Current Time in GMT − 11 Zone
About GMT-11
GMT-11 is eleven hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. It is used by the territories of American Samoa and Niue, as well as the uninhabited US islands of Midway and Jarvis. Because of its position relative to the International Date Line, it is one of the last places on Earth to see the sun set. No DST is observed.
UTC Offset: GMT-11
What is GMT-11?
GMT-11 means Greenwich Mean Time 11 hours behind the Greenwich meridian, the historical reference line running through the Royal Observatory in London. GMT offsets are the everyday way many countries, broadcasters, and travel timetables describe their local time relative to the UK.
Note that some of the countries listed below sit on GMT-11 for only part of the year: when daylight saving time starts or ends they move one hour, so always check the live local times shown on this page or on each country's own page.
GMT-11 vs UTC-11
For everyday purposes GMT-11 and UTC-11 are the same wall-clock time. GMT is the traditional name based on mean solar time at Greenwich, while UTC is the modern atomic-time standard used by computers and aviation. If you are setting a meeting or catching a flight, either works; if you are configuring a server, use UTC-11.
Time & Daylight in GMT-11
Time Difference Between GMT-11 and Major Cities
Live local time and the difference from GMT-11 right now.
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: Etc/GMT+11
GMT-11: The Westernmost Fixed Hour in the Pacific
GMT-11 is a fixed UTC offset of 11 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. It is the westernmost inhabited time zone in the world, used year-round by a small cluster of Pacific islands. Unlike named time zones that may shift for daylight saving, GMT-11 remains constant, making it a reliable reference for scheduling across the International Date Line.
What a Fixed UTC Offset Means
A fixed UTC offset like GMT-11 means the local time is always exactly 11 hours behind UTC, with no seasonal changes. This contrasts with named time zones (e.g., Samoa Standard Time, Niue Time) which are simply the legal names for this offset in specific jurisdictions. While the offset is constant, the list of places observing it can change if a region adopts or abandons daylight saving time (DST). For instance, Samoa (independent) used to observe GMT-11 during its winter months before switching to GMT+13 in 2011, but American Samoa remains on GMT-11 year-round.
Regions and Cities at GMT-11
The following territories and their representative cities use GMT-11 as their standard time:
- Niue (self-governing in free association with New Zealand): The entire island nation, including the capital Alofi, uses Niue Time (NUT), which is GMT-11 year-round.
- American Samoa (U.S. territory): All islands, including the capital Pago Pago, observe Samoa Standard Time (SST), fixed at GMT-11. Note that independent Samoa, just 100 km east, is on GMT+13, creating a 24-hour difference across the border.
- United States Minor Outlying Islands: Several uninhabited or sparsely populated islands use this offset, including Midway Atoll (historic site), Johnston Atoll, and Palmyra Atoll. Midway's IANA zone is Pacific/Midway; Palmyra uses Pacific/Pago_Pago.
IANA time zone identifiers at this offset: Pacific/Midway, Pacific/Niue, Pacific/Pago_Pago. These cover all locations that permanently observe GMT-11.
DST and Seasonal Changes
Because GMT-11 is a fixed offset, no region currently using it observes daylight saving time. However, historically, some areas have shifted on and off this offset. For example, the Phoenix Islands (Kiribati) were at GMT-11 until 1995, when they jumped to GMT+13 to align with the rest of the country. Today, the only inhabited places on GMT-11 are Niue and American Samoa, both of which have rejected DST. If any territory in this zone ever adopted DST, it would temporarily move to GMT-10 during summer months, but none do.
Practical Scheduling Notes
When scheduling across GMT-11, remember these key points:
- GMT-11 is 6 hours behind Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) and 9 hours behind Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) during standard time. During U.S. DST, the difference shrinks by one hour.
- It is 11 hours behind UTC, so when it is noon UTC, it is 1:00 AM in Pago Pago or Alofi.
- The International Date Line lies just west of GMT-11, meaning places like Tonga (GMT+13) are a full day ahead. A call from Pago Pago to Auckland (UTC+12) must account for a 23-hour difference in winter.
- Military and aviation use the phonetic letter "X" (X-ray) for this offset. However, note that military time zones are based on UTC, not GMT, though the two read identically on clocks (UTC and GMT share the same time).
UTC vs GMT: Same Time, Different Names
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) are often used interchangeably, and for practical purposes, they show the same clock time. However, GMT is a time zone based on the Earth's rotation, while UTC is an atomic time standard. In the context of this offset, GMT-11 and UTC-11 are identical; you will see both notations on schedules and devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are in GMT-11?
Currently, the only inhabited territories fully on GMT-11 are Niue (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) and American Samoa (a U.S. territory). The United States Minor Outlying Islands, including Midway Atoll, also use this offset but have no permanent population.
Does GMT-11 observe daylight saving time?
No. Neither Niue nor American Samoa observes DST. The offset is fixed year-round. However, if any territory in this zone ever adopted DST, it would temporarily shift to GMT-10 during summer months.
What is the time difference between GMT-11 and New York?
New York is on Eastern Time (UTC-5 standard, UTC-4 DST). During standard time, GMT-11 is 6 hours behind New York. During U.S. DST (mid-March to early November), the difference is 5 hours (New York is UTC-4, so GMT-11 is 7 hours behind).
Why is there a 24-hour difference between American Samoa and independent Samoa?
American Samoa uses GMT-11, while independent Samoa uses GMT+13 (since 2011). They are only about 100 km apart, but the International Date Line runs between them, creating a full-day difference. When it is 10 AM Monday in Pago Pago, it is 10 AM Tuesday in Apia.
What is the military time zone letter for GMT-11?
The military phonetic letter for UTC-11 is X-ray (X). It is used in aviation and maritime communications to denote this offset. Note that military time zones are based on UTC, not GMT, but the two are identical for timekeeping.
Which IANA time zones are in GMT-11?
The IANA time zone identifiers for this offset are: Pacific/Midway (Midway Atoll), Pacific/Niue (Niue), and Pacific/Pago_Pago (American Samoa). These cover all locations that permanently observe GMT-11.