Time Zones play a crucial role in maintaining global synchronisation, affecting everything from international trade to travel and communication. While most countries operate within one or two time zones, some nations span vast geographic areas or possess overseas territories, necessitating the management of multiple time zones.
France leads the world with 12 Time Zones, primarily due to its numerous overseas departments and territories. Russia and the United States follow closely, each encompassing 11 Time Zones owing to their expansive mainland regions and distant holdings.
Why Time Zones Matter
A Time Zone is a geographic region that observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. Most time zones are defined by their offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), such as UTC+5:30 for India. The global system of time zones ensures synchronisation across countries and continents, especially in sectors like aviation, international trade, and broadcasting.
Several factors contribute to a country having multiple time zones:
- Large east-west landmass (e.g., Russia, USA)
- Overseas territories scattered across the globe (e.g., France, UK)
- Seasonal changes due to Daylight Saving Time (DST)
- Administrative and political divisions
List of Countries With Most Time Zones 2025
Time Zones are established based on one or more deviations from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). In certain regions, these deviations vary according to specific dates due to the implementation of daylight saving time (DST). As a result, such regions may alternate between time offsets throughout the year. The range of UTC offsets extends from UTC−12:00 to UTC+14:00, commonly measured in full-hour increments. However, a few regions, such as India (UTC+5:30), South Australia (UTC+9:30), and Nepal (UTC+5:45), follow non-standard offsets of 30 or 45 minutes.
The table below includes the List of Countries With Most Time Zones 2025:
| List of Countries With Most Time Zones 2025 | |||
| S. No. | Countries | No. of time zones | Time zone |
|
1 |
France |
12 |
UTC−10:00 — Society Islands, Tuamotus, Austral Islands UTC−09:30 — Marquesas Islands UTC−09:00 — Gambier Islands UTC−08:00 — Clipperton Island UTC−04:00 (AST) — Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin UTC−03:00 (PMST)— French Guiana, Saint Pierre and Miquelon UTC+01:00 (CET) — metropolitan France UTC+03:00 — Mayotte, Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean UTC+04:00 — Réunion, Crozet Islands UTC+05:00 — Kerguelen Islands, Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands UTC+11:00 — New Caledonia UTC+12:00 — Wallis and Futuna |
|
2 |
Russia |
11 |
UTC+02:00 (Kaliningrad Time) — Kaliningrad Oblast UTC+03:00 (Moscow Time) — Most of European Russia UTC+04:00 (Samara Time) — Astrakhan Oblast, Samara Oblast, Saratov Oblast, Udmurtia, and Ulyanovsk Oblast UTC+05:00 (Yekaterinburg Time) — Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Khanty–Mansia, Kurgan Oblast, Orenburg Oblast, Perm Krai, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Tyumen Oblast, and Yamalia UTC+06:00 (Omsk Time) — Omsk Oblast UTC+07:00 (Krasnoyarsk Time) — Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Kemerovo Oblast, Khakassia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Novosibirsk Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, and Tuva UTC+08:00 (Irkutsk Time) — Buryatia and Irkutsk Oblast UTC+09:00 (Yakutsk Time) — Amur Oblast, western Sakha Republic, and Zabaykalsky Krai UTC+10:00 (Vladivostok Time) — Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, and central Sakha Republic UTC+11:00 (Magadan Time) — Magadan Oblast, eastern Sakha, and Sakhalin Oblast UTC+12:00 (Kamchatka Time) — Chukotka and Kamchatka Krai |
|
3 |
United States |
11 |
UTC−12:00 (AoE) — Baker Island and Howland Island UTC−11:00 (ST) — American Samoa, Jarvis Island, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll and Palmyra Atoll UTC−10:00 (HT) — Hawaii, most of the Aleutian Islands, and Johnston Atoll UTC−09:00 (AKT) — most of the state of Alaska UTC−08:00 (PT) — Pacific Time zone: the Pacific coast states, the Idaho Panhandle and most of Nevada and Oregon UTC−07:00 (MT) — Mountain Time zone: most of Idaho, part of Oregon, and the Mountain states plus western parts of some adjacent states UTC−06:00 (CT) — Central Time zone: a large area spanning from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes UTC−05:00 (ET) — Eastern Time zone: roughly a triangle covering all the states from the Great Lakes down to Florida and east to the Atlantic coast UTC−04:00 (AST) — Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands UTC+10:00 (ChT) — Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands UTC+12:00 (WAKT) — Wake Island |
