Current Time in IANA Pacific/Apia Timezone
IANA Name: Pacific/Apia
Standard Offset: UTC +13:00
Daylight Saving: No
Currently Observing DST: No ❌
Pacific/Apia Time Zone: Samoa's Constant UTC+13
Pacific/Apia is the IANA time zone identifier for the independent nation of Samoa, anchored on its capital, Apia. It operates on a constant offset of UTC+13:00 year-round, with no daylight saving time adjustments. This zone governs all of Samoa (excluding American Samoa, which uses a different zone).
Overview and Scope
Pacific/Apia applies exclusively to the country of Samoa, located in the South Pacific Ocean. It covers the two main islands, Upolu and Savai'i, plus several smaller inhabited islands. The zone is used by the entire population of approximately 220,000 people. It is one of the earliest time zones in the world, being 13 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time.
Offset and Abbreviation
The standard offset is UTC+13:00. The common abbreviation is SST (Samoa Standard Time). This offset places Samoa 13 hours ahead of UTC, meaning when it is noon in UTC, it is 1:00 AM the next day in Apia. The offset is constant throughout the year.
No Daylight Saving Time
Samoa does not observe daylight saving time. The country previously used daylight saving from 2010 to 2021, but discontinued it in 2021. As a result, Pacific/Apia remains at UTC+13:00 all year, providing a stable time reference for residents and businesses.
Countries and Cities
The only country using Pacific/Apia is Samoa. The primary city is Apia, the capital and largest urban center, located on the north coast of Upolu. Other notable settlements include Salelologa (Savai'i), Vaitele, and Faleasi'u. The zone does not apply to American Samoa, which uses Pacific/Pago_Pago (UTC-11:00) despite its proximity.
Business Hours and Scheduling
Pacific/Apia is 13 hours ahead of UTC. For scheduling with major regions:
- New York (EST, UTC-5): When it is 9:00 AM Monday in Apia, it is 3:00 PM Sunday in New York (a 17-hour difference).
- London (GMT, UTC+0): 9:00 AM Monday in Apia is 8:00 PM Sunday in London (13 hours behind).
- Sydney (AEST, UTC+10): 9:00 AM Monday in Apia is 6:00 AM Monday in Sydney (3 hours behind).
- Tokyo (JST, UTC+9): 9:00 AM Monday in Apia is 5:00 AM Monday in Tokyo (4 hours behind).
Historical Note
Samoa shifted the International Date Line in 2011, moving from west to east of the line to align with its key trading partners (Australia, New Zealand). This changed the offset from UTC-11:00 to UTC+13:00, effectively skipping December 30, 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current time in Pacific/Apia?
Pacific/Apia is always at UTC+13:00. To get the current time, add 13 hours to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). For example, if UTC is 12:00, the time in Apia is 01:00 the next day.
Does Samoa observe daylight saving time?
No, Samoa does not observe daylight saving time. The offset is constant at UTC+13:00 all year. The country discontinued DST in 2021.
What is the difference between Pacific/Apia and Pacific/Pago_Pago?
Pacific/Apia (Samoa) is UTC+13:00, while Pacific/Pago_Pago (American Samoa) is UTC-11:00. The difference is 24 hours: when it is 10:00 AM Monday in Apia, it is 10:00 AM Sunday in Pago Pago.
Which countries use the same offset as Pacific/Apia?
Other IANA zones at UTC+13:00 include Antarctica/McMurdo, Pacific/Auckland (New Zealand), Pacific/Fakaofo (Tokelau), Pacific/Kanton (Kiribati), and Pacific/Tongatapu (Tonga). However, some of these may use daylight saving time.
Why did Samoa change its time zone in 2011?
Samoa moved the International Date Line in 2011 to align its business week with key trading partners Australia and New Zealand. The offset changed from UTC-11:00 to UTC+13:00, and December 30, 2011 was skipped.
What is the abbreviation for Pacific/Apia time?
The abbreviation is SST, which stands for Samoa Standard Time. It is used year-round as there is no daylight saving.