Emergency Numbers Table
| Country | Police | Ambulance | Fire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | United States | 911 | 911 | 911 |
| CA | Canada | 911 | 911 | 911 |
| UK | United Kingdom | 999 | 999 | 999 |
| EU | EU (all members) | 112 | 112 | 112 |
| AU | Australia | 000 | 000 | 000 |
| NZ | New Zealand | 111 | 111 | 111 |
| JP | Japan | 110 | 119 | 119 |
| CN | China | 110 | 120 | 119 |
| IN | India | 112 | 112 | 112 |
| MX | Mexico | 911 | 911 | 911 |
| BR | Brazil | 190 | 192 | 193 |
| DE | Germany | 110 | 112 | 112 |
| FR | France | 17 | 15 | 18 |
| IT | Italy | 112 | 118 | 115 |
| ES | Spain | 091 | 061 | 080 |
| KR | South Korea | 112 | 119 | 119 |
| SG | Singapore | 999 | 995 | 995 |
| AE | UAE | 999 | 998 | 997 |
| TH | Thailand | 191 | 1669 | 199 |
| ZA | South Africa | 10111 | 10177 | 10177 |
| RU | Russia | 102 | 103 | 101 |
| TR | Turkey | 112 | 112 | 112 |
Dialing 911 in Europe doesn't work the way you think, and 112 doesn't work everywhere either - but 112 on a GSM mobile phone connects to some emergency service in almost every country in the world, even without a SIM card. This table runs police, ambulance and fire numbers for 22 countries a traveler is most likely to visit.
Bottom line: the EU-wide 112 works in all 27 member states plus several others; the US and Canada share 911; the UK uses 999; and Japan splits police (110) from ambulance/fire (119). Save the table before the trip - the moment you need it is the moment you cannot search.
The honest part: this table is a reference, not a safety plan. Local emergency numbers change, some countries have separate tourist police lines, and the best preparation is saving the local number in your phone before you arrive - not searching for it during a crisis.
How to use
- Find your destination's row: police, ambulance and fire numbers side by side.
- Save the local number in your phone before departure - under ICE (In Case of Emergency) with a local contact.
- Know the GSM fact: 112 from any GSM mobile connects to emergency services in most countries, even locked or without a SIM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the universal emergency number?
112 is the closest thing to a universal emergency number: it works across all 27 EU member states, and GSM mobile phones can dial it in most countries worldwide even without a SIM card or unlocked keypad. It doesn't always reach the right service directly, but it connects to someone who can route the call.
Is 911 the same everywhere?
No - 911 is the North American standard (US and Canada), but it doesn't work in most other countries. The UK uses 999, Australia 000, Japan splits police (110) from ambulance/fire (119), and France has separate numbers for each service. The EU's 112 is the only number with near-universal GSM coverage.
What is Japan's emergency number?
Japan splits its services: 110 for police, 119 for ambulance and fire. This split is also used in some other Asian countries. Tourists sometimes dial 911 or 112 out of habit - both may redirect on some carriers, but 110/119 is the reliable path.
Do emergency numbers work without a SIM card?
In most GSM countries, yes: 112 connects to emergency services even from a locked phone with no SIM. In the US, the FCC requires 911 to work the same way. This is a global GSM standard, not a law in every country - so the safest approach is a local SIM with credit, or knowing the local number from this table.