Electric Power Around The World
|
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!
|
COUNTRY |
VOLTAGE |
FREQUENCY |
PLUG |
COMMENTS |
| Afghanistan
|
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F * |
* A UN
correspondent reports C and F common in Kabul, but its likely a variety
of plugs may be used around the country. Some sources report Type
D also in use. |
| Albania |
220V* |
50 Hz |
C |
*Voltage
variations common |
| Algeria |
230V |
50 Hz |
C* &
F |
*A variation
of Type C with a ground post offset about 1/2-inch from center may also
be found. |
| American Samoa |
120V |
60 Hz |
A, B,
F &
I |
|
| Angola |
220V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| Anguilla |
110V |
60Hz |
A (maybe
B) |
|
| Antigua |
230V* |
60 Hz |
A & B |
*Airport
area is reportedly Antigua power is 110v. |
| Argentina |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
I* |
*Neutral and
line wires are reversed from that used in Australia and elsewhere.
Click here for more. |
| Armenia |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Aruba |
127V* |
60 Hz |
A, B &
F |
*Lago Colony
115V |
| Australia |
240V |
50 Hz |
I |
Outlets
typically controlled by adjacent switch |
| Austria |
230V |
50 Hz |
C,
F |
|
| Azores |
220V* |
50 Hz |
B,
C, &
F |
*Ponta
Delgada 110V; to be converted to 220V |
| Bahamas |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
| Bahrain |
230V* |
50 Hz* |
G |
*Awali 110V,
60 Hz |
| Balearic
Islands |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
| Bangladesh |
220V |
50 Hz |
A,
C,
D,
G &
K |
|
| Barbados |
115V |
50 Hz |
A, B |
|
| Belgium |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
Notes from a
correspondent: a 'C' style plug can be used with 'E' and 'F'
receptacles. All double-insulated appliances are indeed fitted with a
'C' plug, and can be used in any compatible receptacle (C E F and narrow
L). |
| Belize |
110/220V |
60 Hz |
B &
G |
|
| Benin |
220V |
50 Hz |
E |
|
| Bermuda |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Bhutan |
230V |
50 Hz |
D,
F, &
G |
Type
M plugs also identified by some
sources. |
| Bolivia |
220/230V* |
50 Hz |
A &
C |
*La Paz &
Viacha 115V |
| Bosnia |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Botswana |
231V |
50 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| Brazil |
110/220V* |
60 Hz |
A & B,
C |
*127V found
in states of Bahia, Paraná (including Curitiba), Rio de Janeiro, São
Paulo and Minas Gerais (though 220V may be found in some hotels). Other
areas are 220V only, with the exception of Fortaleza (240V).
Outlets (click for more)
are often a combination of type
A and C and can accept either
type plug. |
| Brunei |
240V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Bulgaria |
230V |
50 Hz |
C* &
F* |
*Outlets are
reported as type F, though both
type C and
F plugs may be encountered. |
| Burkina Faso |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Burundi |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Cambodia |
230V |
50 Hz |
A &
C* |
*Some
outlets are a combination of type A
and C and can accept either type
plug. Plug G may be found in
some hotels. |
| Cameroon |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
E |
|
| Canada |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Canary Islands |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
E, &
L |
Type L
plugs/outlets may have different pin spacing. The smaller and closer
pins are for a rated current of 10 A, the bigger and wider pins are for
a rated current of 16 A. |
| Cape Verde |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Cayman Islands |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Central
African Republic |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Chad |
220V |
50Hz |
D,
E &
F |
|
| Channel
Islands |
240V* |
50 Hz |
C &
G |
*Guernsey
230V |
| Chile |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
L |
|
| China,
People's Republic of |
220V |
50 Hz |
A,
I,
G |
The
"official" plug type is like type A but slightly shorter and without
holes in blades. Type I is common. Type G is primarily found in
hotels across the coast from Hong Kong. |
| Colombia |
110V |
60Hz |
A & B |
|
| Comoros |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Congo,
People's Rep. of |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Congo, Dem.
Rep. of (former Zaire) |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
D |
|
| Cook Islands |
240V |
50 Hz |
I |
|
| Costa Rica |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
Côte d'Ivoire
(Ivory Coast) |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Croatia |
230V |
50Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Cuba |
110/220V |
60Hz |
A & B,
C &
L |
Most older hotels 110V. Some newer hotels 220V.
