The search query “491 country code” is based on a common misunderstanding of international telephone numbering.
The direct answer is that 491 is not an official, standalone country calling code assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Instead, the sequence almost always represents a combination of two codes that indicates a mobile or fixed-line number originating from Germany or, less frequently, a mobile number in Australia .
This article will break down how the sequence appears in international dialing formats, clarifying its actual origin and meaning.
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The Primary Meaning of (Germany)
The vast majority of calls displaying a prefix originate from Germany (). The number breaks down into two distinct parts of the German national numbering plan:
Part 1: (The Country Code)
- 49 is the official country calling code for Germany.
Part 2: (The Mobile Prefix)
- The digit 1 is the beginning of the non-geographic mobile phone prefix in Germany. German mobile numbers all begin with a prefix that starts with 1 (e.g., 15, 16, or 17).
Therefore, when a German mobile phone number (e.g., 0171-555-1234) is dialed internationally, the national trunk prefix ‘0’ is dropped, and the number becomes . The first three digits the recipient sees are .
The Geographic Exception: Leer (Germany)
The sequence also exists as a full geographic area code (Vorwahl) for the German city of Leer. A landline in Leer would be dialed as XXXX XXXX.
- in Other International Contexts
While the (Germany) context is the most common, the sequence can appear in other regions:
Australia Mobile Numbers
In Australia, the country code is +61. Australian mobile phone numbers are 10 digits long and begin with . However, when writing the number in international format, the national trunk code ‘0’ is dropped. The sequence 491 might be a valid part of an Australian mobile number: XXX XXX.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The sequence 491 is used as a local three-digit prefix for FLOW mobile numbers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The full international format for these numbers is .
- Frequently Asked Questions
If my phone shows a call from , what time zone are they in?
Calls from are generally from Germany, which operates on Central European Time (CET/CEST). Germany is typically 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (EST), and 9 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Why does my phone sometimes show and sometimes ?
- : The call is likely coming from a German mobile phone.
- : The call is likely coming from a German landline in the city of Berlin (where ’30’ is the area code).
Is there any risk of scam from the prefix?
While Germany is a legitimate country, scammers can and do spoof numbers from any location. If you receive an unexpected or suspicious call from , especially if it asks for personal information, you should hang up immediately. Never return an international call that only rang once.
How do I dial a German mobile number correctly from the US?
- Dial the US Exit Code: 011 (or simply the + symbol on a mobile).
- Dial the German Country Code: 49.
- Dial the German Mobile Prefix (omitting the leading ‘0’): e.g., 171.
- Dial the Local Number.
- Example:
Conclusion
The numerical sequence “491 country code” is a misnomer; it is not a standalone country code but rather the beginning of the complete dialing code for mobile or landline numbers in Germany (). Understanding this breakdown is essential for making successful international calls to Germany and recognizing the origin of inbound calls.
