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Phone Number Format Guide by Country: International Dialing Codes Reference

June 13, 2026 · 10 min read · Blog

Why Phone Number Format Matters

Phone numbers aren't universal. Every country has its own dialing code, digit length, and formatting convention. If you're running international SMS campaigns, managing a global contact database, or building an app that sends verification codes, incorrect formatting will kill your deliverability.

Common problems caused by bad formatting:

• SMS messages silently fail because numbers lack proper country codes
• CRM systems reject entries that don't match expected patterns
• Duplicate contacts due to inconsistent formatting (+1 555-123-4567 vs 15551234567 vs 5551234567)
• Wasted marketing spend on numbers that can't receive messages

This guide covers the standard phone number formats for 50+ countries, organized by region. Use it as a reference when preparing contact lists for outreach campaigns.

What Is E.164 Format?

E.164 is the international standard for phone number formatting, defined by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). An E.164-compliant number has three parts:

1. Country Code — 1 to 3 digits (e.g., +1 for US, +86 for China, +66 for Thailand)
2. National Destination Code — area code or mobile prefix (varies by country)
3. Subscriber Number — the individual line number

Maximum total length: 15 digits (including country code). Minimum: varies by country, typically 7-8 digits total.

Best practice: Always store and process numbers in E.164 format. It's the standard used by telecom carriers, SMS gateways, and messaging platforms worldwide.

Asia-Pacific Country Formats

Country	Code	Format Example	Total Digits
China	+86	+86 138 0013 8000	11
India	+91	+91 98765 43210	10
Indonesia	+62	+62 812 3456 7890	10-12
Japan	+81	+81 90 1234 5678	10
South Korea	+82	+82 10 1234 5678	10
Thailand	+66	+66 81 234 5678	9
Vietnam	+84	+84 91 234 5678	9-10
Philippines	+63	+63 912 345 6789	10
Malaysia	+60	+60 12 345 6789	9-10
Singapore	+65	+65 8123 4567	8
Australia	+61	+61 412 345 678	9
Pakistan	+92	+92 300 1234567	10
Bangladesh	+880	+880 1712 345678	10

Europe Country Formats

Country	Code	Format Example	Total Digits
United Kingdom	+44	+44 7700 900123	10
Germany	+49	+49 151 12345678	11
France	+33	+33 6 12 34 56 78	9
Italy	+39	+39 312 345 6789	10
Spain	+34	+34 612 345 678	9
Netherlands	+31	+31 6 12345678	9
Poland	+48	+48 512 345 678	9
Russia	+7	+7 912 345 67 89	10
Turkey	+90	+90 532 123 4567	10

Americas Country Formats

Country	Code	Format Example	Total Digits
United States	+1	+1 212 555 0123	10
Canada	+1	+1 416 555 0123	10
Mexico	+52	+52 1 55 1234 5678	10
Brazil	+55	+55 11 91234 5678	11
Argentina	+54	+54 9 11 1234 5678	10
Colombia	+57	+57 300 123 4567	10

Middle East & Africa Formats

Country	Code	Format Example	Total Digits
UAE	+971	+971 50 123 4567	9
Saudi Arabia	+966	+966 50 123 4567	9
Egypt	+20	+20 10 1234 5678	10
Nigeria	+234	+234 801 234 5678	10
South Africa	+27	+27 82 123 4567	9
Kenya	+254	+254 712 345 678	9
Ghana	+233	+233 24 123 4567	9

Format Validation Best Practices

1. Always Strip Non-Digit Characters First

Before validating, remove spaces, dashes, parentheses, and periods. Start with + followed by digits only: +8613800138000.

2. Validate Country Code First

Check that the prefix matches a valid country calling code. If a number starts with an unrecognized code, flag it for manual review.

3. Check Total Length

After removing formatting, verify the digit count matches the expected range for that country. A number that's too short or too long is likely invalid.

4. Use a Validation Service for Scale

For lists over 1,000 numbers, manual checking isn't practical. Bulk validation services process files in minutes and catch formatting issues, invalid codes, and disconnected numbers automatically. Read our bulk verification guide for details.

5. Normalize Before Storage

Convert all numbers to E.164 format before storing in your CRM or database. Consistent formatting prevents duplicates and simplifies future queries.