Current Time in GMT + 12 Zone
About GMT+12
GMT+12 is twelve hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It serves as New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) in winter and is also used by Fiji, Tuvalu, and parts of Russia. New Zealand and Fiji observe Daylight Saving Time, shifting to GMT+13 in their summer.
UTC Offset: GMT+12
What is GMT+12?
GMT+12 means Greenwich Mean Time 12 hours ahead of the Greenwich meridian, the historical reference line running through the Royal Observatory in London.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+12 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+12 vs UTC+12
For everyday purposes GMT+12 and UTC+12 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+12.
Time & Daylight in GMT+12
Time Difference Between GMT+12 and Major Cities
Live local time and the difference from GMT+12 right now.
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: Asia/Anadyr
GMT+12: The First to See the Sun
GMT+12 is a fixed UTC offset, meaning clocks here are always 12 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. Unlike named time zones, which may include daylight saving adjustments, the offset itself never changes. However, regions that observe DST move onto and off this offset seasonally, so the list of countries at GMT+12 is dynamic. This offset is home to some of the earliest places on Earth to greet each new day.
What Does a Fixed UTC Offset Mean?
A fixed UTC offset, like GMT+12, is simply a constant difference from UTC. It is not a time zone with its own name and rules. Named time zones, such as Fiji Time or Kamchatka Time, may switch between offsets for DST. When a region observes DST, it moves to a different offset temporarily. For example, Fiji uses GMT+12 during its winter months and shifts to GMT+13 for summer DST. So while GMT+12 is always 12 hours ahead of UTC, the countries using it change with the seasons.
Countries and Regions at GMT+12
Currently, the following places use GMT+12 as their standard time (non-DST) offset:
- Fiji – Pacific/Fiji
- Kiribati – Pacific/Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) and Pacific/Kiritimati (Line Islands, but note Kiritimati is actually at GMT+14)
- Marshall Islands – Pacific/Majuro, Pacific/Kwajalein
- Nauru – Pacific/Nauru
- Norfolk Island – Pacific/Norfolk
- Russia – Asia/Anadyr, Asia/Kamchatka
- Tuvalu – Pacific/Funafuti
- US minor outlying islands – Pacific/Wake (Wake Island)
- Wallis & Futuna – Pacific/Wallis
Some of these regions observe DST. For instance, Fiji and Norfolk Island move to GMT+13 during their summer. Russia's Kamchatka and Anadyr do not observe DST. The US minor outlying islands and Wallis & Futuna remain on GMT+12 year-round.
Representative Cities at GMT+12
- Anadyr, Russia – Capital of Chukotka, on the Bering Sea.
- Kamchatka, Russia – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a major port.
- Suva, Fiji – Capital and largest city of Fiji.
- Funafuti, Tuvalu – Atoll capital of Tuvalu.
- Kwajalein, Marshall Islands – Atoll and US military base.
- Majuro, Marshall Islands – Capital of the Marshall Islands.
- Yaren, Nauru – De facto capital of Nauru.
- Kingston, Norfolk Island – Capital of Norfolk Island.
- Tarawa, Kiribati – Capital of Kiribati.
- Wake Island, US – US territory, military base.
- Mata-Utu, Wallis & Futuna – Capital of the French collectivity.
Practical Scheduling Notes
When it is 12:00 UTC, it is 00:00 the next day at GMT+12. This offset is 17 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 20 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time (PST). For example, 9 AM Monday in New York is 10 PM Monday in Fiji (if Fiji is on standard time). During DST in Fiji (GMT+13), the difference becomes 18 hours from EST. Always check if a region is currently observing DST before scheduling calls.
Military and Zulu Time
In military time zone notation, GMT+12 is designated as Yankee Time (Y). Zulu (Z) is the military name for UTC. On a clock, UTC and GMT read the same time, but GMT is a time zone used in the UK, while UTC is the international standard. For practical purposes, UTC and GMT are interchangeable when displaying time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are on GMT+12 right now?
The list changes with DST. Typically, year-round GMT+12 includes Russia (Kamchatka, Anadyr), Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Wallis & Futuna, and Wake Island. Fiji and Norfolk Island use GMT+12 only during their winter months (approximately May to October for Fiji, April to September for Norfolk). Check current DST status for exact countries.
Is GMT+12 the same as UTC+12?
Yes. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) are essentially the same for timekeeping purposes. GMT+12 and UTC+12 are identical offsets. The difference is that GMT is a time zone, while UTC is a standard, but on a clock they show the same time.
Which major cities use GMT+12?
Major cities include Anadyr and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia), Suva (Fiji), Funafuti (Tuvalu), Majuro (Marshall Islands), Tarawa (Kiribati), and Kingston (Norfolk Island). These are the largest population centers at this offset.
How do I convert GMT+12 to my local time?
If you are in New York (EST, UTC-5), GMT+12 is 17 hours ahead. For example, 12:00 PM EST is 5:00 AM the next day at GMT+12. For Los Angeles (PST, UTC-8), it is 20 hours ahead. Use a world clock converter and account for DST in both locations.
Does GMT+12 have daylight saving time?
Some regions do. Fiji observes DST, moving to GMT+13 from November to January. Norfolk Island also uses DST, shifting to GMT+13 from October to March. Russia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Wallis & Futuna do not observe DST. So the offset is not always constant for those that do.