Time in the French overseas territories

Twelve time zones, a world record

Thanks to its overseas territories, France is the country that spans the most time zones: twelve, or thirteen if you count Adélie Land in Antarctica. It is ahead of Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

From west to east, they run from French Polynesia, whose three time zones range from UTC−10 in Tahiti to UTC−9 in the Gambier Islands, by way of UTC−9:30 in the Marquesas, to the uninhabited atoll of Clipperton (UTC−8), the French West Indies (UTC−4), French Guiana (UTC−3) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (UTC−3, UTC−2 during its summer), mainland France (UTC+1 in winter), Mayotte (UTC+3), Réunion (UTC+4), the Kerguelen Islands (UTC+5), Adélie Land (UTC+10), New Caledonia (UTC+11) and finally Wallis and Futuna (UTC+12).

Between Tahiti and Wallis the difference reaches 22 hours: when it is noon in Wallis, it is 14:00 the day before in Papeete.

Only one territory changes its clocks

Mainland France moves to summer time at the end of March and back to winter time at the end of October. The overseas territories keep the same time all year round, except Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which follows the North American calendar: summer time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

As a result, the difference with Paris shifts by one hour twice a year. The French West Indies are 5 hours behind Paris in winter but 6 hours behind in summer; Réunion is 3 hours ahead in winter and 2 hours ahead in summer. For a few days in spring and autumn, the difference with Saint Pierre and Miquelon even changes twice, as the two calendars are not in step. Daylight saving time dates

Calling or working with the overseas territories

French West Indies and French Guiana. In winter, when offices open at 09:00 in Paris, it is 04:00 in Fort-de-France; at 18:00 in Paris, it is 13:00. Paris afternoons match West Indian mornings: that is the natural window for working together.

Réunion and Mayotte. The difference is small and most of the working day is shared: at 09:00 in Paris in winter, it is already 12:00 in Saint-Denis. Paris mornings work best.

New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. It is almost day and night: at 08:00 in Paris in winter, it is 18:00 in Nouméa. The only shared moments are early morning in Paris and the end of the day in Oceania.

French Polynesia. At 18:00 in Paris in winter, it is 07:00 in Papeete, on the same day. Paris evenings match Tahitian mornings.