Time in Kiribati

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Time in Kiribati
Time zone Gilbert Island Time, Phoenix Island Time, Line Islands Time
InitialsGILT, PHOT, LINT
UTC offset UTC+12:00, +13 and +14
Standard meridian None, passes through the equator, 180th meridian and 150°W meridian
Adopted1979 (+12)
31 December 1994 (+13 and +14)
Daylight saving time
DST not observed
tz database
Pacific/Kanton, Pacific/Kiritimati, Pacific/Tarawa

Kiribati, a country in Oceania comprising 32 atolls and reef islands and one raised coral island, observes three time zones, ranging from UTC+12:00 to +14. [1] Kiribati does not observe daylight saving time. [2]

Contents

The three given time zones are for the three primary island groups that form Kiribati, and their associated atolls: Gilbert Island Time (GILT; UTC+12:00), Phoenix Island Time (PHOT; UTC+13:00) and Line Islands Time (LINT; UTC+14:00). [3] UTC+14:00 is the most advanced time zone in the world, making Kiribati one of the first countries to celebrate a New Year, [4] although Samoa also used to observe UTC+14:00 during their daylight saving time, [5] [6] but not since 2021. [7]

Although Kiribati spans both the equator and the 180th meridian, the International Date Line goes around Kiribati and swings far to the east, almost reaching the 150°W meridian. [8] [9] This was the result of the Phoenix and Line Islands switching in 1994 from UTC−11:00 and −10 to UTC+13:00 and +14 respectively.

History

Following a 1995 time zone realignment, Millennium Island (then Caroline Island) (red dot at far east of map) became the easternmost land west of the International Date Line. DateLine-with-Caroline-Island.PNG
Following a 1995 time zone realignment, Millennium Island (then Caroline Island) (red dot at far east of map) became the easternmost land west of the International Date Line.

When the Republic of Kiribati was founded in 1979, it had three time zones: UTC+12:00 in the Gilbert Islands, UTC−11:00 in the Phoenix Islands and UTC−10:00 in the Line Islands. Gilbert was west of the international dateline and the Phoenix and Line Islands were east of it. This meant that the Gilbert Islands were nearly a full day ahead of the eastern islands. [10]

For administrative purposes, the time zones had to be adjusted. [11] To solve it, the government of Kiribati introduced a change of date for its eastern half on 31 December 1994, [12] from time zones UTC−11:00 and UTC−10:00 to UTC+13:00 and UTC+14:00. Before this, UTC+13:00 and UTC+14:00 did not exist. [13]

The revision of Kiribati's time zone meant that the international date line in effect moved 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) eastwards to go around this country, so that the Line Islands, including the inhabited Kiritimati island, started the year 2000 on its territory before any other country on Earth, a feature the Kiribati government capitalised on as a potential tourist draw. [14] [15]

IANA time zone database

The IANA time zone database in the file zone.tab contains three time zones for Kiribati. Data below is for Kiribati directly from zone.tab of the IANA time zone database. Columns marked with * are the columns from zone.tab itself: [16]

c.c.*coordinates*TZ*CommentsUTC offsetDST
KI −0247−17143 Pacific/Kanton Phoenix Islands +13:00 +13:00
KI +0152−15720 Pacific/Kiritimati Line Islands +14:00 +14:00
KI +0125+17300 Pacific/Tarawa Gilberts, Marshalls, Wake +12:00 +12:00

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Date Line</span> Imaginary line that demarcates the change of one calendar day to the next

The International Date Line (IDL) is the line between the South and North Poles that is the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific Ocean, roughly following the 180.0° line of longitude and deviating to pass around some territories and island groups. Crossing the date line eastbound decreases the date by one day, while crossing the date line westbound increases the date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in the United States</span> Time zones in the U.S.

In the United States, time is divided into nine standard time zones covering the states, territories and other US possessions, with most of the country observing daylight saving time (DST) for approximately the spring, summer, and fall months. The time zone boundaries and DST observance are regulated by the Department of Transportation, but no single map of those existed until the agency announced intentions to make one in September 2022. Official and highly precise timekeeping services (clocks) are provided by two federal agencies: the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ; and the United States Naval Observatory (USNO). The clocks run by these services are kept synchronized with each other as well as with those of other international timekeeping organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC−11:00</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of −11

UTC−11:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −11:00. This time is used in Niue, American Samoa, Swains Island, and parts of the United States Minor Outlying Islands. This is the latest inhabited time zone, meaning this is the last inhabited time zone to celebrate the New Year, as the world's latest time zone (UTC-12:00) occurs only in strict nature reserves, such as Howland and Baker Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+13:00</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +13

UTC+13:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +13:00. Because it does not contain any land in the Northern Hemisphere, this time zone is exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+14:00</span> Time offset from UTC of +14

UTC+14:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +14:00. This is the earliest time zone on Earth, meaning that areas in this zone are the first to see a new day, and therefore the first to celebrate a New Year. It is also referred to as the "latest time zone" on Earth, as clocks in it always show the 'latest' time of all time zones.

Samoa uses UTC+13:00 as standard time. Until the end of 2011, it used UTC−11:00 as standard time. Samoa observed daylight saving time from 2010 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in the Danish Realm</span>

Denmark, including its dependencies of Faroe Islands and Greenland, uses six time zones.

