Who Celebrates New Year First and Who Rings It in the Last? Check the Country-Wise List

New Year 2025 will be celebrated at different times around the world because of time zones. As midnight arrives in each region, the celebrations begin with fireworks, parties and joy. The first places to welcome the New Year are near the International Date Line, while the last ones are on the opposite side of the line. Let’s learn more about this global celebration!

Why is New Year Celebrated at Different Times?

The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, based on longitudes. Each time zone has its own standard time, so countries celebrate New Year at different times. India uses Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Universal Time (UTC + 5:30). Many countries are east of India, so they celebrate the New Year before India does.

New Year Celebrations: First and Last Country-Wise Timeline

The New Year is celebrated worldwide at different times due to time zones. From Christmas Island to Baker Island, here is a complete timeline of who welcomes 2025 first and last.

First Place to Welcome the New Year

The very first place to enter 2025 is Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in the Republic of Kiribati. This small island in the Pacific Ocean celebrates at 5 AM EST (3:30 PM IST). Shortly after, the Chatham Islands in New Zealand follow at 5:15 AM EST (3:45 PM IST)

Major New Zealand cities like Auckland and Wellington mark the occasion at 6 AM EST (4:30 PM IST).

Celebrations Across the Pacific

Countries like Tonga, Samoa and Fiji celebrates the New Year just after New Zealand. These nations are known for vibrant festivities and colorful fireworks.

Australia joins in with cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, celebrating next at 7:30 PM IST. Smaller cities such as Adelaide, Broken Hill and Ceduna follow, with Queensland and Northern Australia welcoming 2025 slightly later at 8 PM IST.

Japan, Korea and China

The new year reaches Japan, South Korea and North Korea at 10 AM EST (8:30 PM IST). Around the same time, Western Australia, including Perth, celebrates at 8:45 PM IST.

Next in line are China, the Philippines and Singapore, which experience the turn of the year with grand displays of fireworks and lively festivities.

South Asia and Southeast Asia’s Celebrations

Countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar join the New Year revelry after East Asia. In South Asia, India and Sri Lanka celebrate at 1:30 PM EST (11 PM IST). Afterward, Pakistan and Afghanistan prepare to welcome 2025.

Final Celebrations

The last places on Earth to celebrate the new year are the uninhabited Baker and Howland Islands, located near Hawaii. These islands mark the end of the global New Year celebrations at 5:30 PM IST on January 01.