While Nigerians are still gearing up for a night with friends and family to welcome in the new year, some places are already celebrating.
With countries all across the globe all in different time zones, there are many places ahead of Nigeria when it comes to counting down and entering 2022.
One of the first countries to mark the new year is Kiribati, also known as Chatham Island, and at 10:01am (GMT) the time on the independent island nation was 00:01 1 January 2022.
Much of Australia will follow suit at 1 pm with other regions of the country following behind.
Japan
With a time zone of GMT+9, Japan has beaten countries slower than this time to celebrate the new year. This means that Japan will be celebrating the new year 9 hours faster than some other countries.
Korea
South and North Korea are currently in the same time zone (GMT+9) meaning that they would be entering 2022 at the same time. This is still faster than Nigeria will.
Singapore
The time zone in Singapore is GMT+8.
time difference across all continents has always been a factor to consider at all times; when making calls, scheduling meetings and it also determines which country gets to see and celebrate the new year first.
Here is a list of the first 10 countries to celebrate 2022 earlier than other countries;
Kiribati
This country is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. A location in Kiribati known as Kiritimatior Christmas Island makes this region the first to enter 2022. Kiribati’s time zone is UTC+14:00.
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands will be the second place to enter 2022. Because the Chatham Islands is ahead of the universal time by 13 hours 45 minutes.
New Zealand
New Zeland is currently on GMT+13, which means the country is 13 hours ahead, allowing it to celebrate the new year before other countries.
Tonga
Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 South Pacific islands, many uninhabited, most lined in white beaches and coral reefs and covered with tropical rainforest. Tonga’s time zone is GMT+13. GMT+13 is a time offset that adds 13 hours to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Fiji
The Fiji government had announced that the country would not observe daylight saving time in 2021-2022, the nation now uses its standard time which is 12 hours ahead of the GMT.
Kamchatka Krai
Kamchatka Krai is situated in the Russian Far East and is administratively part of the Far Eastern Federal District. Its time zone is GMT+12.
Australia
Australia is one of the countries that have more than 1-time zone. In this country, there is Kingston (GMT+12)
Adelaide (GMT+10:30), Perth (GMT+8), Christmas Island (GMT+7) amongst others. Some of the states in Australia are at the top of this new year list.
Japan
With a time zone of GMT+9, Japan has beaten countries slower than this time to celebrate the new year. This means that Japan will be celebrating the new year 9 hours faster than some other countries.
Korea
South and North Korea are currently in the same time zone (GMT+9) meaning that they would be entering 2022 at the same time. This is still faster than Nigeria will.
Singapore
The time zone in Singapore is GMT+8.