In Germany you can choose to not be listed in those, I assume it's the same in the UK .

YOu can opt out and many people do (ex-directory)

you mean, in the US you can't opt out of them?

When everyone had landlines, I believe you could get an unlisted number for a fee. Very few did AFAIK.

There is no white pages for cellphones but I still get junk calls anyway.