Most public switched telephone networks feature a single emergency telephone number (sometimes called the universal emergency telephone number or the emergency services number) that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for help. The emergency number varies by nation; it is usually a three-digit number that is easy to memorize and dial. In certain nations, each emergency agency has its own emergency number, which is sometimes simply differentiated by the final digit.

Callers in many countries can reach emergency services by calling 1-1-2 (used in Europe and parts of Asia) or 9-1-1 (used in the Americas). See the list of emergency telephone numbers for each country.

In a country's telephone number plan, the emergency telephone number is a specific instance. Calls to the emergency telephone number were frequently routed on dedicated channels in the past. Despite the fact that these calls are now frequently mixed with regular telephone traffic due to the introduction of computerized exchanges, they may still be able to reach circuits that other traffic cannot. Frequently, the system is set up so that an emergency phone number must be answered after a call is placed. If the caller hangs up, the line may be kept on hold until an emergency service responds and releases the call.

Emergency text with ambulance, firefighter truck and smartphone

A telephone operator or an emergency service dispatcher may answer an emergency telephone number call. The nature of the emergency is then identified (police, fire, medical, Coast Guard). If a telephone operator answers the call, they connect it to the proper emergency service, which then deploys the needed aid. When numerous services are required on a call, the most critical requirement must be assessed first, with other services being dispatched as needed.

In many regions of the globe, an emergency service can determine the phone number from which a call was made. This is usually done through the phone company's billing system, which makes the number available even to customers who have unlisted numbers or who block caller ID. Enhanced 911 and comparable systems, such as E112, may locate landline callers by searching up their physical address in a database, and mobile callers by using triangulation from towers or the device's GPS. This is frequently included in a country's telecommunications legislation.

Mobile phones and emergency numbers

In nations with several emergency numbers, mobile phones can be utilized. This implies that a visitor to a foreign nation does not need to know the country's emergency phone numbers. A list of emergency numbers is pre-programmed on the mobile phone and SIM card. The unique emergency call setup occurs when the user wants to make a call using an emergency number that is known by a GSM or 3G phone. The actual phone number isn't sent across the network; instead, the network routes the emergency call to the nearest emergency center. Even if the phone keypad is locked, the phone is without a SIM card, the emergency number is typed instead of the PIN, or there is no network signal, most GSM mobile phones can call emergency numbers (busy network).

Emergency numbers 112, 999, and 911 are pre-programmed in most GSM phones and are constantly available. Additional country-specific emergency numbers may be included on the SIM card supplied by the operator, which may be used even when roaming overseas. When the phone registers with the GSM network, it may also refresh the list of well-known emergency numbers.

A GSM phone without a SIM card may make emergency calls on some networks, and most GSM phones accept a greater range of emergency numbers without a SIM card, including 112, 911, 118, 119, 000, 110, 08, and 999. Some GSM networks, on the other hand, will not take emergency calls from phones that do not have a SIM card, or may even demand a SIM card with credit. Because of the popularity of hoax calls, Latin American and British networks, for example, do not accept emergency calls without a SIM card.

Complete List of emergency telephone numbers

Callers in many countries can reach local emergency services by calling 1-1-2 (used in Europe and parts of Asia) or 9-1-1 (used in the Americas). Other emergency telephone numbers are used in various countries, depending on the emergency service. The following is a list of emergency numbers throughout the world (though not necessarily all of them):

Africa

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Algeria154814Gendarme - 1055
 Angola113112/116115 
 Ascension Island999 
 Benin117112118 
 Burundi117112118 
 Botswana999997998Mobile phones - 112.
 Burkina Faso1711218 
 Cameroon112Police - 117; Ambulance - 119; Fire - 118; Electricity emergency - 8010.
 Cape Verde132130131 
 Central African Republic1171220118 
 Chad172251-424218Ambulance - 2251-1237.
 Comoros17772-03-7318Ambulance - 773-26-04.
 Republic of Congo117 118 
 Democratic Republic of Congo112 118 
 Djibouti171918 
 Egypt122123180Tourist police - 126; Traffic police - 128; Electricity emergency - 121; Gas emergency - 129; Mobile phones - 112.
 Equatorial Guinea114115112Traffic police - 116.
 Eritrea113114116 
 Ethiopia911Police - 991; Ambulance - 907; Fire - 939; Traffic police - 945.
 Gabon1730130018 
 Gambia117116118Police - 112; Electricity emergency - 124; Water emergency - 125.
 Ghana112Police - 191; Ambulance - 193; Fire - 192.
 Guinea11718442-020