Tonga is a sovereign state in Polynesia that wholly utilises UTC+13:00 year round. Tonga does not currently observe daylight saving time, though they did in the Southern Hemisphere summers between 1992 and 2002 as well as the 2016—2017 summer, utilising UTC+14:00. UTC+14:00 is the earliest time zone on Earth and so, when using daylight saving time, Tonga was one of the first regions of Earth to bring in a new year. UTC+14:00 is also used by Samoa and Kiribati's Line Islands. Tonga currently shares a year-round time zone with Tokelau and the Phoenix Islands whilst Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa share Tonga's time seasonally. Tonga is west of the International Date Line (IDL) which deviates east from its standard course following the 180th meridian to roughly the 165th meridian west to traverse east of Tonga and other surrounding land.

Time in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is denoted by Central European Time during the winter as standard time in the Netherlands, which is one hour ahead of coordinated universal time (UTC+01:00), and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer as daylight saving time, which is two hours ahead of coordinated universal time (UTC+02:00). The Caribbean Netherlands – which consist of the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba – all observe Atlantic Standard Time (AST) year-round, which is four hours behind coordinated universal time (UTC−04:00).

Time in the Marshall Islands, an island country consisting of over 29 coral atolls, is given by Marshall Islands Time. The Marshall Islands does not have an associated daylight saving time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Poland</span>

Time in Poland is given by Central European Time. Daylight saving time, which moves an hour ahead, is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. This is shared with several other EU member states.

In Slovenia, the standard time is Central European Time. Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. This is shared with several other EU member states.

In San Marino, the standard time is Central European Time. Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. This is shared with several other EU member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Svalbard</span>

Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean belonging to the Kingdom of Norway, uses Central European Time (CET) during the winter as standard time, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+01:00), and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer as daylight saving time, which is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+02:00). This is shared with the rest of Norway, as is Svalbard's use of daylight saving time, which the territory observes annually by advancing the clock forward on the last Sunday in March and back again on the last Sunday in October. However, as Svalbard experiences midnight sun during the summer due to being located north of the Arctic Circle, it gives daylight saving time no utility, and is only observed in order to make communicating with Norway Proper more convenient. At the 74th parallel north, the midnight sun lasts 99 days and polar night 84 days, while the respective figures at the 81st parallel north are 141 and 128 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Lithuania</span>

Time in Lithuania is given by Eastern European Time. Daylight saving time, which moves one hour ahead to UTC+03:00 is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Latvia adopted EET in 1920.

In Liechtenstein, the standard time is Central European Time. Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Liechtenstein adopted CET in 1894.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Liberia</span>

Time in Liberia is given by a single time zone, denoted as Greenwich Mean Time. Liberia shares this time zone with several other countries, including fourteen in western Africa where it was formerly known as Western Sahara Standard Time (WSST). Liberia has never observed daylight saving time (DST).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Libya</span>

Time in Libya is given by a single time zone, officially denoted as Eastern European Time. The zone is also known as Central Africa Time (CAT). Libya has observed EET since 5 November 2012, after it was announced in 2013 that Libya would be on permanent daylight saving time. Libya previously observed several different time zones as standard time and daylight saving time. For residents of western Libya, including Tripoli, solar time is usually one hour behind standard time.

Time in Sudan is given by a single time zone, officially denoted as Central Africa Time. Sudan has observed CAT since 1 November 2017. Sudan has not observed daylight saving time since 14 October 1985.

Time in the island country of São Tomé and Príncipe is given by Greenwich Mean Time. São Tomé and Príncipe has never observed daylight saving time.

References

  1. ↑ Kiribati at The World Factbook . Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Timezones in Kiribati. WorldData.Info. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Time Zones in Kiribati. TimeAndDate.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Why do countries celebrate New Year's Eve at different times?". RTE. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Samoa opts for daylight saving, 28 November 2008. Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Time Zones in Samoa. TimeAndDate.com. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Daylight Saving Time 2023 in Samoa". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  8. ↑ Maps of Kiribati. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Kiribati Islands. Pacific Islands Medical Aid, Inc. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Pearlman, Jonathan (29 December 2011) Samoa prepares to skip Dec 30. The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 26 April 2021. (Subscription required)
  11. ↑ "Answers to all your questions about The Start of The New Millennium". Royal Greenwich Observatory. 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Lane, Megan (10 May 2011) How does a country change its time zone?. BBC News . Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. ↑ Vermeulen, Andreas François (2018). Practical Data Science: A Guide to Building the Technology Stack for Turning Data Lakes into Business Assets. West Kilbride, North Ayrshire: Apress. p. 454. ISBN   978-1-4842-3053-4.
  14. ↑ Ariel, Avraham; Berger, Nora Ariel (2005). Plotting the Globe: Stories of Meridians, Parallels, and the International Date Line. Greenwood Press. p. 149. ISBN   0-275-98895-3.
  15. ↑ Letts, Quentin (25 January 1996) Pacific braces for millennium storm over matter of degrees. The Times. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  16. ↑ Australasia at the tz database. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). Retrieved 9 May 2021.
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