Current Time in Kiritimati
Kiribati culture regarding time
Kiribati culture regarding time
One of the earliest time zones in the world (UTC+14)
Kiribati has three different time zones (UTC+12, UTC+13, UTC+14), and the earliest time zone in the world (UTC+14) is used on the easternmost islands such as Kiribati. This was changed in 1995 to keep the country's date consistent.
Life is centered on the movement of the sun and the tides
In Kiribati, where fishing and agriculture are the basis of life, sunrise, sunset and the tides are important indicators of time. Life is rooted in following the cycle of nature rather than the clock.
Life rhythms vary from region to region
While people are relatively conscious of time in urban areas such as the capital Tarawa, the more free and easygoing culture of "island time" remains strong on the remote islands, and appointments and schedules are handled flexibly.
Kiribati values regarding time
Island time is a part of everyday life
In Kiribati, people are generally tolerant of time. It is common for gatherings and events to start later than scheduled, and people are not often criticized for this.
Relationships with people take priority over time
There is a culture that values relationships with people, and it is important to exchange conversations and greetings politely. It is believed that interacting with people without worrying about time leads to social trust and bonds.
It is natural to spend time with nature
The local idea of "work when the sun rises and rest when the sun sets" is common, and harmony with the environment is more important than modern time schedules.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or relocating to Kiribati
Accept appointments as a guideline
Local people do not have a strong sense of strictly adhering to time, so meetings and events often start late. It is wise to give yourself plenty of time in your schedule.
Punctuality is required for flights and official procedures
Government agencies and airports operate strictly on time, so be careful not to be late for visa applications and boarding procedures. Be aware of the gap with island time.
Adjust your actions while paying attention to the time zone
Kiribati spans a vast ocean area, and some islands have a time difference of 1 to 2 hours, so it is important to check the local time in advance when traveling between islands.
Interesting trivia about time in Kiribati
One of the countries that celebrate the New Year the earliest in the world
Kiribati, with its time zone of UTC+14, is attracting attention as the first country in the world to change the date every year. Kiribati, in particular, is known as the "island that lives in the most future time on Earth."
Countries that moved the date line eastward in 1995
In order to make the date the same throughout the country, the government of Kiribati boldly crossed the date line and changed the islands on the east side to UTC+14. This made the country one day ahead of the rest.
Kiribati is promoted as the "island of the future"
Tourism promotion is being carried out as "the place where the earliest morning comes in the world," and the island attracted a lot of attention, especially in the year of the millennium.