New Year 2024: Which Countries Will Kickstart New Year First And Last? Where Does India Stand?

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As we bid adieu to another whirlwind year of ups and downs, and gear up to welcome 2024 with open arms, it's time to pop the question - who in the world gets the privilege of yelling 'Happy New Year!' before anyone else? And who's the fashionably late entrant to the New Year's party?

So, let's take a trip around the globe to find out which countries will be able to celebrate New Year first and last, and where India stands in this list.

Which Country Will Be The First To Welcome New Year 2024?
While you're still trying to figure out the perfect outfit for New Year's Eve, the Pacific Islands of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati are already throwing confetti and dancing into the new year. At the stroke of 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time, these guys are setting the bar high for the rest of us. Talk about being ahead of the game!

Which Country Will Be The Last To Welcome New Year 2024?
Now, let's scoot over to the other end of the timeline. When you're probably thinking about your second meal of the year or the first regret of breaking your resolution, Howland and Baker Islands are just starting their countdown. On 01 January at 5:30 PM IST, while the rest of us are knee-deep in New Year's revelry or recovery, these uninhabited islands are taking a leisurely stroll into 2024. They're the cool kids who arrive at the party when everyone else is already starting to call it a night.

What Time Does Nations Around The World Celebrate New Year?
As we stand on the threshold of a fresh new year, it's not just about who hits the New Year first or last, but about the spirit of renewal and hope that sweeps across the globe. It's the time when we reminisce about the rollercoaster ride of the past year and gear up with resolutions (that we hope to keep). So, whether you're first to the party or the last one standing, the essence of New Year's is universal - a chance for new beginnings, setting fresh goals, and of course, nursing that inevitable January 1st hangover.

This is when the world will welcome 2024, using London time (GMT)

December 31
• 10am - Samoa and Christmas Island/Kiribati
• 10.15am - New Zealand
• 12pm - Fiji and Eastern Russia
• 1pm - Eastern Australia (Melbourne and Sydney)
• 2pm - Central Australia (Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide)
• 3pm - Japan, South Korea and North Korea
• 3.15pm - Western Australia (Perth and Eucla)
• 4pm - China, Philippines, Singapore
• 5pm - Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia
• 5.30pm - Myanmar and Cocos Islands
• 6pm - Bangladesh
• 6.15pm - Nepal
• 6.30pm - India and Sri Lanka
• 7pm - Pakistan
• 8pm - Azerbaijan
• 8.30pm - Iran
• 9pm - Turkey, Iraq, Kenya and Western Russia
• 10pm - Greece, Romania, South Africa, Hungary, and eastern European cities
• 11pm - Germany, France, Italy, Algeria, Belgium, Spain
• Midnight - UK, Ireland, Ghana, Iceland, Portugal

January 1
• 1am - Cape Verde and the Spanish Isles
• 2am - Eastern Brazil, South Georgia and Sandwich Islands
• 3am - Argentina, remaining regions in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay
• 3.30am - Newfoundland and Labrador/Canada
• 4am - Eastern Canada, Bolivia, Puerto Rico
• 5am - Eastern Standard Time in the US - New York, Washington, Detroit and Cuba
• 6am - Central Standard Time in the US - Chicago
• 7am - Mountain Standard Time in the US - Colorado, Arizona
• 8am - Pacific Standard Time in the US - LA, Nevada
• 9am - Alaska and French Polynesia
• 10am - Hawaii, Tahiti and Cook Island
• 11am - American Samoa
• 12pm - Baker Island, Howland Island

There you have it, guys- from the Pacific Island early birds to the fashionably late Howland and Baker Islands. No matter where you are when the clock strikes twelve, remember that the turn of the year is a shared moment of joy and hope around the world. So, grab your party hats, fine-tune your resolutions, and get ready to welcome 2024 with all the pomp and grandeur it deserves. And hey, if your resolutions don't work out, there's always 2025! Happy New Year, everyone - whenever you celebrate it!