New Year 2024 celebrations: Which countries will welcome New Year first and last

As the clock inches closer to midnight on December 31, the whole world starts counting backwards to welcome the New Year. While it is already 2024 in New Zealand and Kiribati, other countries also gearing up to ring in the New Year.

But, thanks to the International Date Line, all countries don’t celebrate the new year at the same time. Some countries welcome the new year almost a day after other countries have done so.

Kiribati, an island country situated to the east of the International Date Line, in the central Pacific Ocean in Oceania, was the first to welcome New Year 2024 at 10:00 am GMT (3:30 pm IST).

The islands of Tonga and Samoa will welcome the New Year after Kiribati, following which the party travels westward, with Fiji, Australia, Japan and South Korea welcoming 2024 next.

SEQUENCE OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS:

• New Zealand – December 31, 11:00 am GMT (4.30 pm IST)

• Australia – December 31, 1:00 pm GMT (6.30 pm IST)

• Japan, South and North Korea – December 31, 3:00 pm GMT (8.30 pm IST)

• China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines – December 31, 4:00 pm GMT (9.30 pm IST)

• Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia – December 31, 5:00 pm GMT (10.30 pm IST)

• UAE, Oman, Azerbaijan – December 31, 8:00 pm GMT (January 1, 1.30 am IST)

• Greece, South Africa, Cyprus, Egypt, Namibia – December 31, 10:00 pm GMT (January 1, 3.30 am)

• Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Morocco, Congo, Malta – December 31, 11:00 pm GMT (January 1, 4.30 am IST)

• UK, Ireland, Portugal – January 1, 00:00 GMT (5.30 am IST)

• Brazil, Argentina, Chile – January 1, 3 am GMT (8.30 am IST)

• Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Venezuela, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands – January 1, 4 am GMT (9.30 am IST)

• US East Coast (New York, Washington DC, etc), Peru, Cuba, Bahamas – January 1, 5 am (10.30 am IST)
• Mexico, parts of Canada and the US – January 1, 6 am GMT (11.30 am IST)
• US West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc) – January 1, 8 am GMT (1.30 pm IST)

• Hawaii, French Polynesia – January 1, 10 am GMT (3.30 pm IST)

• Samoa – January 1, 11 am GMT (4.30 pm IST)

• Baker Island, Howland Island – January 1, 12 pm GMT (5.30 pm IST)