Current Time in UTC-9 Zone
About UTC-9
Discover all countries and IANA time zones in the UTC-9 offset. View the current local time for all locations with this UTC offset.
UTC Offset: UTC-9
What is UTC-9?
UTC-9 is a fixed offset from Coordinated Universal Time: clocks on this offset are always 9 hours behind UTC. Unlike a named time zone, a UTC offset never shifts for daylight saving time. Regions that observe DST alternate between two different UTC offsets across the year, which is why the countries listed below can change with the seasons.
In aviation, shipping, and military usage, UTC-9 corresponds to the Victor time zone (V), written with the letter suffix V in Zulu notation. Pilots and NATO forces use these letter zones so an order like "0800V" is unambiguous worldwide.
UTC-9 vs GMT-9
On a wall clock, UTC-9 and GMT-9 show the same time. The difference is in what they refer to: UTC is the modern standard kept by atomic clocks and used in computing, aviation, and science, while GMT is the older convention based on mean solar time at Greenwich. Technical systems, logs, and APIs should reference UTC-9.
Time & Daylight in UTC-9
Time Difference Between UTC-9 and Major Cities
Live local time and the difference from UTC-9 right now.
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: America/Anchorage
UTC-9: The Time Zone of Alaska and the Gambier Islands
UTC-9 is a fixed time offset that places clocks nine hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Unlike named time zones such as Alaska Standard Time (AKST), UTC-9 does not observe daylight saving time (DST) on its own; it is the standard offset used by regions that do not shift their clocks. However, many areas that use UTC-9 during winter switch to UTC-8 during summer DST. This article explores the regions, cities, and practical aspects of UTC-9.
Fixed Offset vs. Named Time Zone
A fixed UTC offset, like UTC-9, is simply a number: the difference between local time and UTC. A named time zone, such as Alaska Standard Time (AKST), is a geographic region that may observe DST, changing its offset seasonally. For example, most of Alaska uses AKST (UTC-9) in winter and Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT, UTC-8) in summer. Thus, the list of countries and regions on UTC-9 is not static; it includes areas that are on this offset only during standard time.
Regions and Cities on UTC-9
United States (Alaska): The majority of Alaska, including its largest city Anchorage, the capital Juneau, and other communities like Nome, Sitka, Yakutat, and Metlakatla, uses UTC-9 during standard time. From March to November, these areas shift to UTC-8 for DST. The IANA time zone identifiers include America/Anchorage, America/Juneau, America/Metlakatla, America/Nome, America/Sitka, America/Yakutat, and US/Alaska.
French Polynesia (Gambier Islands): The Gambier Islands, part of French Polynesia, observe UTC-9 year-round with no DST. The IANA zone is Pacific/Gambier. The main settlement is Rikitea on Mangareva Island. This region remains on UTC-9 permanently, making it a true fixed-offset area.
Practical Scheduling Notes
When scheduling across UTC-9, remember that most of Alaska shifts to UTC-8 for summer (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). During that period, Alaska is effectively on UTC-8, while the Gambier Islands remain on UTC-9. So a meeting time that works in winter may differ by an hour in summer. Military time uses the letter 'V' for UTC-9 (Victor time zone). On clocks, UTC and GMT read the same; UTC-9 is nine hours behind both.
Key IANA Zones
- America/Anchorage (Alaska, most areas)
- America/Juneau (Alaska, panhandle)
- America/Metlakatla (Alaska, Metlakatla Indian Community)
- America/Nome (Alaska, west coast)
- America/Sitka (Alaska, southeast)
- America/Yakutat (Alaska, southeast)
- Pacific/Gambier (French Polynesia, Gambier Islands)
- US/Alaska (alias for America/Anchorage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are on UTC-9?
Two countries have regions on UTC-9: the United States (Alaska) and France (French Polynesia, specifically the Gambier Islands). However, most of Alaska uses DST and is on UTC-9 only during standard time (winter). The Gambier Islands are on UTC-9 year-round.
Is UTC-9 the same as Alaska Standard Time?
Yes, Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. But AKST is a named time zone that switches to Alaska Daylight Time (UTC-8) in summer. UTC-9 is the fixed offset that underlies AKST during standard time.
Does any part of UTC-9 observe daylight saving time?
Most of Alaska observes DST, moving to UTC-8 from March to November. The Gambier Islands do not observe DST and remain on UTC-9 all year. So the regions on UTC-9 change seasonally.
What is the military designation for UTC-9?
The military time zone letter for UTC-9 is 'V' (Victor time zone). It is used in aviation and military communications.
What major cities are in UTC-9?
How does UTC-9 relate to GMT?
UTC and GMT are functionally the same for timekeeping purposes. UTC-9 is nine hours behind GMT/UTC. So when it is 12:00 UTC, it is 03:00 in UTC-9.