Current Time in IANA Africa/Bissau Timezone
IANA Name: Africa/Bissau
Standard Offset: UTC +00:00
Daylight Saving: No
Currently Observing DST: No ❌
Africa/Bissau: Guinea-Bissau's Time Zone
Africa/Bissau is the IANA time zone identifier for Guinea-Bissau, a small West African nation on the Atlantic coast. The zone uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) all year, with no daylight saving adjustments. This page covers the zone's scope, offset, abbreviation, daylight saving behaviour, key locations, and practical scheduling tips.
Scope and Usage
Africa/Bissau applies exclusively to the country of Guinea-Bissau. The anchor city is Bissau, the capital and largest city. Other major settlements include Bafatá, Gabú, and Bolama. The zone covers the entire country, which lies along the Atlantic coast between Senegal and Guinea.
Offset and Abbreviation
The standard offset is UTC+00:00, commonly called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The abbreviation GMT is used year-round. This offset places Guinea-Bissau in the same time as Iceland, the United Kingdom (during winter), and several other West African nations such as Senegal, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.
Daylight Saving Time
Africa/Bissau does not observe daylight saving time. The offset remains constant at UTC+00:00 throughout the year. There is no spring-forward or fall-back adjustment, meaning the sun's position relative to the clock changes only with the seasons naturally. This simplifies scheduling for residents and international contacts.
Countries and Cities
The only country using this zone is Guinea-Bissau. The primary city is Bissau (population ~400,000). Other notable cities include Bafatá (the second-largest), Gabú, and the historic island town of Bolama. All follow the same offset and do not observe DST.
Business Hours and Scheduling
Guinea-Bissau's standard business hours typically run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM GMT. When scheduling calls with other regions, consider the following overlaps:
- New York (EST, UTC-5): Bissau is 5 hours ahead. Best overlap is 8:00 AM–12:00 PM EST (1:00 PM–5:00 PM GMT).
- London (GMT/BST): During winter (GMT), same time. During British Summer Time (UTC+1), Bissau is 1 hour behind London.
- Beijing (CST, UTC+8): Bissau is 8 hours behind. Overlap is limited; try 8:00 AM–10:00 AM GMT (4:00 PM–6:00 PM CST).
- Other West African countries: Same offset (e.g., Senegal, The Gambia) – no time difference.
Since there is no DST, the time difference with locations that do observe DST changes twice a year. For example, with New York, the difference is 5 hours during EST and 4 hours during EDT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Guinea-Bissau in?
Guinea-Bissau uses the Africa/Bissau time zone, which is UTC+00:00 (GMT) all year.
Does Guinea-Bissau observe daylight saving time?
No, Guinea-Bissau does not observe daylight saving time. The offset remains constant at UTC+00:00 throughout the year.
What is the time difference between Bissau and New York?
Bissau (GMT) is 5 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) and 4 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4).
Which countries share the same time zone as Guinea-Bissau?
Several West African countries share the same offset, including Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
What is the abbreviation for the time zone in Guinea-Bissau?
The abbreviation is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), used year-round.