Emergency numbers by country
In an emergency you need the right number instantly — and it is different in almost every country. 911 covers the United States and Mexico, 112 works across the European Union and on many mobile networks worldwide, while Japan, China and Brazil use separate numbers for police, ambulance and fire. Save the local numbers before you travel.
| Country | Police | Ambulance | Fire | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 911 | 911 | 911 | One number for police, ambulance and fire |
| United Kingdom | 999 | 999 | 999 | 112 also works; 101 is non-emergency police |
| European Union | 112 | 112 | 112 | Pan-EU number; some states also keep national numbers |
| Australia | 000 | 000 | 000 | 112 works from mobiles; 106 is text/TTY |
| New Zealand | 111 | 111 | 111 | 112 also works on mobile |
| Japan | 110 | 119 | 119 | 110 is police; 119 covers ambulance and fire |
| South Korea | 112 | 119 | 119 | 112 is police; 119 ambulance and fire |
| China | 110 | 120 | 119 | 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire |
| India | 112 | 112 | 112 | Single national number; 100 still reaches police |
| Brazil | 190 | 192 | 193 | 190 police; 192 ambulance (SAMU); 193 fire |
| Russia | 102 | 103 | 101 | 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire; 112 also works |
| Singapore | 999 | 995 | 995 | 995 ambulance and fire; 999 police |
| United Arab Emirates | 999 | 998 | 997 | 999 police; 998 ambulance; 997 fire; 112 from mobiles |
| Mexico | 911 | 911 | 911 | Single national emergency number |
Notes
- Always verify emergency numbers with official government sources before travelling — lines and routing can change.
- 112 is the single emergency number across the EU and also works on mobile networks in several non-EU countries, including the UK and Australia.
- Emergency calls are free from any phone and usually connect even without a SIM card or credit.
Three families cover most of the world
Emergency numbers cluster into a few familiar families. 911 serves the United States, Canada and Mexico and is spreading across the Americas. 112 is the single emergency number throughout the European Union and works on many mobile networks well beyond it. 999 is the British and Irish number, and 000 is Australia's. New Zealand uses 111. If you remember only one thing, remember 112: it connects to emergency services across the EU and on most GSM networks even where the local number is different, because member states and carriers are required to route it.
Where 112 works without being the local number
112 is not only a European number. The EU requires it in all member states, and many non-EU countries route mobile calls to it as well — the UK and Australia both accept 112 from mobiles even though 999 and 000 are the advertised numbers. Some countries in the Americas, including the United States, will route a 112 call from a mobile to 911, though it is not the intended line and behaviour varies by carrier. Treat 112 as a reliable fallback on a mobile in most of the world, but never as a substitute for learning the local number of the country you are in, since landlines and some networks do not carry it.
Countries that split police, ambulance and fire
Not every country funnels emergencies into a single number. Japan separates police (110) from ambulance and fire (119), and the two do not transfer between each other. China uses 110 for police, 120 for ambulance and 119 for fire. Brazil has 190 for police and 192 for ambulance. In these systems, dialling the wrong service wastes critical time, so it pays to learn the three numbers rather than one. When in doubt in such a country, calling the police number usually gets you a dispatcher who can route the rest, but the surest approach is to know the relevant line before you need it.
Calling with no SIM, no credit or a locked phone
Emergency calls are special in the mobile network. They are free, and in most countries they connect from any phone with signal — no SIM card, no airtime credit, even from a handset that is locked to another carrier. The network does not need to know who you are; it only needs to route the call. That is why a phone with no service is still worth carrying in an emergency. There are limits, however: an emergency call from a handset without a SIM may not transmit your number, so the dispatcher cannot call you back, and text-based emergency services (such as 106 in Australia or 911 text in parts of the US) are not universally available and often require pre-registration.
Before you travel, verify and save
Emergency numbers and routing change, and details matter in a crisis. Some countries have unified their lines recently, others have added text or app-based services, and the number that works from a mobile may differ from the one that works from a landline. Before a trip, check the current information from an official government source for every country on your route, save the numbers in your phone, and note them somewhere that works if your battery dies. If you are travelling with children or anyone who may need to call, walk through the local number together. A one-minute check before departure is worth more than any list you have to search for under pressure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the emergency number in Europe?
- 112 works in every EU country for police, ambulance or fire. Several countries keep national numbers too, such as 999 in the UK and Ireland and 911 in some EU states.
- Does 112 work in the US?
- Not as the main line — call 911 in the US. Some US carriers route 112 dialed from a mobile to 911 automatically.
- Which countries use 911?
- The United States, Canada and Mexico use 911 as their main emergency number, and several other countries in the Americas do too.
- Can I call emergency numbers without a SIM card?
- Yes. Emergency calls are free and usually work from any mobile with signal, even with no SIM, no credit and an unlocked or locked phone.