The +685 country code is for Samoa, an independent Polynesian nation in the South Pacific. Samoa consists of two main islands — Upolu (where the capital Apia is located) and Savai'i (one of the largest islands in Polynesia) — plus several smaller islands. The population is about 200,000.
Samoa should not be confused with American Samoa (+1684), which is a separate US territory 100 km to the southeast. The two share Samoan language and culture but have different governments, currencies, and phone systems. Samoa was known as "Western Samoa" until 1997. In 2011, the country made headlines by skipping December 30 entirely, jumping across the International Date Line to align its business week with Australia and New Zealand rather than the US.
Quick answer: Samoa's country code is +685. Landline numbers are 5 digits (e.g., 2X-XXX). Mobile numbers are 7 digits starting with 7 (e.g., 7X-XXXXX). There is no trunk prefix. Dial the local number directly after +685.
How to call Samoa: quick reference
Samoa has no area codes and no trunk prefix. Mobile numbers (7 digits) and landline numbers (5 digits) have different lengths, so pay attention to how many digits you are dialing.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +685 XX-XXXXX |
| US/Canada landline | 011-685-XX-XXXXX |
| New Zealand | 00-685-XX-XXXXX |
| Australia | 0011-685-XX-XXXXX |
| American Samoa | 011-685-XX-XXXXX |
| CallSky app | +685 XX-XXXXX |
Understanding Samoa phone numbers
Samoa uses a mixed-length numbering system: 5 digits for landlines and 7 digits for mobiles. There are no area codes.
Mobile numbers (7 digits)
Mobile numbers start with 7 and are 7 digits long: +685 7X-XXXXX. Digicel numbers typically start with 75, 76, or 77. BlueSky numbers often start with 72 or 73. A mobile number looks like +685 75-12345.
Landline numbers (5 digits)
Landline numbers are 5 digits starting with 2 (Apia/Upolu) or 5 (Savai'i). An Apia landline looks like +685 2X-XXX. A Savai'i landline looks like +685 5X-XXX.
Special numbers
Toll-free numbers start with 800 and are 7 digits. VoIP numbers start with 8 (non-800). Government and emergency numbers use shorter formats not accessible from overseas.
Mobile carriers in Samoa
Digicel Samoa
Digicel is the largest mobile carrier in Samoa, part of the Caribbean-headquartered Digicel Group that operates across the Pacific and Caribbean. They offer 4G LTE on both Upolu and Savai'i and hold the majority of mobile subscribers. Digicel entered Samoa in 2006 and quickly became the dominant player through aggressive pricing and coverage expansion.
BlueSky Samoa
BlueSky (formerly SamoaTel, the government-owned monopoly) is the second carrier. They provide mobile, landline, and internet services. BlueSky operates the Tui-Samoa submarine cable, which connects Samoa to Fiji and onward to the global internet backbone. They also offer 4G LTE, though Digicel generally has broader rural coverage.
Don't confuse +685 with nearby codes
The biggest point of confusion is between Samoa and American Samoa, but other Pacific codes are nearby too.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +685 | Samoa | Independent nation, 5-digit landlines, 7-digit mobiles |
| +1 684 | American Samoa | US territory, NANP format (684-XXX-XXXX), uses USD |
| +676 | Tonga | Separate Polynesian kingdom, 5-7 digit numbers |
| +679 | Fiji | 7-digit numbers, Melanesian/Polynesian mix |
The Samoa vs. American Samoa confusion is the most common. If someone gives you a 10-digit number with area code 684, that is American Samoa (a US territory). If the number is 5 or 7 digits with no area code, it is Samoa (+685).
Time zone considerations
Samoa uses WST (West Samoa Time), UTC+13 year-round. During daylight saving (late September to early April), clocks move to UTC+14, making Samoa one of the first places in the world to see each new day.
| Your location | When it is 10:00 AM in Samoa |
|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | 4:00 PM previous day |
| US West Coast (PST) | 1:00 PM previous day |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 10:00 AM (same time during NZ summer) |
| Australia East (AEDT) | 7:00 AM (3 hours behind) |
| American Samoa (SST) | 6:00 AM previous day (24 hours behind!) |
The strangest part: Samoa and American Samoa are only 100 km apart but 24 hours different. When it is Monday in Samoa, it is still Sunday in American Samoa. Before the 2011 date line switch, they were on the same day.
Communication in Samoa
Business hours
Government offices run 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Banks typically close by 3:00 PM. Saturday mornings are busy for markets and shops, but most things shut down Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday — Samoa takes its Sundays seriously, with church attendance and family time expected. Do not schedule business calls on Sundays.
