Americas · North America · Dependency
Current time in United States Minor Outlying Islands
Spans 2 time zones from UTC-11:00 to UTC+12:00, a 23-hour difference.
Friday, June 5, 2026
About United States Minor Outlying Islands's time
2 time zones.
The United States Minor Outlying Islands span an extraordinary range of time zones, from UTC-11:00 on Midway Atoll to UTC+12:00 on Wake Island — a 23-hour gap across scattered Pacific and Caribbean territories.
By time zone
Time zones of United States Minor Outlying Islands.
2 time zones
History
How United States Minor Outlying Islands keeps time.
The time zones of the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands reflect their scattered geographic positions across the Pacific Ocean and their historical roles as strategic military and communication outposts.
Midway Atoll, located in the central Pacific, has long operated on SST (Samoa Standard Time, UTC-11:00), aligning it with American Samoa and the broader Samoa Time Zone. This alignment dates to the early 20th century when Midway served as a critical cable station and later a naval air facility, with its timekeeping tied to regional Pacific operations.
Wake Island, situated far to the west of the International Date Line, observes UTC+12:00 (Wake Island Time). This places it among the first places on Earth to see each new day. Wake's time zone reflects its position in the western Pacific, closer to Asia than to the Americas, and its role as a refueling and military stopover point established in the 1930s and 1940s.
None of the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands observe daylight saving time, consistent with their tropical and remote locations where daylight hours vary little throughout the year.
Did you know?
Things about United States Minor Outlying Islands's time.
The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands hold one of the most extreme timezone spreads of any country or territory — a full 23 hours separate Midway Atoll (UTC-11:00) from Wake Island (UTC+12:00). This means when it's noon on a Tuesday on Wake Island, it's still 1 PM on Monday on Midway Atoll.
Wake Island is one of the first inhabited places on Earth to experience each new day, making it a notable location for New Year's celebrations and date-line enthusiasts. Despite being a U.S. territory, it's geographically closer to Japan and the Marshall Islands than to any other U.S. land.
These islands are among the most remote and least-visited U.S. territories, with most having no permanent civilian population. Their time zones are primarily relevant to military personnel, researchers, and the occasional supply ship crew rather than to everyday commerce or tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about United States Minor Outlying Islands's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- How many time zones do the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands span?
- They span 2 time zones: UTC-11:00 (Midway Atoll) and UTC+12:00 (Wake Island), a 23-hour difference.
- Do any of the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands observe daylight saving time?
- No, none of the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands observe daylight saving time due to their remote tropical locations.
- Which U.S. Minor Outlying Island is in the earliest time zone?
- Wake Island, at UTC+12:00, is among the first places on Earth to enter a new day.
- Which U.S. Minor Outlying Island is in the latest time zone?
- Midway Atoll, at UTC-11:00, is one of the last inhabited places on Earth to experience each calendar day.
- Is Wake Island closer to the U.S. mainland or to Asia?
- Wake Island is geographically much closer to Asia — it's roughly 2,000 miles west of Hawaii and about 1,500 miles east of Japan.
- Are the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands easy to visit?
- No, these are among the most remote U.S. territories with no permanent civilian populations. Access is generally restricted to military personnel, researchers, and authorized visitors.
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