It’s New Year’s Eve and the countdown for 2020 has already begun! Plans have been made, outfits have been chosen, and party-playlists have been upgraded to welcome 2020 with style. However, the entire world will not be entering 2020 at the same time. The world has 24 time zones, some even 30-45 minutes apart. Hence, different places in the world will be welcoming 2020 at different times, reports The Sun.
If you think Australia will be entering 2020 first, you’re mistaken. According to a report by Times Now, there are three tiny island nations in the Pacific Ocean namely Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati that will enter 2020 at 3.30 PM IST. They are the first nations to welcome a new year. Then comes New Zealand and then Australia, well most of it.
The last country to ring in the new year will be Baker Island and Howland Island, which are two little outlying Islands of the United States. They will welcome 2020 on January 1, 5.30 PM IST.
Here’s a list of 38 places around the world which will be entering 2020, from first to last, as per Indian Standard Time. Have a look:
- 3.30 PM – Samoa and Kiribati Island
- 4.30 PM – New Zealand
- 6.30 PM – Australia
- 8.30 PM – Japan, South Korea
- 9.30 PM – China, Philippines, Malaysia
- 10.30 PM – Indonesia, Thailand
- 11 PM – Myanmar
- 11.30 PM – Bangladesh
- 11.45 PM – Nepal
- 12 AM – India, Sri Lanka
- 12.30 AM – Pakistan
- 1 AM – Afghanistan
- 1.30 AM – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat
- 2 AM – Iran
- 2.30 AM – Russia
- 3.30 AM – Greece, South Africa, Romania, Hungary
- 4.30 AM – Germany, France, Italy, Spain
- 5.30 AM – The United Kingdom
- 8.30 AM – Brazil, Argentina
- 9 AM – Canada
- 10.30 AM – New York, Washington DC
- 11.30 AM – Mexico, Chicago
- 1.30 PM – Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas
- 3.30 PM – Honolulu
- 4.30 PM – American Samoa
- 5.30 PM – Baker and Howland Islands
Here’s a little trivia – if anyone wishes to have a double celebration, they can take a quick flight from Tonga to American Samoa and be able to ring in 2020 twice!
Have a great New Year everyone!