If you can’t wait to see the back of 2023, thankfully the New Year is just around the corner.
Whether you’re going out to see the fireworks, having a quiet one with your family, or spending the countdown on a club dancefloor with your friends, there’s nothing quite like New Year’s Eve celebrations.
As we all prepare to welcome in the New Year around the world today, it’s got us thinking… which country gets to ring in 2024 first?
Read on to see a full list of times for different destinations…
What is the first country in the world to celebrate New Year?
While the UK is one of the last countries to welcome in the New Year, those living on Kiritimati Island – also known as Christmas Island – and a string of 10 other mostly uninhabited islands in the central Pacific Ocean will be the first to ring in 2023 (around 10am UK time).
That’s because these countries will be celebrating the New Year a full 13 hours ahead of the UK.
Then, while we’re all enjoying a mid-morning brunch on New Year’s Eve, people living in Samoa and New Zealand will be enjoying firework displays and feasting with their families, as they welcome 2024 around 11am GMT.
Neighbouring Australia will see in 2024 around two hours later.
Japan, South and North Korea are next on the list, welcoming it in around 3pm GMT, followed by China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines at 4pm UK time.
Before the UK strikes midnight, countries in Asia, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa will all have marked the special occasion.
The UK will celebrate the New Year at the same time as Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, Ghana, and an hour later than the majority of Europe, including France, Spain and Greece.
The last countries to see 2024 will be North and South America, with two unoccupied US territories — Baker Island and Howland Island – among the final countries to welcome the New Year, along with American Samoa – which will celebrate 11am GMT on Monday.
What time will countries celebrate New Year (GMT)?
- 10am – Samoa and Christmas Island/Kiribati
- 10.15am – New Zealand
- 12pm – Fiji and Eastern Russia
- 1pm – Eastern Australia (Melbourne and Sydney)
- 2pm – Central Australia (Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide)
- 3pm – Japan, South Korea and North Korea
- 3.15pm – Western Australia (Perth and Eucla)
- 4pm – China, Philippines, Singapore
- 5pm – Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia
- 5.30pm – Myanmar and Cocos Islands
- 6pm – Bangladesh
- 6.15pm – Nepal
- 6.30pm – India and Sri Lanka
- 7pm – Pakistan
- 8pm – Azerbaijan
- 8.30pm – Iran
- 9pm – Turkey, Iraq, Kenya and Western Russia
- 10pm – Greece, Romania, South Africa, Hungary, and eastern European cities
- 11pm – Germany, France, Italy, Algeria, Belgium, Spain
- Midnight – UK, Ireland, Ghana, Iceland, Portugal
January 1
- 1am – Cape Verde and the Spanish Isles
- 2am – Eastern Brazil, South Georgia and Sandwich Islands
- 3am – Argentina, remaining regions in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay
- 3.30am – Newfoundland and Labrador/Canada
- 4am – Eastern Canada, Bolivia, Puerto Rico
- 5am – Eastern Standard Time in the US – New York, Washington, Detroit and Cuba
- 6am – Central Standard Time in the US – Chicago
- 7am – Mountain Standard Time in the US – Colorado, Arizona
- 8am – Pacific Standard Time in the US – LA, Nevada
- 9am – Alaska and French Polynesia
- 10am – Hawaii, Tahiti and Cook Island
- 11am – American Samoa
- 12pm – Baker Island, Howland Island
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