Some outlets are a combination of
type A and
C and can accept either type
plug. |
| Cyprus |
240V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Czech Republic |
230V |
50 Hz |
E |
|
| Denmark |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
K |
Denmark's
connectors have slight differences from those used elsewhere. While pin
diameter and spacing is standard, outlets may have different housing
depths which could interfere with standard adaptors -- one report says
this is due to "childproofing." Also, Plug C fits into K-type outlets
(but not vice versa). |
| Djibouti |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Dominica |
230V |
50 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| Dominican
Republic |
110V |
60 Hz |
A |
|
| East Timor |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
E,
F,
I, |
A UN
correspondent reports "power is poor in the country with frequent
brown outs and black outs. I suspect that surges are frequent as we go
through a lot of surge-protecting power bars." Further he reports than
Type
I
is common as
much construction is done by Australians; type
C is common in building built
during Indonesian occupation; type E
is less common; type F is common
in offices but not hotels. |
| Ecuador |
120-127V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Egypt |
220V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| El Salvador |
115V |
60 Hz |
A & B,
C,
D,
E,
F,
G,
I,
J, &
L |
|
| England (See
United Kingdom) |
|
| Equatorial
Guinea |
220V* |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
*Voltage
varies between 150 & 175V with frequent outages |
| Eritrea |
230V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| Estonia |
230V |
50 Hz |
F |
Type
C may be found in older
buildings. Type E plugs may work
in either C or
F type outlets. |
| Ethiopia |
220V |
50 Hz |
D,
J, &
L |
|
| Faeroe Islands |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
K |
|
| Fiji |
240V |
50 Hz |
I |
|
| Finland
|
230V |
50 Hz |
C & F |
|
| France |
230V |
50 Hz |
E |
Type
C plugs may be found on some
appliances, and will fit the Type E outlet. Type
C outlets may be found in older
buildings. Type
A may be found in older
buildings but is illegal. |
| French Guiana |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
D, &
E |
|
| Gaza |
230V |
50 Hz |
H |
|
| Gabon |
220V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| Gambia |
230V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Germany |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
Type A may
be found in older buildings but is illegal. |
| 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 |
|
| Guyana |
240V* |
60 Hz* |
A, B,
D &
G |
*Inside the
capital city of Georgetown, both 120V and 240V at either 50 or 60Hz are
found, depending on the part of the city (50Hz most common). Actual
voltage may vary from area to area. |
| Haiti |
110V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Honduras |
110V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Hong Kong |
220V* |
50 Hz |
D,
G |
Type D
replaced by Type G but still found. |
| Hungary |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Iceland |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| India |
240V |
50 Hz |
C,
D, &
G |
|
| Indonesia |
127/230V* |
50 Hz |
C,
F &
G |
*Conversion
to 230V in progress; complete in principal cities |
| Iran |
230V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| Iraq |
230V |
50 Hz |
C,
D, &
G |
|
| Ireland (Eire) |
230 |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Isle of Man |
240V |
50 Hz |
C &
G |
|
| Israel |
230V |
50 Hz |
H &
C |
*Many (but
not all) modern electric outlets in Israel have larger holes that accept
both Type H and C plugs. Some extension cords and older outlets accept
only the Type H plug. One correspondent estimates a 50-70% chance that
a randomly selected outlet will accept Type C. |
| Italy |
230V |
50 Hz |
F &
L |
Type L
plugs/outlets may have different pin spacing. The smaller and closer
pins are for a rated current of 10 A, the bigger and wider pins are for
a rated current of 16 A. Both kinds are currently used and comply to
the relevant Italian (CEI) regulations. Some outlets have overlapping
holes to accept either older or newer types. |
| Ivory Coast (See
Côte d'Ivoire) |
|
|
|
| Jamaica |
110V |
50 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Japan |
100V |
50/60 Hz* |
A, B |
*Eastern
Japan 50 Hz (Tokyo, Kawasaki, Sapporo, Yokohoma, and Sendai); Western
Japan 60 Hz (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima)
|
| Jordan |
230V |
50 Hz |
D,
F,
G &
J |
|
| Kenya |
240V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Kazakhstan |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
G &
H |
|
| Kiribati |
240V |
50 Hz |
I |
|
| Korea, South |
220V |
60 Hz |
C &
F* |
*Type F
likely to be found in offices and hotels. 110V power with plugs
