World Time Zone Map
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Time Zones Explained
We have 24 different time zones in the world. Because the Earth rotates 360° every 24 hours, each time zone is 15° longitude apart from the other. (360÷24=15)
The Prime Meridian (Greenwich Meridian) defines the center of the first time zone in the world. This means the Prime Meridian time zone spans from 7.5°W to 7.5°E. Then, the next time to the east spans 7.5°E to 22.5°E.
Gaining and losing time
When you move to the right, you gain time (fast time). In other words, for every time zone that you move toward the right, you add one hour. But when you head toward the left, you lose an hour (slow time).
You can find any time by counting how many degrees of longitude it is away from Greenwich. For example, it would be 4 pm at 60°E longitude when it’s noon at the Prime Meridian. Whereas it would be 8 am at 60°W longitude.
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a north-south line in the Pacific Ocean where you turn your calendar back or ahead one day. The center of the time zone roughly follows 180° longitude without crossing any landmass.
When you cross the International Date Line moving toward the east, you turn your calendar back one day. Whereas when you go from the west across the International Date Line, you turn your calendar ahead one day.
Irregular Time Zone Boundaries
No time zone in the world runs a perfect north-south line. Instead, they are jagged and adapt to the political boundaries of countries. Also, there can be “irregular square” time zones similar to islands.
For example, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador contains its own time zone with the same name which is UTC -3:30. But the province mostly observes Atlantic Standard Time (AST). Other examples include Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Australia with unusual time zones.
List of Time Zones and Abbreviations
Time zones can have names to help easily identify them. For example, this United States time zone map shows the six designated time zones including Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii-Aleutian time zones.
Here is a list of time zones and abbreviations that are in use today:
| Name | Description | Relative to GMT |
|---|---|---|
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time | GMT |
| UTC | Universal Coordinated Time | GMT |
| ECT | European Central Time | GMT+1:00 |
| EET | Eastern European Time | GMT+2:00 |
| ART | (Arabic) Egypt Standard Time | GMT+2:00 |
| EAT | Eastern African Time | GMT+3:00 |
| MET | Middle East Time | GMT+3:30 |
| NET | Near East Time | GMT+4:00 |
| PLT | Pakistan Lahore Time | GMT+5:00 |
| IST | India Standard Time | GMT+5:30 |
| BST | Bangladesh Standard Time | GMT+6:00 |
| VST | Vietnam Standard Time | GMT+7:00 |
| CTT | China Taiwan Time | GMT+8:00 |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | GMT+9:00 |
| ACT | Australia Central Time | GMT+9:30 |
| AET | Australia Eastern Time | GMT+10:00 |
| SST | Solomon Standard Time | GMT+11:00 |
| NST | New Zealand Standard Time | GMT+12:00 |
| MIT | Midway Islands Time | GMT-11:00 |
| HST | Hawaii Standard Time | GMT-10:00 |
| AST | Alaska Standard Time | GMT-9:00 |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time | GMT-8:00 |
| PNT | Phoenix Standard Time | GMT-7:00 |
| MST | Mountain Standard Time | GMT-7:00 |
| CST | Central Standard Time | GMT-6:00 |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time | GMT-5:00 |
| IET | Indiana Eastern Standard Time | GMT-5:00 |
| PRT | Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Time | GMT-4:00 |
| CNT | Canada Newfoundland Time | GMT-3:30 |
| AGT | Argentina Standard Time | GMT-3:00 |
| BET | Brazil Eastern Time | GMT-3:00 |
| CAT | Central African Time | GMT-1:00 |
Our geography teacher told me that there are only twenty four world time zones but I am seen more than twenty four. Why?
I think that you’re teacher might be simplifying things (and that’s OK). But the main reason there are more than 24 time zones is because there can be local regions that choose to offset their time zone based on their specific needs. One example is the Newfoundland Time Zone. If you check on the east coast of Canada, you’ll see UTC−03:30. A lot of these islands used to be governed differently… and that’s why these time zones exist.
WTA is GMT+1.00 because West Africa Time is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
This thing was amazing. It helped me and my child win.
Thank you. Was looking for this.
@Kimuli As the article states, we have six of the timezones on this list. It’s a huge country.
Where does United States 🇺🇸 belong?
Thank you. You’re very kind to make this map as we’re having daylight savings time every day during summer. Kind regards, HBE2
You forgot AST which is Atlantic Standard Time where 12:00pm AST is 4:00pm Greenwich Mountain Time.
The International Date Line is absolutely NOT a vertical north-south line. Look at it on any map that is up to date. There are portions of the International Date Line that run due east-west, and you change your calendar by moving either north or south there. This page’s content is very idealized. Remember, time-zones are NOT physical features of the Earth’s geography. They are made by laws and laws only. There were no time-zones before humans evolved.
What about KST? Korean Standard Time? Did you forget that?
Please tell us about “EAT” Eastern Africa Time why its GMT is +3:00
Is AEDT a time? Can someone please let me know..
Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time
Thanks
This doesn’t really help with my middle school assignment, I want to know actually how to convert coordinates, not locations into the time zones.
Thanks, this helped me with my MIDDLE SCHOOL assignment
I didn’t find WAT among the list. I believe WAT is GMT+1.00
I really appreciate and enjoy every bit of these features. Please may I know the country where the geographical south pole zone is located?
Central African Time (CAT) is GMT+2
Most of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador-the island portion in on NST we are 1/2 an hour ahead of AST
Thanks very much, it will really help me as I teach my junior high school students. Hope to visit here for more insight