Network quality
Apia and central Upolu have 4G LTE from both Digicel and BlueSky. Savai'i has decent coverage in the main towns (Salelologa, Tuasivi) but rural and coastal villages may drop to 3G or lose signal entirely. The Tui-Samoa submarine cable provides the international link, and call quality to New Zealand and Australia is generally good.
Language
Samoan and English are both official languages. Most business communication happens in English, but everyday phone conversations are in Samoan. If you are calling a government office or hotel, English will work fine. For personal calls to villages, Samoan is the default.
The Samoa diaspora
Where they went
The Samoan diaspora is huge relative to the home population. More Samoans live abroad than in Samoa itself. New Zealand has the largest overseas Samoan community (around 180,000, compared to 200,000 in Samoa), concentrated in Auckland — which is sometimes called the "Polynesian capital of the world." Australia (especially Sydney and Brisbane), American Samoa, and the US mainland (California, Hawaii, Utah, Washington) also have large Samoan populations.
Why they call
Family obligations (fa'alavelave) drive a lot of phone traffic. Funerals, weddings, title bestowals, and church fundraisers all require coordination and financial contributions from family members abroad. It is normal for overseas Samoans to send money home for these events, and the phone calls to arrange it happen constantly. Sunday church calls are common too — checking in with family after the service is a weekly routine.
Dialing examples
Calling an Apia hotel from the US
The hotel's landline is 22-123. From a US mobile, dial +685-22-123. From a US landline, dial 011-685-22-123. Note this is only 5 digits — landlines are shorter than mobiles.
Calling a Samoan mobile from New Zealand
The mobile number is 75-12345. From New Zealand, dial 00-685-75-12345. Since Samoa and New Zealand share the same time zone (during NZ summer), scheduling is easy.
Calling Samoa from American Samoa
From American Samoa (+1684), which uses NANP, dial 011-685-75-12345. Despite the islands being neighbors, this is an international call with international rates. Remember the 24-hour date difference too.
Calling a Savai'i landline from Australia
The number is 51-234. From Australia, dial 0011-685-51-234. Savai'i landlines start with 5, Upolu landlines start with 2.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing Samoa with American Samoa
This is by far the most common error. Samoa (+685) is an independent country with its own phone system. American Samoa (+1684) is a US territory using the NANP. Dialing +685 when you mean American Samoa (or vice versa) will connect you to the wrong place — or not connect at all.
Dialing the wrong number of digits
Landlines are 5 digits, mobiles are 7 digits. If you dial 7 digits for a landline, the call will fail. If you only dial 5 digits for a mobile, same thing. Check whether the number starts with 2 or 5 (landline, 5 digits) or 7 (mobile, 7 digits).
Forgetting the date line
Samoa is UTC+13 (or UTC+14 during daylight saving). It is one of the first countries to start each new day. When it is Monday 10 AM in Samoa, it is Sunday 1 PM in Los Angeles. If you call "the same time" without checking, you may be a full day off.
Calling on Sunday
Samoa observes Sundays strictly. Most businesses close, and many families are in church or having to'ona'i (Sunday lunch). Calling a business on Sunday will get no answer. Even personal calls during church hours (roughly 9 AM to 1 PM) may go unanswered.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +685 code?
Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), an independent Polynesian nation in the South Pacific with about 200,000 people. The capital is Apia on Upolu island. Not to be confused with American Samoa (+1684).
How do I call Samoa from the US?
From a US mobile, dial +685 then the local number. Landlines are 5 digits (starting with 2 or 5), mobiles are 7 digits (starting with 7). From a US landline, use 011-685 instead.
What is the difference between Samoa (+685) and American Samoa (+1684)?
Samoa is an independent country with its own currency (tala) and phone code (+685). American Samoa is a US territory using NANP area code 684 and the US dollar. They are neighboring islands with shared Samoan culture but separate governments and phone systems.
What time zone is Samoa in?
WST (West Samoa Time), UTC+13. During daylight saving (late September to early April), it shifts to UTC+14. Samoa switched sides of the International Date Line in December 2011.
What carriers operate in Samoa?
Digicel Samoa is the largest mobile carrier. BlueSky Samoa (formerly SamoaTel) is the second carrier and also provides landline and internet services. Both offer 4G LTE on Upolu and Savai'i.
Read more about calling other Pacific island nations: Tonga (+676), Fiji (+679), and New Zealand (+64).