Maritime Emergency Service - 19; Gendarmerie - 118; National Gendarmerie - 122

 Guinea-Bissau112Police - 117; Ambulance - 119; Fire - 118.
 Ivory Coast110 or 111 or 170185180 
 Liberia911 
 Kenya112 or 999 or 911 
 Libya1515Ambulance - 193.
 Lesotho123121122 
 Madagascar117124118Traffic police - 3600.
 Malawi997998999Police - 990.
 Mali171518Ambulance - 112, Fire - 112.
 Mauritius112114115Police - 999; Fire - 995.
 Mauritania117101118Gendarmerie - 116; Traffic police - 119.
 Mayotte112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Morocco1915Royal gendarmerie - 177; Drugs & alcohol service - 113; Racial discrimination hotline - 114; Non-emergency disturbances - 110; General information - 160; National Freeway call center - 5050; Mobile phones - 112.
 Mozambique119117198 
 Namibia10 111depending on town/citydepending on town/city 
 Nigeria112 
 Niger171518 
 Réunion112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Rwanda112912112Traffic police - 113.
 Saint Helena999 
 Sao Tome and Principe112 
 Senegal17181515 
 Seychelles112 or 999Police - 133; Ambulance - 151.
 Sierra Leone019999 
 Somalia888999555Traffic police - 777.
 South Africa10 11110 177Emergency in Cape Town - 107; Mobile phones - 112.
 Sudan999Traffic police - 777 777.
 South Sudan999 
 Swaziland999977933 
 Tanzania112114115Police - 999.
 Togo1178200118 
 Tristan da Cunha999911999 
 Tunisia197190198National guard - 193.
 Uganda112911112Police - 999; Fire - 999.
 Western Sahara150 
 Zambia999Police - 911; Ambulance - 992; Fire - 993; Mobile phones - 112.
 Zimbabwe999Police - 995; Ambulance - 994; Fire - 993; Mobile phones - 112.

Antarctica

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 AntarcticaUnited States McMurdo Station: 911 (fire and medical emergency dispatch) 

Asia

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Afghanistan119112119 
 Bahrain999Mobile phones - 112, Traffic police - 199, Coast Guard - 994.
 Bangladesh999Anti Corruption Commission - 106, Agricultural Information Services - 16123, Health Services 16263, Dhaka WASA 16162, Women and Children Ministry 109, Legal Services 16430, National Information Service - 333, IEDCR Helpline (for CoVid-19) - 10655
 Bhutan113112110 
 British Indian Ocean Territory112 or 999 
 Brunei993991995Search and Rescue - 998
 Myanmar999Police - 199; Ambulance - 192; Fire - 191 (can also call for Natural disasters)

Highway police - 1880;

Relief - 067-340-4222 (Ministry hotline);

International hotline - 122;

Covid-19 hotline - 2019.

 Cambodia117119118Child helpline - 1280.
 People's Republic of China110120119 
 Christmas Island000 
 Cocos Islands000 
 East Timor112 
 Hong Kong999Mobile phones - 911 or 112 (Automatically redirects to 999).
 India112
  • Gas leakage - 1906
  • Tourist Helpline - 1363
  • Child Helpline - 1098
  • Disaster management - 104
  • Women Helpline - 181
  • Police - 100
  • Ambulance - 108
  • Fire brigade - 101
 Indonesia112Police - 110; Ambulance - 118 or 119; Fire - 113 or 1131; Search & rescue - 115; Natural disasters - 129; Electricity emergency - 123; Mental health - 1-500-454.
 Iran110115125General emergencies is also 110. Social Emergency - 123; Roads Traffic Information Center - 141; Iranian Red Crescent - 112 (non-mobile phones).

112 and 911 redirect to 110 on mobile phones.

 Iraq112 or 911Police - 104; Ambulance - 122; Fire - 115.
 Israel100101102Israel Electric Corporation - 103; Home Front Command - 104; Online child abuse hotline - 105; Non-emergency municipal hazards - 106; Non-emergency police inquiries - 110; Mobile phones - 112.
 Japan110119Coast guard - 118; Information about emergencies - #7119 free call; Information about emergencies - #9110 pay call; Roadside assistance - #8139.
112 and 911 redirect to 110 on mobile phones and telephones that are present at all United States military installations.
 Jordan911Mobile phones - 112.
 Kazakhstan112Police - 102; Ambulance - 103; Fire - 101; Gas leaks - 104.
 Kyrgyzstan102103101 
North Korea Democratic People's Republic of Korealocal numbers only8119 
South Korea Republic of Korea112119Non Emergency - 110; National security - 111; Reporting spies - 113; Narcotics Report - 127; Lost and Found Center - 182; Travel Hotline - 1330.
 Kuwait112 
 Laos191195190 
 Lebanon999 or 112140175Police - 160; Civil defense - 125.
 Macau999From mobile phones - 110 or 112 (all redirects to 999)
 Maldives119102118Traffic police - 191.
 Malaysia999994Nationwide centre - 1300221188
 Mongolia105Police - 102; Ambulance - 103; Fire - 101.
   Nepal100102101Traffic police - 103; From mobile phones - 112.
 Oman9999From mobile phones - 112.
 Pakistan15115 and 112216Ambulance - 1122; Traffic police - 1915; Mobile phones - 112; Punjab Women's toll free helpline 1043; Tourist police - 1422; National Highways & Motorway Police - 130; Child Protection & Welfare Bureau - 1121.
 Philippines911Child abuse (Bantay Bata) - 163; Human trafficking - 1343;

From mobile phones - 112

 Qatar999Mobile phones - 112.
 Saudi Arabia911Police - 999; Ambulance - 997; Fire - 998; Traffic police - 993.
 Singapore999995Mobile phones - 112 or 911; Non-emergency ambulance - 1777; Police hotline - 1800 255 0000; Traffic police - 6547 0000.
 Sri Lanka119110Traffic police - 112 691 111.
 Syria112110113 
 Republic of China (Taiwan)110119112 on mobile phones - after call is connected 0 redirects 110 and 9 redirects 119; Domestic violence - 113.
 Tajikistan112Police - 102; Ambulance - 103; Fire - 101; Gas leaks - 104.
 Thailand191 or 9111669199911 can also be used as universal emergency number; Ambulance (Bangkok only) - 1646; Tourist police - 1155; Traffic control center (Bangkok Metro only) - 1197; Highway patrol - 1193; Mobile Phones - 112.
 Turkmenistan112Police - 102; Ambulance - 103; Fire - 101; Gas leaks - 104.
 United Arab Emirates999Police - 911; Ambulance - 998; Fire - 997; Coast guard - 996; Non-emergency police - 901; Water failure - 922; Electricity failure - 991
 Uzbekistan102101103Emergency service - 1050; Gas leaks- 104; Housing and communal services - 1055.
 Vietnam113115114111 - Child abuse
 Yemen194191 

