Time zones & capital cities
It is a different time all over the world right now. Find out what time it is in 60 capital cities and learn where they are.
Where you are right now
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The world right now
Dark areas are in night. Tap a dot to see the time in that capital.
👆 Tap a dot on the map to see the time in that capital city.
Capital cities, live
Tap a continent to filter. Each card shows the time and how far ahead or behind you it is.
Time difference explorer
Pick two cities to find the time gap. This is how pilots, families and friends plan calls across the world.
How time zones work
Three big ideas.
1. The Prime Meridian
In 1884, countries agreed that 0° longitude runs through Greenwich in London. Time around the world is measured from there (GMT and UTC).
2. 24 zones
The Earth spins 360° in 24 hours. That is 15° each hour, so the world is split into 24 zones. Go east and the time is later. Go west and it is earlier.
3. The Date Line
Near 180° longitude the date changes. Cross it going west and you jump to tomorrow. Cross it going east and it is yesterday.
The maths: 360° ÷ 24 hours = 15° per hour
Why do clocks change?
"Spring forward, fall back" (UK: "BST" in summer, "GMT" in winter).
Spring: clocks go forward
In late March the clocks jump forward 1 hour. We lose an hour of sleep, but evenings stay light for longer.
Autumn: clocks go back
In late October (UK) or early November (US) the clocks go back 1 hour. We get an extra hour in bed, and mornings are lighter.
Who doesn't change their clocks?
Countries near the equator, such as Kenya and Singapore, have almost the same day length all year, so they don't change. In the US, Hawaii and most of Arizona stay the same. Queensland and Western Australia don't change either.
Dates change by country, so check before you plan a call in spring or autumn. See the next clock change and the dates for each country.
Capitals and time zones quiz
1 / 8For teachers and parents
- • Cross-curricular: links time with geography (capital cities, continents, countries, hemispheres) and maths (24-hour clock, addition and subtraction of hours).
- • Try this: choose three cities. Ask pupils to predict who is asleep, at school, or at dinner right now, then check the live cards.
- • Challenge: use the explorer to plan a video call between two cities when both people are awake (8 am – 8 pm).
- • Atlas activity: find each capital on a map and say which continent it is in.
- • Prior learning: children should be able to read the time to the minute and understand am and pm. See the 24-hour clock lesson.
Questions
How many time zones are there in the world?
There are 24 standard one-hour time zones, because the Earth turns 360° in 24 hours and 360 ÷ 24 = 15° per zone. Some countries use half-hour or 45-minute offsets, so there are really more than 24 clock times in use.
What is the Prime Meridian?
The Prime Meridian is the line of 0° longitude. It runs through Greenwich in London and is the starting point for GMT and UTC.
Why do clocks change twice a year?
Many countries move their clocks forward one hour in spring and back one hour in autumn (daylight saving time) to make better use of daylight in the evenings.
What is the capital city of Australia?
The capital of Australia is Canberra, not Sydney or Melbourne.
What is the International Date Line?
It is an imaginary line near 180° longitude where the calendar date changes. Cross it going west and you jump forward a day; cross it going east and you go back a day.