Where does the day officially start first?

Quick Answer: The day officially starts first at the Line Islands of Kiribati, specifically on Kiritimati Island, which is located just west of the International Date Line. This area is ahead of most of the world by up to 14 hours.

The International Date Line zigzags around the Pacific Ocean to keep countries and islands on convenient calendar days. Kiribati moved the date line eastward in 1995 so its eastern islands could share the same day as the rest of the country.

This shift means places like Kiritimati Island see the new day before anywhere else on Earth. So when it hits midnight there, it’s the official start of the new calendar day globally.

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