New Year 2025: A Journey Through the First and Last Celebrations
As the world gears up to welcome 2025, time zone differences mean not every country marks the New Year at the same moment.
Which country will celebrate the New Year first?
Kiritimati Island, also known as Christmas Island, along with 10 other uninhabited islands in the central Pacific, will be the first to ring in 2025. These islands adhere to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), making them the first locations to celebrate ahead of other countries.
Tonga, New Zealand, and Samoa will also be among the earliest to welcome the New Year, followed by Eastern Australia.
Which country will celebrate the New Year last?
At the opposite end of the time zone spectrum, Baker Island and Howland Island, located southwest of Hawaii, will be the last to celebrate 2025. These remote islands are the furthest west, making them the final locations to welcome the New Year.
The United States, including cities like New York and Washington DC, will also join the last wave of celebrations, welcoming 2025 at 5am GMT.
As for Pakistan, the country will ring in the New Year at 7pm GMT on December 31, marking one of the earliest celebrations. Neighboring India and Bangladesh will celebrate at 6:30pm GMT and 6:00pm GMT, respectively. Other countries in the region, including Afghanistan and Iran, will follow, celebrating 2025 at 7:30pm and 8:30pm GMT, respectively.
Influence of Time Zones
The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each representing a different standard time based on longitude. This division explains why New Year’s celebrations occur at various times across the globe.
A key factor in these time zones is the International Date Line, established in 1884, running roughly along the 180th meridian in the Pacific Ocean. It marks the boundary between two consecutive calendar days.
Countries have the flexibility to decide which side of the International Date Line they follow, allowing them to set their own local times. Currently, there are 38 distinct time zones worldwide, as noted by National Geographic.
Due to these complexities, the exact timing of New Year’s celebrations varies depending on the location.
