Time & Sun
World Capital World Clock
A live world clock of capital cities — the current time and day in every major capital, updating every second.
Live capital clocks
United States
Washington, D.C.
16:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Canada
Ottawa
16:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Mexico
Mexico City
14:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Brazil
Brasília
17:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Argentina
Buenos Aires
17:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
United Kingdom
London
21:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
France
Paris
22:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Germany
Berlin
22:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Italy
Rome
22:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Spain
Madrid
22:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Russia
Moscow
23:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Turkey
Ankara
23:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
23:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Egypt
Cairo
23:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
South Africa
Pretoria
22:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
Kenya
Nairobi
23:54:23
Sun, 18 Oct
India
New Delhi
02:24:23
Mon, 19 Oct
China
Beijing
04:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
Japan
Tokyo
05:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
South Korea
Seoul
05:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
Thailand
Bangkok
03:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
Singapore
Singapore
04:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
Indonesia
Jakarta
03:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
Australia
Canberra
07:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
New Zealand
Wellington
09:54:23
Mon, 19 Oct
Why a capital world clock is useful
A world clock of capital cities answers the most common global question at a glance: what time is it, right now, in the places that matter? Whether you are scheduling across continents, monitoring financial markets that open and close in different capitals, or simply checking whether a colleague's day has started, a live capital clock is the single most useful global-time reference.
This clock shows the current local time and day in each major capital, updating every second, with each city's IANA time zone applied — including any current daylight saving.
How live time is computed
Each capital's clock is computed by formatting the current instant (the same UTC moment everywhere) in that capital's IANA time zone. The browser's Internationalization API supplies the offset and applies daylight saving automatically for the current date. Because every city formats the same instant, the clocks are mutually consistent — they show simultaneous local times.
This is why a world clock never drifts between cities: they all share one underlying instant and only differ in how that instant is displayed locally. A fixed-offset world clock would break twice a year; an IANA-based one stays correct year-round.
Capitals and their time zones
Most capitals sit in a single clear time zone, but a few are notable. Wellington (UTC+12/+13) is among the first major capitals to greet each new day; Honolulu and Anchorage are among the last. Beijing and Singapore each serve a vast country on a single time despite its span. Moscow spans many zones but the capital sits in UTC+3.
A few countries have multiple capital cities or split functions — South Africa has three capitals — but this clock lists the single most commonly referenced capital per country for clarity.
Daylight saving across capitals
Roughly half of the world's capitals observe daylight saving, shifting an hour in summer. Because the switch dates differ (the US and Europe switch weeks apart; Australia's states disagree), the gap between any two capitals can change several times a year. An IANA-based clock handles all of these transitions automatically; a fixed-offset clock would be wrong for weeks at a time.
For capitals that never observe DST — Tokyo, Riyadh, Singapore, Doha — the offset is constant year-round, which simplifies scheduling with them. For those that do, always re-check around the equinoxes.
The international date line
Because capitals are spread across the globe, the same instant falls on different calendar dates for different capitals. When it is Thursday morning in Wellington, it is still Wednesday afternoon in Washington. The international date line, roughly along 180° longitude, is where one calendar day gives way to the next, and a few island nations have bent it to keep themselves on the same day as their trading partners.
This is why the date shown under each clock matters as much as the time. A 'Wednesday morning' call from Sydney might reach Washington on Tuesday evening — the date line and the time zones together produce the shift.
Using the clock for global awareness
Glance at the clock to know which markets are open, which offices are staffed and which colleagues are likely awake. It is a quick situational-awareness tool for anyone working across borders. For a specific meeting time, switch to the Time Zone Converter to pin a moment; for an ongoing sense of the world's clocks, this live view is the reference.
Pairing a world clock with the Overlap Hour Calculator covers both needs: the clock shows now; the overlap tool shows when now is workable for everyone. Together they answer the two questions global workers ask most: what time is it there, and when can we talk?
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the clock stay accurate?
Each capital's time is computed in its IANA time zone using the browser's Intl API, which applies the correct offset and any current daylight saving. The display updates every second from your device's clock.
Why do some capitals show a different day?
When it is late night in one capital, it may already be the next morning in a capital to its east, or still the previous day to its west. The date shown under each clock is local to that capital.
Are all world capitals included?
This clock shows the capitals of major countries. Every sovereign state has a capital (or, in a few cases, an administrative capital distinct from the constitutional one); this tool covers the most referenced set.
Does it account for daylight saving?
Yes. Because each capital uses its IANA zone, DST is applied automatically where observed. Capitals that do not observe DST (Tokyo, Riyadh, etc.) stay constant; those that do shift twice a year.
Can I use this for scheduling?
It is a reference for current times, not a scheduler. For a specific meeting, use the Time Zone Converter to pin a moment across cities. This clock shows the live now, updated continuously.
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