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The table below summarizes information on the electrical systems in use in most countries of the world.
The voltages listed here are the nominal figures reported to be in use at most residential or commercial sites in the country or area named. Most electrical
power systems are prone to slight variations in voltage due to demand or other factors. Many former 220V countries have converted or are in the process of
converting to the EU standard of 230V. Generally, this difference is inconsequential, as most appliances are built to tolerate current a certain percentage
above or below the rated voltage. However, severe variations in current can damage electrical equipment.
The electric power frequency is shown in the number of hertz (cycles per second). Even if voltages are similar, a 60-hertz clock or tape recorder may not
function properly on 50 hertz current. All systems described here use alternating current (AC). The plug types listed indicate all types known to be in use in
that country. Not all areas of a country may use all types of plugs listed for that country, since there may be regional differences based on the power system
in a certain area.
Finally, I've only included information that is likely to be relevant for travelers. Just about everywhere listed here has higher voltage lines available for heavy
duty appliances (not to mention commercial or industrial applications). While this would be relevant for those moving to another country, I'm assuming most
travelers will leave their clothes dryers, air conditioners and arc welders at home!
*Neutral and line wires are reversed from that used in Australia and
Argentina 220V 50 Hz C & I* elsewhere. Click here for more.
Austria 230V 50 Hz C, F
Azerbaijan 220V 50 Hz C, F
Azores 220V* 50 Hz B, C, & F *Ponta Delgada 110V; to be converted to 220V
Notes from correspondents: a 'C' style plug can be used with 'E' and
'F' receptacles. All double-insulated appliances are indeed fitted with
Belgium 230V 50 Hz E a 'C' plug, and can be used in any compatible receptacle (C E F and
narrow L). Type C receptacles are prohibited in Belgium.
Cameroon 220V 50 Hz C, E
Canada 120V 60 Hz A&B
Type L plugs/outlets may have different pin spacing. The smaller
Canary Islands 220V 50 Hz C, E, & L and closer pins are for a rated current of 10 A, the bigger and wider
pins are for a rated current of 16 A.
China, People's The "official" plug type is like type A but slightly shorter and without
220V 50 Hz A, I, G holes in blades. Type A and I outlets are common, and Type G
Republic of might also be found. Click here for photos and more info.
A & B, C, Most older hotels 110V. Some newer hotels 220V. Some outlets
Cuba 110/220V 60Hz are a combination of type A and C and can accept either type plug.
F&L
Cyprus 240V 50 Hz G
Czech Republic 230V 50 Hz E
A & B, C, D, E,
El Salvador 115V 60 Hz
F, G, I, J, & L
Eritrea 230V 50 Hz C
Type C may be found in older buildings. Type E plugs may work in
Estonia 230V 50 Hz F either C or F type outlets.
Gaza 230V 50 Hz H
Gabon 220V 50 Hz C
Gambia 230V 50 Hz G
Germany 230V 50 Hz C&F
Ghana 230V 50 Hz D&G
Gibraltar 240V 50 Hz C&G
Great Britain (See
United Kingdom)
Greece 220V 50 Hz C, D, E & F
Greenland 220V 50 Hz C&K
Grenada (Windward Is.) 230V 50 Hz G
Guadeloupe 230V 50 Hz C, D, & E
Guam 110V 60Hz A&B
Guatemala 120V 60 Hz A, B, G, & I
Guinea 220V 50 Hz C, F & K
Guinea-Bissau 220V 50 Hz C
*Inside the capital city of Georgetown, both 120V and 240V at either
Guyana 240V* 60 Hz* A, B, D & G 50 or 60Hz are found, depending on the part of the city (50Hz most
common). Actual voltage may vary from area to area.
Iran 230V 50 Hz C
Iraq 230V 50 Hz C, D, & G
Ireland (Eire) 230 50 Hz G Type F once common and may be occasionally found.
Myanmar (formerly Type G* found primarily in better hotels. Also, many of major
230V 50 Hz C, D, F & G* hotels chains are said to have multipurpose outlets, which will take
Burma) Australian 3-pin plugs and perhaps other types.
