🇼🇸 Time in Samoa
Samoa uses Samoa Time (WST), which is UTC+13:00. The country does not observe daylight saving time (though it has in the past). Samoa made international headlines in 2011 when it moved from the eastern side of the International Date Line to the western side — skipping Friday, December 30, 2011, entirely. The reason was economic: Samoa does most of its business with Australia and New Zealand, and being 21 hours behind them meant losing two business days each week. After the switch, Samoa is 3-4 hours ahead of Australia depending on DST. Apia, the capital, is located on the island of Upolu.
Time Zone Overview
| Time Zone(s) | DST |
|---|---|
| WST (UTC+13) | No (observed in the past, currently not) |
Major Cities in Samoa
Click any city to see the current local time:
Quick Facts
- Time zone: WST (UTC+13)
- DST: No (not currently)
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Samoa in?
Samoa uses WST (UTC+13) year-round.
Did Samoa really skip a day?
Yes — on December 29, 2011, the country went to bed on Thursday and woke up on Saturday, December 31. Friday, December 30, never existed in Samoa.
Time in Daily Life
Samoa sits at UTC+13, the same offset as neighbouring Kiribati, after the country shifted its clock east in 2011 to align with Australia and New Zealand trade.
The change meant Samoa skipped an entire Friday, jumping from Thursday straight to Saturday, a one-off reset that brought it in step with its main trading partners.
Because it sits near the international date line, Samoa is among the first places on Earth to greet each new day, a point of national pride.