When traveling abroad, knowing the emergency numbers of your destination can be life-saving. Different countries have different numbers for police, medical emergencies, and fire services, and dialing the wrong number in a crisis can cause delays. To help you stay prepared, here’s a comprehensive guide to emergency contact numbers in various countries around the world.

Why You Need to Know Emergency Numbers When Traveling

Not all countries use 911 as an emergency number. While 911 is standard in the United States and Canada, many countries have separate numbers for police, medical emergencies, and fire services. Some countries also have multilingual operators, while others may require basic knowledge of the local language to communicate effectively.

To ensure safety during your travels, save these numbers on your phone and keep a written copy in case of battery failure or loss of your device.

Emergency Numbers by Region

North America

  • United States & Canada – 911 (for police, fire, and medical emergencies)
  • Mexico – 911

Europe

Most European countries use 112 as a universal emergency number. However, some have additional numbers for specific services:

  • United Kingdom – 999 or 112
  • Germany – 112 (fire & medical), 110 (police)
  • France – 112 (general), 15 (medical), 17 (police), 18 (fire)
  • Italy – 112 (general), 113 (police), 115 (fire), 118 (medical)
  • Spain – 112 (general), 061 (medical), 091 (police), 080 (fire)
  • Netherlands – 112

Asia

Emergency numbers vary widely across Asia, with some countries adopting a single emergency number and others having separate ones:

  • China – 110 (police), 120 (medical), 119 (fire)
  • Japan – 110 (police), 119 (fire & ambulance)
  • India – 112 (general), 100 (police), 101 (fire), 102 (ambulance)
  • South Korea – 112 (police), 119 (fire & ambulance)
  • Thailand – 191 (police), 1669 (ambulance), 199 (fire)

Australia & Oceania

  • Australia – 000 (for police, fire, and medical)
  • New Zealand – 111

South America

Several South American countries use 911, but some have unique numbers:

  • Brazil – 190 (police), 192 (medical), 193 (fire)
  • Argentina – 911 (police), 107 (medical), 100 (fire)
  • Chile – 133 (police), 131 (medical), 132 (fire)
  • Colombia – 123

Middle East

Emergency numbers in the Middle East vary:

  • United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 999 (police), 998 (ambulance), 997 (fire)
  • Saudi Arabia – 999 (police), 997 (medical), 998 (fire)
  • Israel – 100 (police), 101 (medical), 102 (fire)
  • Turkey – 112

Africa

Emergency services can be less standardized in some African countries, but here are key numbers:

  • South Africa – 10111 (police), 10177 (medical), 112 (from mobile phones)
  • Egypt – 122 (police), 123 (medical), 180 (fire)
  • Kenya – 999 (police), 911 (medical), 999 (fire)
  • Nigeria – 112 or 199

Tips for Using Emergency Services Abroad

  1. Memorize or save the number – Before traveling, note down the emergency numbers of your destination in your phone and on paper.
  2. Know basic phrases – If traveling to a country where English isn’t widely spoken, learn basic emergency phrases in the local language.
  3. Enable roaming – Ensure your phone works internationally so you can call emergency services if needed.
  4. Use local SIM cards – In some cases, calling emergency numbers from a foreign phone may not work unless you have a local SIM.
  5. Ask for help – If you’re unsure of the number, ask hotel staff or locals for assistance.