Travel & Culture
World Emergency Numbers Directory
The police, fire and ambulance numbers you need in every major country — so you can call for help without searching when seconds count.
United States
Police
911
Fire
911
Medical
911
911 reaches all emergency services nationwide.
United Kingdom
Police
999 or 112
Fire
999 or 112
Medical
999 or 112
999 and 112 both work; 112 is the EU-wide number.
Australia
Police
000
Fire
000
Medical
000
Dial 000 for all emergencies; 112 also works on mobiles.
Canada
Police
911
Fire
911
Medical
911
911 for all emergency services.
Germany
Police
110
Fire
112
Medical
112
Police 110, all other emergencies 112.
France
Police
17
Fire
18
Medical
15
112 reaches all services; 17 police, 18 fire, 15 medical.
Spain
Police
091
Fire
080
Medical
112
112 is the unified emergency number.
Italy
Police
113
Fire
115
Medical
118
112 also works EU-wide.
Netherlands
Police
112
Fire
112
Medical
112
112 for all emergencies; 0900-8844 for non-urgent police.
Japan
Police
110
Fire
119
Medical
119
110 police, 119 fire and ambulance.
South Korea
Police
112
Fire
119
Medical
119
112 police, 119 fire/ambulance.
China
Police
110
Fire
119
Medical
120
Distinct numbers for each service.
India
Police
112
Fire
101
Medical
108
112 is the unified emergency number.
Brazil
Police
190
Fire
193
Medical
192
Distinct numbers for each service.
Mexico
Police
911
Fire
911
Medical
911
911 unified nationwide.
South Africa
Police
10111
Fire
10177
Medical
10177
112 also works on mobiles.
UAE
Police
999
Fire
997
Medical
998
Distinct numbers for each service.
Saudi Arabia
Police
999
Fire
999
Medical
997
999 for police and general emergencies.
Turkey
Police
155
Fire
110
Medical
112
112 is the unified emergency number.
Russia
Police
102
Fire
101
Medical
103
112 also works as the unified number.
Singapore
Police
999
Fire
995
Medical
995
999 police, 995 fire/ambulance.
New Zealand
Police
111
Fire
111
Medical
111
111 for all emergencies.
Ireland
Police
112 or 999
Fire
112 or 999
Medical
112 or 999
112 is the EU-wide number.
Sweden
Police
112
Fire
112
Medical
112
112 for all emergencies.
Thailand
Police
191
Fire
199
Medical
1669
Distinct numbers; tourist police 1155.
Why knowing the local emergency number matters
In a crisis, the last thing you want is to search for the right number. Emergency numbers vary by country — 911 in North America, 112 across the EU, 000 in Australia, 110 and 119 in Japan — and dialling the wrong one can cost precious seconds. Knowing the number before you land is a small piece of preparation with an outsized payoff.
This directory lists the police, fire and ambulance numbers for major countries, along with the all-service number where one exists, so you have what you need the moment you arrive.
The 112 standard and where it works
112 was introduced as a single emergency number across the European Union so that travellers do not need to learn a different number in every member state. It is free to call, works from locked and SIM-less phones, and is increasingly recognised beyond Europe. Many countries outside the EU now route 112 to their emergency services as a courtesy to foreign visitors.
Even where 112 works, the country's traditional number (999 in the UK, 15/17/18 in France) remains fully supported. When in doubt, 112 on a mobile is the most likely to connect you to someone.
Single versus separate service numbers
Some countries use a single number for all emergencies — 911 in North America, 112 in the EU, 000 in Australia. Others maintain separate numbers per service: France uses 17 for police, 18 for fire and 15 for medical; Japan uses 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance; India uses 112 unified but historically had 100, 101, 102.
Separate numbers exist because each service historically ran its own call centre. Unified numbers dispatch to a single operator who routes the call, which is faster for the caller but requires more infrastructure. Both approaches work; the key is simply knowing which a given country uses.
Calling emergency services effectively
When you call, the operator first needs your location — this is the single most important piece of information, because dispatch depends on it. If you do not know the address, describe landmarks, the nearest intersection or anything identifiable. Then state the service you need, what happened, how many people are affected and whether there is an immediate danger such as fire or traffic.
Stay on the line. Do not hang up until the operator tells you to. If you are disconnected, they will try to call back, but staying connected keeps the dispatcher gathering information. Speak the local language if you can; if not, 112 operators in many countries can connect interpreters.
Mobile phones and SIM-less calls
Most mobile networks are required by regulation to connect emergency calls even from phones without an active SIM card or service plan, and to use any available carrier's network to do so. This means an old, deactivated phone can still be a lifeline in an emergency, provided it has charge.
However, location services are less reliable on SIM-less calls because the network cannot always return an accurate position. Be prepared to describe your location verbally. VoIP apps and satellite messengers have their own emergency behaviour — learn it before you rely on it.
Specialist emergency services
Beyond police, fire and ambulance, many countries have dedicated numbers for mountain rescue, marine rescue, poison control, gas leaks and mental-health crises. These specialist services often reach the right help faster than a general emergency line. If you are undertaking adventure activities, note the relevant rescue number before you set out.
Embassies also maintain 24-hour emergency lines for their citizens abroad. Save your home country's embassy number at your destination — they can help with lost passports, arrests and serious incidents, though they do not replace local emergency services for immediate danger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 112?
112 is the global emergency number standard adopted across the EU and many other regions. On a mobile it often connects to emergency services even without a SIM card or coverage on your home network, and it works alongside country-specific numbers.
Will 112 work outside Europe?
112 is recognised in all EU countries and increasingly worldwide, but it is not universal. In the United States, Canada and Mexico, dial 911. Always know the local primary number for your destination as well.
Can I call emergency services without a SIM card?
On most mobile networks, yes — emergency calls are permitted even without an active SIM or plan, and the phone will use any available network. Landlines and VoIP services may behave differently.
What should I say when I call?
State the service you need, your location (as precisely as possible), the nature of the emergency, the number of people affected, and any immediate danger. Stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up.
Are these numbers guaranteed current?
Numbers reflect widely reported official emergency numbers, but countries occasionally change systems. Confirm critical numbers on arrival, especially in countries undergoing telecom reform.
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