Calling South America: Bolivia Connection Guide

Calling internationally can be confusing, but the process of calling Bolivia from overseas is straightforward once you understand the basics. Every country has an exit code, which you must dial first when making an international call. Then, you need to dial the country code for Bolivia, which is 591. After that, you'll need to dial the relevant city code, and then the local phone number.

Exit codes for international calls

When making an international call, you need to use an exit code, also known as an international access code or an international direct dialing (IDD) code. This is a sequence of numbers that tells the network that you are calling a number outside of the country you are currently located in.

Exit codes are country-specific and are usually two or three digits long, consisting of 0s and 1s. For example, the exit code for the UK, France, and Germany is 00, while the exit code for the United States is 011. Russia has an exit code of 810.

Instead of using the numerical exit code, you can use the '+' symbol, which is universally recognised as indicating an international call. This is a convenient alternative as it works regardless of the country you are calling from.

To make an international call, you will need to dial your country's exit code or the '+' symbol, followed by the country code of the country you are calling, and then the local phone number. For example, to call a landline in São Paulo, Brazil, from the US, you would dial 011-55-11-XXXX-XXXX.

Country codes

If you are calling Bolivia from the USA or Canada, you would first dial the international prefix 011, then the country code 591, then the area code, and finally the recipient's number. The dialing format is valid for both calls and text messages.

If you are calling within Bolivia, you do not need to dial the IDD or country code. Instead, simply dial the area code followed by the recipient's number.

• Medical, Fire, Police: 110
• Ambulance: 118

City codes

To make an international call to Bolivia, you must first use the country's international dialling code, which is +591. After this, you need to input the Bolivian area code, which varies depending on the location. The area codes range from 2 to 7.

• Sucre: +591 4
• Santa Cruz: unknown city code, but this is Bolivia's largest city by population
• El Alto: unknown city code
• La Paz: unknown city code, but this is the administrative capital
• Cochabamba: unknown city code
• Oruro: unknown city code
• Tarija: unknown city code
• Potosi: unknown city code
• Sacaba: unknown city code
• Montero: unknown city code

Landline numbers

To call a landline number in Bolivia from abroad, you need to include the country's international dialing codes and dialing format, which is +591, followed by the area code and the recipient's number. The area codes in Bolivia range from 2 to 7, depending on the location.

For example, if you are calling from the United States to a landline in La Paz, Bolivia, you would need to dial 011 + 591 + 2 + the 7-digit phone number. Here, 011 is the exit code for the United States, 591 is the country code for Bolivia, 2 is the area code for La Paz, and the remaining 7 digits are the recipient's phone number.

It's important to note that Bolivia has 9 states divided into 3 calling regions, and each of these regions has a 1-digit code assigned to specific cities and their surrounding areas. The city codes are as follows:

• 2 - La Paz, Oruro, and Potosi
• 3 - Cobija, Trinidad, and Santa Cruz
• 4 - Sucre, Tarija, and Cochabamba

Therefore, when calling a landline number in Bolivia, you need to first dial your country's exit code, then Bolivia's country code (591), followed by the appropriate city code, and finally, the 7-digit landline phone number.

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that international calls can be confusing, so it's always a good idea to confirm the exit code with your local phone operator before placing any international calls.

Mobile numbers

To call a mobile number in Bolivia from outside the country, you will need to dial the following:

• Your country's exit code (e.g. the exit code for the US and Canada is 011)
• Bolivia's country code: 591
• The 8-digit mobile number

So, for example, if you are calling from the US, you would dial: 011-591-[the 8-digit mobile number]

Note that there is no need to dial a city code when calling a mobile number, as mobile phones are not confined to one city.

If you are calling a Bolivian mobile number from within Bolivia, simply dial the 8-digit mobile number.

• 6 ??? ????
• 7 ??? ????
• +591-3-2222222 (mobile phone number for the Santa Cruz area)

Frequently asked questions