|
4 |
Antarctica |
9 |
UTC−03:00 (ART) — Palmer Station, Rothera Station UTC±00:00 (GMT) — Troll Station UTC+03:00 — Syowa Station UTC+05:00 — Mawson Station UTC+06:00 — Vostok Station UTC+07:00 — Davis Station UTC+10:00 — Dumont-d’Urville Station UTC+11:00 — Casey Station UTC+12:00 — McMurdo Station, Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station |
|
5 |
Australia |
9 |
UTC+05:00 — Heard and McDonald Islands UTC+06:30 — Cocos (Keeling) Islands UTC+07:00 (CXT) — Christmas Island UTC+08:00 (AWST) — Western Australia, Indian Pacific railway when travelling between Port Augusta, South Australia and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia) UTC+08:45 (CWT) – South Australia (Border Village), Western Australia (Caiguna, Cocklebiddy, Eucla, Madura, Mundrabilla) UTC+09:30 (ACST) — South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales (Yancowinna County) UTC+10:00 (AEST) — Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania UTC+10:30 — Lord Howe Island UTC+11:00 (NFT) — Norfolk Island |
|
6 |
United Kingdom |
9 |
UTC−08:00 — Pitcairn Islands UTC−05:00 — Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands UTC−04:00 (AST) — Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat UTC−03:00 (FKST) — Falkland Islands UTC−02:00 — South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands UTC±00:00 (GMT in winter/BST in summer) — main territory of the United Kingdom, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey UTC+01:00 (CET) — Gibraltar UTC+02:00 (EET) — Akrotiri and Dhekelia UTC+06:00 — British Indian Ocean Territory |
|
7 |
Canada |
6 |
UTC−08:00 (PT) — larger western part of British Columbia, Tungsten and the associated Cantung Mine in Northwest Territories, Yukon UTC−07:00 (MT) — Alberta, some eastern parts of British Columbia, most of Northwest Territories, Nunavut (west of 102°W and all communities in the Kitikmeot Region), Lloydminster and the surrounding area in Saskatchewan UTC−06:00 (CT)— Manitoba, Nunavut (between 85° West and 102°W except for western Southampton Island), Ontario (Northwestern Ontario west of 90°W with some exceptions and Big Trout Lake area east of 90°W), Saskatchewan except Lloydminster UTC−05:00 (ET) — Nunavut east of 85°W and entire Southampton Island, Ontario east of 90°W (except Big Trout Lake area) plus several more western areas, Quebec (most of the province) UTC−04:00 (AT) — Labrador (all but southeastern tip), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, eastern part of Quebec UTC−03:30 (NT) — Labrador (southeastern), Newfoundland |
|
8 |
Denmark |
5 |
UTC−04:00 — Pituffik Space Base in Greenland UTC−03:00 — most of Greenland, including inhabited south coast and west coast UTC−01:00 — Ittoqqortoormiit and the surrounding area in Greenland’s Tunu county UTC±00:00 — Danmarkshavn weather station and surrounding area in Greenland’s Tunu county, Faroe Islands UTC+01:00 (CET) — main territory of Denmark |
|
9 |
New Zealand |
5 |
UTC−11:00 — Niue UTC−10:00 — Cook Islands UTC+12:00 — main territory of New Zealand UTC+12:45 — Chatham Islands UTC+13:00 — Tokelau |
|
10 |
Brazil |
4 |
UTC−05:00 (Brasília time −2) — Acre and Southwestern Amazonas UTC−04:00 (Brasília time −1) — Most part of the Amazonas State, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima UTC−03:00 (Brasília time) — the Southeast Region, the South Region, the Northeast Region (except some islands), Goiás, Distrito Federal, Tocantins, Pará, Amapá UTC−02:00 (Brasília time +1) — A few islands on the east coast of Brazil (Fernando de Noronha, Trindade and Martim Vaz, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago) |
|
11 |
Mexico |
4 |
UTC−08:00 (Zone 4 or Northwest Zone) — the state of Baja California UTC−07:00 (Zone 3 or Pacific Zone) — the states of Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora UTC−06:00 (Zone 2 or Central Zone) — most of Mexico UTC−05:00 (Zone 1 or Southeast Zone) — the state of Quintana Roo |
|
12 |
Chile |
3 |
UTC−06:00 — Easter Island UTC−04:00 — main territory of Chile UTC−03:00 — Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica |
|
13 |
Indonesia |
3 |
UTC+07:00 (Western Indonesian Standard Time) — islands of Sumatra, Java, Madura, provinces of Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau Islands, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan UTC+08:00 (Central Indonesian Standard Time) — islands of Sulawesi, Bali, provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan and South Kalimantan UTC+09:00 (Eastern Indonesian Standard Time) — islands of the Maluku Islands and Western New Guinea |
