The calendar systems of various countries represent an intriguing symbiosis of traditions, religions, and historical development. While the Gregorian calendar is widely adopted worldwide for international and official purposes, many countries continue to use their traditional calendars, reflecting their unique culture and heritage. This table provides a summarized overview of countries where the current year or date differs from the Gregorian 2025 and explains the essence of the calendars in use. It also indicates whether these calendars hold official status in the respective countries.
This information helps to better understand how cultural diversity influences the choice of timekeeping systems, from the traditional Chinese calendar to the Persian solar calendar and the Islamic lunar calendar. The table covers both countries where traditional calendars are used alongside the Gregorian calendar and those where they retain official status.
| Country | Current Date | Calendar Name | Description | Official Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israel | 11 Shevat 5785 | Hebrew Calendar | Lunar-solar calendar starting from the presumed time of creation of the world (3761 BCE). Used in religious and official spheres. | Yes |
| India | 2 Magha 1946 | Indian National (Saka) | Lunar-solar calendar used alongside the Gregorian calendar. Adopted in 1957 for official purposes. | Yes |
| Iran | 2 Bahman 1403 | Iranian (Persian) | Solar calendar starting with the spring equinox. Officially adopted in 1925. | Yes |
| Thailand | January 22, 2568 | Thai Buddhist | Years are counted from Buddha’s Parinirvana (543 BCE). Officially used since 1941. | Yes |
| Ethiopia | January 12, 2017 | Ethiopian Calendar | Seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar due to differences in calculating Jesus Christ’s birth year. Based on Alexandrian traditions. | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar partially used for official purposes. | Partially |
| Japan | January 22, Reiwa Year 7 | Japanese Calendar | Era is defined by the reigning emperor. The era system began in 645 CE. The Gregorian calendar is used alongside it. | Partially |
| Afghanistan | 2 Bahman 1403 | Iranian (Persian) | Solar calendar based on Zoroastrian tradition, used since 1925. | No |
| Algeria | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. The Gregorian calendar is officially used. | No |
| Bangladesh | 8 Magh 1431 | Bengali Calendar | Lunar-solar calendar introduced during Akbar’s reign. Used for agricultural and festive purposes. | No |
| Egypt | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. The official calendar is Gregorian. | No |
| Jordan | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. The official calendar is Gregorian. | No |
| Cambodia | January 22, 2568 | Cambodian Buddhist | Lunar-solar calendar based on the Buddhist era. Similar to the Thai calendar. | No |
| China | Traditional Year 4722 | Chinese Lunar-Solar | Lunar-solar calendar used for traditional festivals such as New Year. The official calendar is Gregorian. | No |
| Iraq | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Yemen | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Laos | January 22, 2568 | Laotian Buddhist | Based on the Buddhist era, similar to the Cambodian and Thai calendars. | No |
| Libya | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Mauritania | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Morocco | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Myanmar | Traditional Year 1386 | Burmese Calendar | Lunar-solar calendar based on Indian timekeeping systems. Used for cultural and religious purposes. | No |
| Nepal | 8 Magha 2081 | Bikram Sambat | Lunar-solar calendar starting from 56 BCE. New Year is celebrated in April. | No |
| UAE | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Oman | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Pakistan | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious events. | No |
| Somalia | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Tunisia | 11 Jumada al-Akhirah 1446 | Islamic (Hijri) | Lunar calendar for religious purposes. | No |
| Vietnam | Traditional Year 4722 | Vietnamese Lunar | Based on the Chinese calendar, used for traditional festivals. | No |
| Sri Lanka | January 22, 2568 | Sri Lankan Buddhist | Lunar-solar calendar adapted to local traditions, based on the Buddhist era. | No |
| North Korea | January 22, 114 | Juche Calendar | Based on the birth year of Kim Il-sung (1912). Used alongside the Gregorian calendar. | No |
This table highlights the importance of preserving cultural traditions and adapting them to modernity. Despite globalization, many countries continue to honor their historical roots by utilizing unique calendar systems. This diversity illustrates how time, though objectively uniform, can be expressed so differently depending on the context.
