Samoa
Oceania · 17 specs
Direct Answer
Samoa (WS / WSM / 882) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using Type I sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT, famously switched from right to left in 2009). The official currency is the Samoan Tālā (WST, WS$), calling code is +685 (exit code 00), emergency dispatch is 995 (Police) / 996 (Ambulance), and paper standard is ISO 216 A4.
Source: Electric Power Corporation (EPC) / Ministry of Works, Transport & Infrastructure / ISO 3166-1 · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Independent State of Samoa ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | WS Western Samoa code |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | WSM |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 882 UN M49 (Code 009) |
| Country Calling Code | +685 ITU-T E.164 |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 dial prefix for international calls |
| Internet ccTLD | .ws SamoaNIC Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | WS UNECE Standard |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Samoan Tālā (WST, WS$) 100 Sene |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V, 50 Hz Electric Power Corporation (EPC) |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type I (AS/NZS 3112 standard) 10 A / 230 V |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) Switched from RHT in Sept 2009 |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) National standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 995 (Police) / 996 (Health) / 994 (Fire) Direct Service Dispatch |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+13 (WST) Crossed Date Line in 2011 |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V, 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type I (AS/NZS 3112 standard). Uses Type I inverted V-prong sockets (compatible with Australian/New Zealand or Chinese/Argentine configurations).
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +685. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 995 (Police) / 996 (Health) / 994 (Fire). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Samoan Tālā (WST, WS$).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+13 (WST).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes Standard postal system.
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Independent State of Samoa.