Oceania · Polynesia · Dependency
Current time in American Samoa
A single time zone at UTC-11:00.
Saturday, May 30, 2026
About American Samoa's time
A single time zone.
American Samoa is one of the last places on Earth to see each new day, sitting in the UTC−11:00 zone and ignoring daylight saving entirely.
Major cities
Cities of American Samoa.
History
How American Samoa keeps time.
American Samoa's current timezone is tied to its geographic position and geopolitical alignment. As a U.S. territory, it needs to coordinate closely with the mainland United States. However, unlike other U.S. territories, it chose UTC−11:00 rather than UTC−10:00.
Some speculation as to why revolves around its proximity and ties to Samoa, which is now UTC+13:00, having made a 2011 date line jump. Prior to that date jump, American Samoa and Samoa were on the same side of the dateline and had very similar times. When Samoa moved, American Samoa remained, creating a 24-hour difference between the two Samoas.
Another factor is commerce. Being at UTC−11:00 puts American Samoa 5 or 6 hours behind the US West Coast depending on daylight saving, which could be inconvenient. But it's 17 or 18 hours ahead of the East Coast, meaning it's really only convenient to coordinate with Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Did you know?
Things about American Samoa's time.
American Samoa is in a rather unique position. It uses UTC−11:00, one of the 'last' inhabited timezones on earth before reaching UTC−12:00, unoccupied save for Baker Island and Howland Island. For that reason, it's one of the last places to see a New Year or New Day.
More practically, it's in an odd situation with nearby Samoa, with which it has strong cultural ties. Historically, both were on the same side of the International Date Line. In 2012, Samoa moved to the other side of the dateline — meaning that while they're geographically close, there's now a full 24-hour difference between them. They're essentially a day apart.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about American Samoa's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- What is the time difference between American Samoa and the US mainland?
- American Samoa is 5 hours behind the West Coast during standard time, and 6 hours behind during daylight saving time. For the East Coast, it's effectively 17 hours ahead during standard time.
- Does American Samoa observe daylight saving time?
- No, American Samoa does not observe daylight saving time. The time remains UTC−11:00 year-round.
- Why is American Samoa so far behind the US?
- American Samoa is located in the South Pacific, west of the International Date Line. Its UTC−11:00 offset reflects its geographic position, and it has chosen to remain there rather than adopting a more US-aligned offset.
- Is American Samoa the last place on Earth to see the New Year?
- Almost. American Samoa is among the last inhabited places to celebrate the New Year, but there are a few hours between it and UTC−12:00 territories like Baker Island that technically see it last.
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