As of 2020, what is the most common/widely used emergency number?

The most common/widely used emergency number is 112. It is an emergency telephone number that can be dialled free of charge from most mobile telephones, and in some countries, fixed telephones, in order to reach emergency services (ambulance, fire and rescue, police). Used throughout Europe.

111 is used in some countries such as Australia.

911 is used in the USA

999 is used in the UK and was the first emergency number to be used in the world, being introduced in London in 1937. The choice of 999 was determined by ease of use on the old rotary handsets - easiest to find in the dark.

On old rotary dial telephones, it made sense to use those digits that required the least dial rotation, such as 1 and 2. It also maximized dialling speed.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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25 Comments

Jacqueline Tattam

The emergency number in Australia is 000 not 111!

Jerry Kimball

To make this a fair question you should specify the area of use!

lmoores

It is 000 in Australia not 111.

Suzanne Wilson

It's 000 in Australia; not 111.

teacherchicky

teacherchicky, If it's only used in Europe, then the rest of the world should outnumber that! I don't think this information is correct!

teacherchicky

The author should have listed where they use 112 because I've never heard of it and we now learn it's the most widely used but aren't told where!

Gary Chadwick

000 is the Emergency number in Australia, although I did hear that there is another for mobile Phones.

George Radanovics

Question should of stated from where as to the world, where numbers for Europe or parts of Asia are not given for their 112 system, whereas North America has given specific numbers for it's 911 and does mot include the rest of Americas that use it as well.

Wendy Williams

The question should state in which cou try. Poorly written andpoor quality control imo.

rkcorrigan

This question is area-specific.

jaime alzate

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS 911, NOT 112.

Sergey Boev

Rafi Manory, 112 is the emergency number of European Union, in all 27 countries. Population of EU now is roughly 448 millions, while population of US is (roughly again) 330 millions.

Rafi Manory

very weird question, impossible to answer correctly, and the answer is wrong. In the US it is 911 and it is a pretty large country. In Australia it is000, so who uses 112?