Is there a way to get rid of the red number icon on the corner of the phone app icon without calling the number back?

Yes. Just tap the "Missed" tab and then switch to "All".

It should go away.

Go to Settings -> Notifications -> Phone -> disable the Badge setting there.

I have the same problem, it started with the last update (iPhone 8, version 13.1.3). It only seems to happen if I actively decline the call, either with the sleep/wake button or the decline option on my watch, not if I just fail to answer. Today I got a call, the ID came up Spam Risk (who’s going to answer that?), I declined it. They actually stayed on the line long enough trigger a voice mail. I have since listened to the voice mail, deleted it, toggled between missed and all on the Recents tab, and deleted the call from the list. There’s still a red 1 on my home screen. So annoying.

That used to work but it doesn't work as so many others are pointing out. I have even reset my network settings. It's getting frustrating the lack of testing of functionality on a phone apple is doing. Something tells me they have outsourced their QA to somewhere outside the USA. It's actually pretty important to know if you have a missed call or not.

i did not have this problem until I updated my phone. What you suggested did not work. Any other suggestions?

What is your current iOS version?

Switching between missed and all doesn’t work for me. Red number is still there

I cleared all my missed and all calls and the red symbol is still on

Missed and All is not doing it. Since the last update, that little number is not disappearing

So this will disable that little number appearing altogether? I don’t think we want that.

I think its a bug i 13.3 - very annoying!