A & B was previously used but is
being phased out. Older buildings may still have this, and some hotels
offer both 110V and 220V service. |
| Kuwait |
240V |
50 Hz |
C &
G |
|
| Laos |
230V |
50 Hz |
A, B,
C,
E &
F |
|
| Latvia |
220V |
50 Hz |
C
&
F |
|
| Lebanon |
230V |
50 Hz |
A, B,
C,
D &
G |
|
| Lesotho |
220V |
50 Hz |
M |
|
| Liberia |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Libya |
127V* |
50 Hz |
D |
*Barce,
Benghazi, Derna, Sebha & Tobruk 230V |
| Lithuania |
220V |
50 Hz |
C
&
E |
|
|
Liechtenstein |
230V |
50 Hz |
J |
|
| Luxembourg |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Macau |
220V |
50 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| Macedonia |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Madagascar |
127/220V |
50 Hz |
C,
D,
E,
J &
K |
|
| Madeira |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Malawi |
230V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Malaysia |
240V* |
50 Hz |
G |
*Penang 230V
|
| Maldives |
230V |
50 Hz |
A,
D,
G,
J,
K &
L |
|
| Mali |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Malta |
240V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Martinique |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
D, &
E |
|
| Mauritania |
220V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| Mauritius |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
G |
|
| Mexico |
127V |
60 Hz |
A |
|
| Micronesia
(Federal States of) |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Monaco |
127/220V |
50 Hz |
C,
D,
E
F |
|
| Mongolia |
230V |
|
C
&
E |
|
| Montserrat
(Leeward Is.) |
230V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Morocco |
127/220V* |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
*Conversion
to 220V only underway |
| Mozambique |
220V |
50 Hz |
C,
F &
M* |
*Type M
found especially near the border with South Africa, including the
capitol, Maputo. |
| Myanmar
(formerly Burma) |
230V |
50 Hz |
C,
D,
F &
G* |
Type G*
found primarily in better hotels. Also, many of major
hotels chains are said to have multipurpose outlets, which will take
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 |
|
| Netherlands
Antilles |
127/220V* |
50 Hz |
A, B, &
F |
*St. Martin
120V 60 Hz; Saba &(St. Eustatius 110V 60 Hz A, maybe B |
| New Caledonia |
220V |
50 Hz |
F |
|
| New Zealand |
230V |
50 Hz |
I |
|
| Nicaragua |
120V |
60 Hz |
A |
|
| Niger |
220V |
50 Hz |
A, B,
C,
D,
E &
F |
|
| Nigeria |
240V |
50 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| Northern
Ireland (see United Kingdom) |
|
|
|
| Norway |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Okinawa |
100V* |
60 Hz |
A, B &
I |
*Military
facilities 120V |
| Oman |
240V* |
50 Hz |
C &
G |
*Voltage
variations common |
| Pakistan |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
D |
|
| Panama |
110V* |
60 Hz |
A, B &
I |
*Panama City
120V |
| Papua New
Guinea |
240V |
50 Hz |
I |
|
| Paraguay |
220V |
50 Hz |
C |
|
| Peru |
220V* |
60 Hz* |
A &
C |
*Talara
110/220V; Arequipa 50 Hz |
| Philippines |
220V* |
60 Hz |
A, B,
C |
|
| Poland |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
E |
|
| Portugal |
220V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Puerto Rico |
120V |
60 Hz |
A & B |
|
| Qatar |
240V |
50 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| Réunion Island |
220V |
50Hz |
E |
|
| Romania |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Russian
Federation |
220V |
50 Hz |
C
|
A
correspondent notes: "Plug type E can also be used (because the mains
outlets do not have the protruding pin). Plug type F can sometimes be
used but with reservation because in many places the mains outlet will
not allow to connect such plug as the outlets have smaller hole
diameters than F-plug pins. |
| Rwanda |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
J |
|
| St. Kitts and
Nevis (Leeward Is.) |
230V |
60 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| St. Lucia
(Windward Is.) |
240V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| St. Vincent
(Windward Is.) |
230V |
50 Hz |
A,
C,
E,
G,
I &
K |
|
| Saudi Arabia |
127/220V |
60 Hz |
A, B,
F &
G |
|
| Scotland (See
United Kingdom) |
|
|
|
|
| Senegal |
230V |
50 Hz |
C,
D,
E &
K |
|
|
Serbia-Montenegro |
220V |
50 Hz |
F |
|
| Seychelles |
240V |
50 Hz |
G |
|
| Sierra Leone |
230V |
50 Hz |
D &
G |
|
| Singapore |
230V |
50 Hz |
G |
Type
A adaptors are widely available
from shops as an extension set of 2 to 5 sets of sockets; most commonly
used for audio and video equipment. |
| Slovak
Republic |
230V |
50 Hz |
E |
|
| Slovenia |
220V |
50 Hz |
F |
|
| Somalia |
220V* |
50 Hz |
C |
*Berbera
230V; Merca 110/220V |
| South Africa |
220/230V* |
50 Hz |
M |
*Grahamstad
& Port Elizabeth 250V; also found in King Williams |
| Spain |
230V |
50 Hz |
C &
F |
|
| Sri Lanka |
230V |
50 Hz |
| | |