Europe

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia112 or 999 
 Åland Islands112Non-emergency police - 018 527 100; Poison control - 09 471 977.
 Albania129127128Traffic police - 126; Emergency at sea - 125.
 Andorra110116118112 - Mountain / Sky Rescue; collaboration with Spanish (Catalan) and French authorities.
 Armenia112 or 911Police - 102; Ambulance - 103; Fire - 101; Gas emergency - 104; Traffic police - 177; Search & rescue - 108.
 Austria112 or 133144122Gas emergency - 128; Mountain rescue - 140; Doctors - 141; Crisis-hotline - 142; Support for children and teens - 147; Non-emergency police - 059 133; Deaf fax/SMS - 0800 133 133; Poisoning Informations Center - 01 406 43 43. The emergency telephone number 112 will be answered by the police, but will also handle other emergency services.
 Azerbaijan102103101Gas Service - 104; Traffic police - 902; Electricity emergency - 199; Emergency - 112.
 Belarus102103101Gas emergency - 104.
Belgium101 or 112112Non-emergency number for the fire department - 1722.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina122124123Civil protection - 121.
 Bulgaria112 or 166112 or 150112 or 160 
 Croatia112 or 192112 or 194112 or 193Search and rescue at sea - 112 or 195; Road help - 1987.
 Cyprus112 or 199Air/sea rescue - 1441; Anti-drug support - 1410 or 1498; Poison control - 1401.
 Czech Republic112 or 158112 or 155112 or 150Municipal police - 156.
 Denmark112Non-emergency police - 114.
 Estonia112 
 Faroe Islands112Non-emergency police - 114.
 Finland112Maritime rescue - 02 94 1000; Poison Control - 0800 147 111
 France112 or 17112 or 15112 or 18Deaf FAX/SMS - 114; Hotline for beaten children - 119; Missing children - 116 000; Maritime rescue - 196.
 Georgia112 
 Germany110112Traditionally 110 for the police and 112 for the fire brigade and rescue service. Due to EU Directive 112 works also for the police; 911 redirects to 112 on telephones used in USAFE bases. Rescue service additionally (outdating) 19222. Non-emergency medical on-call duty: 116 117. Debit and credit card locking call 116 116. Administration-emergency call 115. Military police: 0800 190 9999. Federal (incl. railway) police: 0800 6 888 000.
 Gibraltar199 or 112 or 999190 or 112 or 999 
 Greece100166199General emergencies - 112; Forest fire - 1591; Coast guard - 108; Counter-narcotics - 109; Tourist police - 171; Social aid - 197.
 Greenland112Mobile phones only. From landline phones dial the local police station, hospital or fire brigade.
 Guernsey112 or 999 
 Hungary112 or 107112 or 104112 or 105Water emergency - 1817.
 Iceland112Non-emergency police Reykjavík area - 444 10 00; 911 redirects to 112 on mobile phones; +354 570 2112 from abroad.
 Ireland112 or 999SMS messages can be sent to 112 after registration by sending a text message with the word 'Register' to 112.
 Isle of Man112 or 999 
 Italy112Police - 113; Carabinieri - 112; Ambulance - 118; Fire - 115; Customs/Financial police - 117; Child Abuse - 114; Coast guard - 1530. 911 redirects to 112; Forest service - 1515
 Jersey112 or 999 
 Kosovo192194193 
 Latvia112Police - 110; Ambulance - 113; Gas emergency - 114.
 Lithuania112Police - 022; Ambulance - 033; Fire - 011.
 Liechtenstein117144118 
 Luxembourg112Police - 113.
 Republic of North Macedonia192194193Police - 192; Ambulance - 194; Fire - 193.
 Malta112 
 Moldova112 
 Monaco171518 
 Montenegro122124123 
 Netherlands112Text phone - 0800 81 12; Non-emergency police - 0900 88 44 or 0343 578 844; Non-emergency police (text phone) - 0900 18 44; Suicide prevention - 113; Animal emergency - 144; Child abuse - 0900 123 12 30; Anti-bullying hotline - 0800 90 50.
 Northern Cyprus112Police - 155; Fire - 199.
 Norway112113110Emergency at sea: 120; non-emergency police: 02 800; child abuse and family violence: 116 111; text phone: 1412; nearest health care outside office hours: 116 117; 911 redirects to 112.
 Poland112999 or 112998 or 112Municipal police – 986; Mountain rescue – 985 or (+48) 601 100 300; Gas emergency – 992; Road help - 981.
 Portugal112Forest fire – 117; Social emergency – 144. 911 redirects to 112 on telephones located at Lajes Air Station.
 Romania112911 redirects to 112
 Russia102 or 112103 or 112101 or 112Gas emergency - 104; 112 came into effect (for any emergency) in 2013
 San Marino113118115 
 Serbia192 or 112194193Civil protection - 1985; 112 redirects to 192. It is possible to dial 112 and get direct connection with the emergency services by pressing 1 for police, 2 for ambulance and 3 for fire on Vip operator mobile phones.
 Slovakia158155150Municipal police - 159.
 Slovenia112Police – 113; Road help - 1987; Emergency at sea - 080 18 00.
 Spain112Police: National Police - 091; Civil Guard - 062; Autonomic Police - 112; Municipal Police - 092.
Fire: Local Firefighters - 080; Autonomic Firefighters - 085.
Ambulance: SAMUR - 061.
Others: Civil Protection - 1006, Maritime Rescue - 902 202 202; Red Cross - 901 222 222.
 Sweden112Non-emergency police - 114 14; Non-emergency medical advice - 1177; Information during accidents and crises - 113 13.
  Switzerland117144118Poison control – 145; Road help – 0800 140 140; Psychological support – 143; Psychological support for teens and children – 147; Rega air rescue – 1414 or by radio on 161.300 MHz; Air Glaciers air-rescue (Valais only) – 1415. The emergency number 112 is used differently based on the Canton. While in some cantons 112, 117, 118 and 114 are routed to a common emergency call center, in other cantons 112 together with 117 is directly routed to the police.
 Turkey112Municipal police - 153; Gas emergency - 187; Electricity emergency - 186; Water emergency - 185; Poison control - 114; Child abuse and family violence - 183.

911 automatically connects to 112.

 Ukraine102103101General emergencies - 112;

Gas emergency - 104.

 United Kingdom999 or 112Non-emergency police - 101; Power outages - 105; Non-emergency health issues - 111; COVID-19 testing helpline - 119; gas leaks - 0800 111 999.
SMS messages can be sent to 999 after registration by sending a text message with the word 'Register' to 999. 911 redirects to 999 on mobile phones/public phonebooths and on telephones used in USAFE bases.
  Vatican City112Police – 113; Ambulance – 118; Fire – 115.

Oceania

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 American Samoa911 
 Australia000Mobile phones - 112 or 000; State Emergency Service – 132 500; National relay service – 106; Non-emergency police – 131 444 (QLD,NSW,  VIC,SA,WA, NT, TAS ACT); Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000; Threats to national security – 1800 123 400; Poison control – 13 11 26; Lifeline – 13 11 14.
 Cook Islands999998996 
 Fiji911Crime Stoppers - 919.
 French Polynesia112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Guam911 
 Kiribati999Police - 192; Ambulance - 194; Fire - 193.
 Marshall Islands911 
 Micronesia911 
 Nauru110111112 
 New Caledonia112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 New Zealand111SMS messages can be sent to 111 from registered mobile phones. Traffic - *555 (mobile phones only). 112 and 911 redirect to 111 on mobile phones. Dialing 000 and 999 plays a pre-recorded message advising the caller to call 111. Crime Stoppers - 0800 555 111. Police non-emergency - 105.
 Palau911 
 Papua New Guinea112111110 
 Samoa999Police - 995; Ambulance - 996; Fire - 994.
 Solomon Islands911 or 999In cities, local numbers exist which connect more quickly than either 911 or 999.
 Tonga911Police - 922; Ambulance - 933; Fire - 999.
 Tuvalu911 
 Vanuatu112 

Central America

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Belize911 
 Clipperton Island112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Costa Rica911Mobile phones - 112.
 Guatemala110128122Police - 120; Fire - 123.
 El Salvador911132913 
 Honduras911195198 
 Nicaragua118128115Fire - 911.
 Panama911Police - 104; Fire - 103.

Caribbean

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Antigua and Barbuda911 or 999 
 Anguilla911 
 Aruba911 
 The Bahamas911 or 919Mobile phones - 112.
 British Virgin Islands911 or 999 
 Cayman Islands911 
 Cuba106104105 
 Curacao911912911 
 Dominica999 
 Grenada911 
 Guadeloupe112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Martinique112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Montserrat911 or 999 
 Navassa Island911 
 Saint Kitts and Nevis911 
 Saint Lucia911 or 999 
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines999 or 911 or 112 
 Bonaire911 
 Dominican Republic911112 redirects to 911 on mobile phones.
 Haiti114116115Police - 122.
 Puerto Rico911 
 Trinidad and Tobago999 or 911811990 
 Jamaica119110 

North America

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Bermuda911 
 Canada911Municipal services - 311 (some areas only). 112 may redirect to 911 on certain mobile phones.
 Mexico911Emergency - 911; Anonymous complaint - 089.
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 United States of America911Text-to-9-1-1 is available in many regions and will respond with an error anywhere else. Various services available through regional or national N11 codes (e.g.: 311 for non-emergency police or city services) in certain areas. Calling #77 from a mobile phone may reach the highway patrol in some states. Calling 112 from a mobile phone may redirect to 911 in some states/localities, but emergency officials recommend callers use the standard 911.

South America

CountryPoliceAmbulanceFireNotes
 Argentina911Police - 101; Ambulance - 107; Fire - 100; Civil defense - 103; Forest fire - 105; Coast guard - 106. 112 redirects to 911 on mobile phones.
 Bolivia911Police - 110; Ambulance - 118; Fire - 119; Civil protection - 114; National police - 120.
 Brazil190192193Federal highway police - 191; Federal police - 194; Civil police - 197; State highway police - 198; Civil defense - 199; Municipal guard - 153; Human rights - 100; Emergency in Mercosul area - 128. 112 and 911 redirect to 190 on mobile phones; 188 - Hotline Help.
 Chile133131132Useful mnemonic is ABC123: Ambulancia (Ambulance) - 131, Bomberos (Fire) - 132, Carabineros (Police) - 133. 911 redirects to 133.
 Colombia123Police - 112; Ambulance - 125; Fire - 119, Anti-kidnapping hotline - 165.
 Ecuador911Police - 101; Ambulance - 131; Fire - 102; Emergency in Guayaquil - 112; Traffic police in Guayaquil - 103.
 Falkland Islands112 or 999 
 French Guiana112Police - 17; Ambulance - 15; Fire - 18.
 Guyana999Police - 911; Ambulance - 913; Fire - 912.
 Paraguay911Police - 912; Ambulance - 141; Fire - 132.
 Peru911Police - 105; Ambulance (SAMU) - 106; Fire - 116; Civil defense - 115; Domestic violence - 100.
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands999 
 Suriname115Police - 115; Ambulance - 113; Fire - 110.
 Uruguay911Police - 109; Ambulance - 105; Fire - 104.
 Venezuela911 and 171