Emergency numbers by country
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Emergency telephone numbers vary by country, but they are typically short, easy-to-remember numbers that connect callers to emergency services such as police, fire, or medical assistance. In many countries, the emergency number is three digits long, such as 911 in the United States and Canada and some other countries of Americas, 999 in the United Kingdom, and 112 across the European Union. These numbers are intended to be dialed in urgent situations when immediate assistance is needed.
When you dial an emergency number, your call is routed to a call center or dispatch center, where trained operators can quickly assess the situation and dispatch the appropriate emergency responders. It’s important to only use these numbers for genuine emergencies, as misuse can delay responses to real emergencies. The world map below shows the emergency numbers for different countries.
Emergency numbers by country
In some countries, multiple emergency numbers are actively used simultaneously, including those for police, fire, and ambulance services.
The map below shows how many emergency numbers each country has.
How many emergency numbers does each nation have?
In addition to these general emergency numbers, some countries have specific numbers for certain types of emergencies. For example, in the United States, 911 is the general emergency number, but there are also specific numbers for poison control (1-800-222-1222) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).
