WhatsApp number format for Nigeria
Country code +234. How to turn a Nigerian phone number into a working WhatsApp link.
At a glance
A Nigerian mobile written locally as 0802 123 4567 becomes 2348021234567 in a WhatsApp link, giving https://wa.me/2348021234567. The digit used for dialling inside the country is removed and the country code goes in its place.
The three ways to write the same number
These are the same Nigerian mobile in each format. The example is a reserved test number from Google’s libphonenumber metadata, so it is structurally correct without belonging to anyone.
| Inside Nigeria | 0802 123 4567 |
|---|---|
| International | +234 802 123 4567 |
| In a wa.me link | 2348021234567 |
The rule for Nigeria
Nigerian mobile numbers are written with a leading 0 domestically. Drop it and prefix 234. Nigeria also has older ten-digit numbers still in circulation, which need the same treatment.
How to build a Nigerian WhatsApp link
- Start with the local number. 0802 123 4567
- Apply the Nigerian rule. Remove the domestic dialling prefix shown above.
- Add the country code. Put 234 in front, giving 2348021234567.
- Build the link. Append the digits to https://wa.me/ with nothing between them, or use the generator and let it handle the formatting.
Does a valid number mean the person is on WhatsApp?
No. Everything above concerns format, which is a separate question from whether an account exists. A correctly formatted Nigerian number can belong to a landline, to a newly issued SIM, or to someone who has deleted their WhatsApp account, and in each case the link will open and report that the number is not on WhatsApp.
To find out, open a chat link for the number and see whether WhatsApp starts a conversation.
Nigerian WhatsApp link questions
How do I write a Nigerian number for WhatsApp?
Write 234 followed by the subscriber number, digits only, with no plus sign, spaces or dashes. A Nigerian mobile written locally as 0802 123 4567 becomes 2348021234567, giving the link https://wa.me/2348021234567.
What is the WhatsApp country code for Nigeria?
Nigeria uses country code +234. In a wa.me link the plus sign is dropped, so the link starts https://wa.me/234.
Do I remove the leading zero from a Nigerian number?
Yes. The leading digit used for dialling inside Nigeria is not part of the international number and must be removed before the country code is added. 0802 123 4567 becomes 2348021234567, not 23408021234567.
Can I message a Nigerian number without saving it?
Yes. Open https://wa.me/ followed by the number in international format and WhatsApp starts the conversation without adding a contact. Recent versions of WhatsApp can also do this by typing the number into the new-chat search.
Why does my Nigerian WhatsApp link say the number is invalid?
Either the number is formatted wrongly or it has no WhatsApp account, since WhatsApp shows the same message for both. Check the digits against 2348021234567 first: the most common cause here is keeping the leading zero.