How many time zones are there in the world?
Quick Answer: There are 24 standard time zones around the world, each roughly 15 degrees of longitude apart. However, due to political and local decisions, the actual number of time zones in use is about 38, including half-hour and 45-minute offsets.
The Earth is divided into 24 primary time zones because it rotates 360 degrees every 24 hours, making each time zone about one hour apart. This system helps keep local time roughly aligned with the position of the sun.
Many countries choose to use time zones that differ by 30 or 45 minutes from the standard one-hour increments. This creates additional time zones beyond the basic 24. Also, some regions adopt daylight saving time, temporarily shifting their clocks.