscriber number.
Example: +225 05 XX XX XX XX
If you are currently in Abidjan and buying a SIM card, you will likely be asked for your passport for registration. This is mandatory. The ARTCI requires all numbers associated with the Côte d'Ivoire country code to be linked to a physical ID to prevent fraud. Once registered, your 10-digit number is active immediately.
If you're using an eSIM, the process is similar, but make sure your phone is unlocked. Many US-based iPhones are locked to carriers like AT&T or Verizon, and they won't let you add an Ivorian data plan, which can make using local communication apps difficult.
To ensure your international calls and messages go through without a hitch, take a moment to audit your contact list. Delete any old 8-digit entries. Replace them with the 10-digit versions using the correct operator prefixes (01, 05, or 07). If you're unsure which operator a number belongs to, the most common ones are Orange (07) and MTN (05). Update these now so that you don't have to troubleshoot during an urgent call. For those traveling to Côte d'Ivoire, download the "Orange et moi" or "MyMTN" apps once you arrive; they provide an easy way to manage your 10-digit number and check your balance without needing to remember complex USSD codes.