Namibia 220V 50 Hz D
Nauru 240V 50 Hz I
Nepal 230V 50 Hz C&D
Netherlands 230V 50 Hz C&F
*St. Martin 120V 60 Hz; Saba &(St. Eustatius 110V 60 Hz A, maybe
Netherlands Antilles 127/220V* 50 Hz A, B, & F B
Philippines 220V 60 Hz A, B, C
Poland 230V 50 Hz C&E
Portugal 230V 50 Hz C&F
Puerto Rico 120V 60 Hz A&B
Qatar 240V 50 Hz D&G
Runion Island 220V 50Hz E
Romania 230V 50 Hz C&F
Tonga 240V 50 Hz I
Trinidad & Tobago 115V 60 Hz A&B
Tunisia 230V 50 Hz C& E
Turkey 230V 50 Hz C&F
Turkmenistan 220V 50 Hz B&F
Uganda 240V 50 Hz G
Ukraine 220V 50 Hz C
United Arab Emirates 220V* 50 Hz C, D & G
*Outlets typically controlled by adjacent switch.
United Kingdom 230V* 50 Hz G Though nominal voltage has been officially changed to 230V, 240V
is within tolerances and commonly found.
United States of
120V 60 Hz A&B
America
Type F becoming more common as a result of computer use.
Uruguay 220V 50 Hz C, F, I* & L *Neutral and line wires are reversed from that used in Australia and
elsewhere. Click here for more.
Primary sources: Electric Current Abroad (1998 edition), U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service; World Electricity Supplies and Electrical
Plugs; an International Survey, (both 1993), British Standards Institute. Additionally, since this table was first posted in late 1995, numerous revisions have (and continue to be)
made as a result of personal observations or reports from other travelers.
Type A
Where found:
American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia,
Canada, Cayman Islands, China (without holes in blades and slightly shorter blades), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia,
Maldives, Mexico, Micronesia, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Okinawa, Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent, Saudi Arabia, Tahiti, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Virgin Islands (U.S.& British), Yemen.
In the U.S. & Canada, two-blade plugs are often polarized, with one blade larger than the other. Most outlets are
designed to handle these. The larger blade is the neutral side of the current. This is a safety feature intended so the
plug can be inserted one way only to reduce the chance of accidental shock. If you try to plug a modern plug into an
old-style receptacle for equal size blades, it won't go in unless you file down the larger blade to the older plug size.
Outside the US, many countries with Type A use the old style plug, and a newer US plug with unequal pins might pose
a problem. This can be bypassed using an adaptor (found in many travel kits) which converts the newer Type A plug to
the older model with equal-sized blades. Be aware, though, that you might also be bypassing the protection that
polarization provides.
Type B
Where found:
All of the above noted for Type A except Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic,
Korea, Liberia, Maldives, Peru, St. Vincent, Tahiti, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen.
Also found in Azores, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago.
Type C
NOTE: Type C plugs can also be used with E and F and some L receptacles.
This type of plug is very common in most "universal" adaptor sets.
(Though the diagram shows a circular plug, quite often Type C plugs have a rectangular form factor, as in the
photo above.)
Where found:
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Channel Islands,
Chile, Comoros, Congo, Croatia, Dem. Rep. of Congo (Zaire), Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cyrpus, Denmark, Djibouti,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Faeroe Islands, Finland, French Guiana, Gabon, Germany, Gibraltar,
Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man,
Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira,
Mali, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, St. Vincent,
Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yugoslavia (former), Zambia.
Type D
Where found:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Dem. Rep. of Congo (Zaire), Dominica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Jerusalem,
Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Macao, Madagascar, Maldives, Martinique, Monaco, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia,
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, St. Kitts-Nevis, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, United
Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Type E
Where found:
Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Czech Republic, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Guiana, Greece,
Guadeloupe, Ireland, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Martinique, Monaco, Morocco,
Niger, Poland, St. Vincent, Senegal, Slovakia, Syria, Tahiti, Tunisia.
Type F
Where found:
Algeria, American Samoa, Aruba, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cape Verde,
Chad, Croatia, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia,
Italy, Jordan, Korea, Laos, Luxembourg, Madeira, Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands,
Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Suriname, Sweden, Turkey, Uruguay.
Yugoslavia (former).
Type G
Where found:
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Channel Islands, China, Cyprus, Dominica,
El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of
Man, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Myanmar,
Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
Type H
Where found:
Gaza, Israel
Type I
Where found:
American Samoa, Argentina*, Australia, China, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Kiribati, Nauru, New
Zealand, Okinawa, Panama, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent, Tajikistan, Tonga, Uruguay* .
* In Argentina and Uruguay, the neutral and active wires are reversed from what is used in other countries.
Type J
Where found:
Where found:
Bangladesh, Denmark, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Guinea, Madagascar, Maldives, St. Vincent,
Senegal, Tunisia.
Type L
Where found:
This plug resembles the Type D plug, but its pins are much larger.
Where found: