Have you seen a phone number starting with “08”, “+08”, or maybe even “008” and wondered, “Which country code is 08?” You’re asking a common question, and the answer isn’t straightforward because there is no specific country assigned the dialing code +08.

However, numbers starting with 08 or +08 *do* exist in specific international contexts. Here’s what it usually means:

Man looking confused at international dialing codes map

Understanding the +8 International Zone

International direct dialing codes are managed by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). The digit “8” is assigned as the first digit for country codes covering **East Asia and some special telecommunication services**.

While there’s no “+08 country code,” prefixes starting with +80x are used for specific international services:

• +800: Universal International Freephone Number (UIFN): These are international toll-free numbers used by businesses allowing customers worldwide to call them for free.
• +808: International Shared Cost Service (ISCS): This code is reserved for services where the cost of the call might be shared between the caller and the receiving company.

So, if you received a call from a number starting `+808…` (which might appear as `00808` or potentially be confused with `08`), it’s likely related to one of these international shared-cost services, not a specific country.

Why the Confusion About “08 Country Code”?

Several factors lead people to search specifically for the “08 country code”:

• Seeing “+808” or “+800”: As mentioned, these are valid international prefixes for services, and people might shorten or misinterpret them as “+08”.
• Domestic Area Codes or Prefixes: Many countries use “08” as a domestic area code or the start of mobile numbers (e.g., parts of the UK, Ireland, Australia, Sweden, Indonesia). If someone shares their local number internationally without dropping the leading ‘0’ (which is usually required), it can appear as `+CountryCode 08…` or someone might mistakenly search for “08 country code”.
• Exit Codes + Country Code 8x: When dialing internationally from some countries, you might dial an exit code (like ’00’), followed by a country code starting with ‘8’ (e.g., `00 81` for Japan). This sequence might be misremembered or searched for as “008”.
• Simple Typo: Sometimes, it’s just a typing error when searching for another code.

What if the Number Starts with Just “08”? (No + or 00)

If you see a number starting with “08” without an international prefix (+ or 00), it’s almost certainly a **domestic number** within the country you are currently in, or the country the number is written for.

* In the **UK and Ireland**, numbers starting with 08 (like 0800, 0808, 0845, 0870) are widely used for businesses, freephone services, or shared-cost lines. This is a very common source for the “08 number” query.
* In **Australia**, 08 is the area code for Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.
* Many other countries use 08 for specific regions or mobile prefixes domestically.

Conclusion: So, Which Country Code is 08?

To summarize:

• There is **no country assigned the international dialing code +08**.
• Numbers starting with **+800** are International Freephone numbers.
• Numbers starting with **+808** are for International Shared Cost Services.
• Numbers starting with **08 (without a +)** are usually domestic area codes or service numbers (very common in the UK/Ireland).

Therefore, if you encounter an “08 number,” it’s crucial to look at the full prefix (+800, +808, or just the domestic 08) to understand its true meaning, which is typically an international service or a domestic line, not a specific country.