|
14 |
Kiribati |
3 |
UTC+12:00 — Gilbert Islands UTC+13:00 — Phoenix Islands UTC+14:00 — Line Islands |
|
15 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
2 |
UTC+01:00 (WAT) — provinces of Équateur, Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Mai-Ndombe, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi and Tshuapa UTC+02:00 (CAT) — provinces of Bas-Uele, Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Haut-Uele, Kasaï, Kasaï-Central, Kasaï Oriental, Lomami, Lualaba, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Sankuru, Sud-Kivu, Tanganyika, Tshopo and Ituri Interim Administration |
|
16 |
Ecuador |
2 |
UTC−06:00 (GALT) — Galápagos Province UTC−05:00 (Ecuador Time) — main territory of Ecuador |
|
17 |
Federated States of Micronesia |
2 |
UTC+10:00 — the states of Chuuk and Yap UTC+11:00 — the states of Kosrae and Pohnpei |
|
18 |
Kazakhstan |
2 |
UTC+05:00 — western Kazakhstan (Aktobe, Atyrau, Kyzylorda, Mangystau and West Kazakhstan) UTC+06:00 — eastern Kazakhstan |
|
19 |
Kingdom of the Netherlands |
2 |
UTC−04:00 (AST) — Caribbean municipalities and constituent countries UTC+01:00 (CET) — main territory of the Netherlands |
|
20 |
Mongolia |
2 |
UTC+07:00 — the provinces of Khovd, Uvs and Bayan-Ölgii UTC+08:00 — most of the country |
|
21 |
Papua New Guinea |
2 |
UTC+10:00 — most of the country UTC+11:00 — Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Bougainville Standard Time) |
|
22 |
Portugal |
2 |
UTC−01:00 — Azores UTC±00:00 (WET) — Madeira and the main territory of Portugal |
|
23 |
South Africa |
2 |
UTC+02:00 (South African Standard Time) — main territory of South Africa UTC+03:00 — Prince Edward Islands |
|
24 |
Spain |
2 |
UTC±00:00 (WET) — Canary Islands UTC+01:00 (CET) — main territory of Spain |
Top Countries With the Most Time Zones (2025)
- France – 12 Time Zones: France surprisingly tops the list, not due to the size of its mainland, but because of its numerous overseas departments and territories spread across the globe. These include territories in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and even Antarctica.
- Time zones: UTC−10:00 to UTC+12:00
- Russia – 11 Time Zones: As the largest country in the world by area, Russia spans 11 time zones from its western exclave of Kaliningrad to the eastern edge of Kamchatka. Unlike France, all of Russia’s time zones exist within its mainland territory.
- Time zones: UTC+02:00 to UTC+12:00
- United States – 11 Time Zones: The United States covers a significant expanse and includes several unincorporated territories, which contribute to its 11 time zones.
- Time zones: UTC−12:00 to UTC+12:00
- Antarctica – 9 Time Zones: Antarctica is unique because it doesn’t have a permanent population, yet hosts various research stations operated by different countries. Each station uses the time zone of the country that runs it or the supply base it connects with.
- Time zones: UTC−03:00 to UTC+12:00
- United Kingdom – 9 Time Zones: Despite being relatively small in size, the UK has numerous overseas territories that contribute to its broad time zone coverage.
- Time zones: UTC−08:00 to UTC+06:00
- Australia – 9 Time Zones: Australia itself covers three official time zones, but when its external territories are considered, the count rises to nine.
- Time zones: UTC+05:00 to UTC+11:00
- Canada – 6 Time Zones: Canada spans from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, resulting in six different time zones. Unlike France or the UK, Canada does not have overseas territories, so all time zones are domestic.
- Time zones: UTC−08:00 to UTC−03:30
- Denmark – 5 Time Zones: Denmark’s mainland may follow just one time zone, but its autonomous territories, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, span several others.
- Time zones: UTC−04:00 to UTC+01:00
- New Zealand – 5 Time Zones: New Zealand includes several island dependencies, which extend its time zone reach.
- Time zones: UTC−11:00 to UTC+13:00
- Brazil – 4 Time Zones: Brazil spans four time zones across its continental mass and distant islands. It’s the largest country in South America and follows Brasília Time as the standard.
Time zones: UTC−05:00 to UTC−02:00
Last updated on August, 2025
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List of Countries With the Most Time Zones FAQs
Q1. Which country has the highest number of time zones in 2025?+
Q2. How many time zones does India have?+
Q3. Why does Russia have so many time zones?+
Q4. Does the US observe all its time zones equally?+
Q5. Is there a country with UTC+14:00?+
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