What regular expression will match valid international phone numbers?

I need to determine whether a phone number is valid before attempting to dial it. The phone call can go anywhere in the world.

What regular expression will match valid international phone numbers?


\+(9[976]\d|8[987530]\d|6[987]\d|5[90]\d|42\d|3[875]\d|
2[98654321]\d|9[8543210]|8[6421]|6[6543210]|5[87654321]|
4[987654310]|3[9643210]|2[70]|7|1)\d{1,14}$

Is the correct format for matching a generic international phone number. I replaced the US land line centric international access code 011 with the standard international access code identifier of '+', making it mandatory. I also changed the minimum for the national number to at least one digit.

Note that if you enter numbers in this format into your mobile phone address book, you may successfully call any number in your address book no matter where you travel. For land lines, replace the plus with the international access code for the country you are dialing from.

Note that this DOES NOT take into account national number plan rules - specifically, it allows zeros and ones in locations that national number plans may not allow and also allows number lengths greater than the national number plan for some countries (e.g., the US).


All country codes are defined by the ITU. The following regex is based on ITU-T E.164 and Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 930 – 15.IV.2009. It contains all current country codes and codes reserved for future use. While it could be shortened a bit, I decided to include each code independently.

This is for calls originating from the USA. For other countries, replace the international access code (the 011 at the beginning of the regex) with whatever is appropriate for that country's dialing plan.

Also, note that ITU E.164 defines the maximum length of a full international telephone number to 15 digits. This means a three digit country code results in up to 12 additional digits, and a 1 digit country code could contain up to 14 additional digits. Hence the

[0-9]{0,14}$

a the end of the regex.

Most importantly, this regex does not mean the number is valid - each country defines its own internal numbering plan. This only ensures that the country code is valid.

^011(999|998|997|996|995|994|993|992|991| 990|979|978|977|976|975|974|973|972|971|970| 969|968|967|966|965|964|963|962|961|960|899| 898|897|896|895|894|893|892|891|890|889|888| 887|886|885|884|883|882|881|880|879|878|877| 876|875|874|873|872|871|870|859|858|857|856| 855|854|853|852|851|850|839|838|837|836|835| 834|833|832|831|830|809|808|807|806|805|804| 803|802|801|800|699|698|697|696|695|694|693| 692|691|690|689|688|687|686|685|684|683|682| 681|680|679|678|677|676|675|674|673|672|671| 670|599|598|597|596|595|594|593|592|591|590| 509|508|507|506|505|504|503|502|501|500|429| 428|427|426|425|424|423|422|421|420|389|388| 387|386|385|384|383|382|381|380|379|378|377| 376|375|374|373|372|371|370|359|358|357|356| 355|354|353|352|351|350|299|298|297|296|295| 294|293|292|291|290|289|288|287|286|285|284| 283|282|281|280|269|268|267|266|265|264|263| 262|261|260|259|258|257|256|255|254|253|252| 251|250|249|248|247|246|245|244|243|242|241| 240|239|238|237|236|235|234|233|232|231|230| 229|228|227|226|225|224|223|222|221|220|219| 218|217|216|215|214|213|212|211|210|98|95|94| 93|92|91|90|86|84|82|81|66|65|64|63|62|61|60| 58|57|56|55|54|53|52|51|49|48|47|46|45|44|43| 41|40|39|36|34|33|32|31|30|27|20|7|1)[0-9]{0, 14}$


This is a further optimisation.

\+(9[976]\d|8[987530]\d|6[987]\d|5[90]\d|42\d|3[875]\d|
2[98654321]\d|9[8543210]|8[6421]|6[6543210]|5[87654321]|
4[987654310]|3[9643210]|2[70]|7|1)
\W*\d\W*\d\W*\d\W*\d\W*\d\W*\d\W*\d\W*\d\W*(\d{1,2})$

(i) allows for valid international prefixes
(ii) followed by 9 or 10 digits, with any type or placing of delimeters (except between the last two digits)

This will match:
+1-234-567-8901
+61-234-567-89-01
+46-234 5678901
+1 (234) 56 89 901
+1 (234) 56-89 901
+46.234.567.8901
+1/234/567/8901