New Year: Which country welcomes 2023 first & last?
While January 1 comes at the same time for people in the same country, different countries welcome the New Year at different times due to different time zones.
New Delhi: We are standing on the edge of 2022 and it is time to welcome 2023, the New Year. While January 1 comes at the same time for people in the same country, different countries welcome the New Year at different times due to different time zones. Interestingly, New Year is welcomed throughout the day in different parts of Earth.
Different countries welcome New Year at different moments just due to the fact that the Sun rises in the east and the day comes late to the west due to Earth’s rotation.
Which country welcomes 2023 first?
The continent of Oceania, having countries Australia, and New Zealand and island nations like Fiji and Papua New Guinea, is the place in the world to welcome New Year first. The Kiritimati Island in Kiribati is the first inhabited place to celebrate the New Year. Here January 1 begins at 10 am GMT (3:30 pm IST on December 31).
Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati welcome the New Year first, followed by New Zealand at 10:15 am GMT (3:45 pm IST on December 31).
Which country welcomes 2023 last?
The uninhabited islands of Howland and Baker Islands will be the last places to welcome 2023. The island, near the United States, welcomes the New Year at 12 pm GMT (5:30 pm IST on January 1). So, the West still celebrates New Year while it is already evening in India.
When does India welcome New Year?
India will welcome 2023 with Sri Lanka at 6:30 pm GMT. Both countries welcome the New Year together as Sri Lanka reverted SLT to IST on 15 April 2006.