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Which country will be the first and last to welcome the New Year?
Every December 31, millions of people around the world celebrate the arrival of the New Year 2025 , however, not everyone does it at the same time.
There is a place on the planet that has the privilege of being the first to welcome the new year.
This time, Kiribati, a country in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, will be the first to celebrate the beginning of 2025 , thanks to its peculiar geographical position and unique history.
Why is Kiribati the first to welcome the New Year 2025?
Kiribati’s strategic location puts it at the forefront of the world’s calendar. This island country is made up of 33 atolls and one volcanic island, spread across a vast area of the Pacific Ocean.
Its proximity to the International Date Line, an imaginary line that separates one day from the next, is the main reason it welcomes the New Year earlier than any other place.
The Millennium Islands and Kiritimati, within the territory of Kiribati, are specifically located in the easternmost region of this line.
For this reason, the country operates under the UTC+14 time zone , the most advanced in the world. While most of the planet celebrates the last hours of 2024, Kiribati will already be enjoying the first hours of 2025.
Who will be the last to say goodbye to 2024?
While Kiribati celebrates the arrival of the New Year , on the other side of the planet, the United States’ Howland Island will be the last territory to say goodbye to 2024 .
Also located in the Pacific Ocean, Howland operates under the UTC-12 time zone, meaning it is more than a day behind Kiribati.
Despite this peculiarity, Howland has no permanent population, so the change of year occurs without human celebrations. This contrasts with the joy and festivities that mark the arrival of the New Year in Kiribati.
