Which Country Celebrates New Year First, and Who Rings in Last Compared to India? Find Out Here!
Kiritimati Island in Kiribati is the first place to celebrate the New Year, welcoming 2025 at 5:00 AM UTC (3:30 PM IST) on January 1. In contrast, Baker Island and Howland Island, uninhabited territories of the U.S., are the last, ringing in the New Year at 5:30 PM IST on January 1.
Did you know that while India is getting ready to welcome the New Year, some countries have already celebrated it?
As the clock strikes midnight in one part of the world, another is just starting its countdown. The New Year is more than just turning a calendar page. It’s a moment of hope, fresh beginnings, and global celebrations.
So, who gets to ring in the New Year first compared to India? That honour belongs to Kiribati, a tiny island nation in the Pacific Ocean, celebrating the New Year 7.5 hours before India.
And who has to wait the longest? It’s American Samoa, where the New Year arrives nearly a full day after Kiribati!
In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating time zones and uncover which countries celebrate the New Year first and last compared to India. Let’s get started!
Why is New Year Celebrated at Different Times Across the Globe?
The New Year is celebrated at different times across the globe due to the Earth’s time zones.
As the Earth rotates, different parts of the world experience midnight at different moments, meaning each region celebrates the arrival of the new year at a unique time.
The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, and as one zone reaches midnight, it signals the start of the New Year for that area.
Because the world is divided along longitudinal lines, regions to the east of the Prime Meridian (Greenwich Mean Time) experience the New Year earlier than those to the west.
In comparison to India, the time difference between Kiritimati Island and India is 8 hours and 30 minutes ahead, meaning when it is 3:30 PM IST on December 31, 2024, it is already midnight in Kiritimati, welcoming the New Year.
In contrast, Baker Island operates on UTC -12, making it 6 hours and 30 minutes behind India. Therefore, when it is 12 AM IST on January 1, 2025, it is still 5:30 PM on December 31, 2024, in Baker Island.
Which Country Celebrates New Year First Compared to India?
Here’s a detailed list of the top 20 countries that celebrate New Year 2025 before India:
Countries Celebrating New Year Before India
India celebrates the New Year at midnight on December 31, which corresponds to midnight IST on January 1.
Who Waits the Longest to Ring in the New Year Compared to India?
The last places on Earth to celebrate the New Year are Baker Island and Howland Island, both uninhabited territories of the United States located in the Pacific Ocean. They ring in the New Year 2025 at 5:30 PM IST on January 1, 2025.
Countries Celebrating New Year After India
Here's a detailed list of countries that celebrate New Year after India:
Source: https://www.jagranjosh.com/