When you see a missed call from an unknown number starting with 261, it’s understandable to be curious about where that call originated from. Phone country codes exist to enable direct international dialing and help identify the country of origin of phone numbers. Knowing which part of the world uses the 261 country code can provide useful context about who might be trying to reach you.
What Countries Use the 261 Country Code?
The 261 country code is used exclusively by the African nation of Madagascar. Madagascar is an island country located off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is the world’s 4th largest island and is home to over 28 million people. The capital and largest city is Antananarivo.
Madagascar was assigned the country code +261 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency that coordinates telephone dialing codes across the world. Country codes always begin with a plus (+) sign followed by 1, 2, or 3 digits. Madagascar was allocated +261 as its unique identifier on the international phone network.
This means any call originating from Madagascar will begin with +261. When making an international call to Madagascar, you would dial +261 and then the area code and local number. When receiving a call from Madagascar, you will see the country code +261 on your caller ID if it is an international mobile phone or landline.
Missed Calls from Madagascar
So if you see a missed call from the number +261 on your phone, it means someone from a phone registered in Madagascar tried to call you. Reasons you may be receiving calls from Madagascar include:
- You have friends, family or business contacts living in or traveling through Madagascar
- Someone dialed your number incorrectly while attempting to make a call within Madagascar
- It was a wrong number dialed accidentally by someone in Madagascar
- A scammer or telemarketer randomly dialed your number from Madagascar
- A robocall autodialer programmed with numbers worldwide called you from Madagascar
You can do a reverse phone lookup to identify the owner of a Madagascar phone number starting with 261 to verify if it is someone you know. If it is an unknown number, you can safely ignore the missed call if you do not wish to call them back internationally.
Calling Landlines and Mobile Phones in Madagascar
If you need to contact someone in Madagascar by phone, follow these dialing instructions:
- Obtain the country code (+261), area code, and local number you wish to call
- Dial the international exit code of your country (011 in the United States & Canada, 00 in most other countries)
- Dial +261, the Madagascar country code
- Dial the area code without the leading 0
- Dial the local number
For example, to call a number in Antananarivo, Madagascar with area code 20 and local number 1234567:
- From the US/Canada: Dial 011 261 20 1234567
- From the UK: Dial 00 261 20 1234567
- From France: Dial 00 261 20 1234567
This comprehensive breakdown ensures the call will be routed correctly to the number in Madagascar.
Common Area Codes in Madagascar
Here are some of the most commonly used area codes in regions of Madagascar that you may call:
Area Code | Region |
---|---|
20 | Antananarivo |
32 | Fianarantsoa |
33 | Mahajanga |
34 | Toamasina |
International Missed Calls
While the 261 country code is exclusive to Madagascar, keep in mind that missed calls from international numbers can come from anywhere in the world. Some other common international country codes include:
Country Code | Country |
---|---|
33 | France |
34 | Spain |
44 | UK |
61 | Australia |
91 | India |
If you get a call from an international number you don’t recognize, lookup the country code to determine where it originated from. This can provide context on who might be trying to contact you from another country.
How to Handle Unwanted International Calls
Some ways to manage unwanted international calls include:
- Let unknown numbers go to voicemail and screen for potential spam
- Block specific phone numbers or area codes
- Download a spam call blocking app for your smartphone
- Register your number on the national Do Not Call list
- Contact your local telecom authority to report international nuisance callers
But keep in mind international calls from family, friends, or business contacts are also important. Using caller ID and reverse phone lookups can help determine if an international call is legitimate or not.
Conclusion
Missed calls from the 261 country code originate from Madagascar. While this is likely a legitimate call from someone within the country, always exercise caution with calls from unknown international numbers. Lookup the country code to identify the origin of the call and take steps to block any potential nuisance callers. But be sure to answer if the call could be important from contacts around the world.