Madagascar Country Code

How do I dial mobiles vs landlines in Madagascar

Madagascar uses country code +261, international prefix 00 (to call abroad from Madagascar), and a domestic trunk prefix 0 that appears in some national dialing situations. Under Madagascar’s plan, numbers are structured with an operator code (two digits) and, for the main fixed operator, an area/zone code that points to a region. From outside Madagascar, the safest instruction is: dial your exit code → +261 → then the full Malagasy number you were given without adding any extra leading 0. This is why fixed-line examples often look like +261 20 … and mobiles like +261 33 … / +261 34 …. 

Inside Madagascar, dialing can differ depending on whether you are calling within the same operator or a different one. The ITU numbering note explains that “0” is reserved for calling a subscriber of another operator; in that case it’s followed by the operator code plus the relevant digits. For visitors, a practical rule of thumb is: if you’re calling a mobile, you’ll usually dial a number starting with an operator code like 32/33/34/37/39; if you’re calling a landline, you’ll commonly see numbers starting with 20 plus the city/area code (e.g., Antananarivo appears as +261 20 22 … in official contact listings). 

What are the emergency numbers in Madagascar

• 17 (landline) / 117 (mobile) — “Ambulance or police emergency” (as published in UK travel advice)

• 18 (landline) / 118 (mobile) — fire

• 19 (police station) / 119 (mobile) — police station direct