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The Ethiopian Calendar Explained: Why the Year Is Different and How to Read Local Time
Ethiopia entered 2019 on 11 September 2026. The thirteen months, the six-hour clock offset, and when each system is actually used.
Ethiopia runs its own calendar, seven to eight years behind the Gregorian one, with thirteen months. It also runs its own clock, offset by six hours, so what an Ethiopian calls three o'clock is nine in the morning to you.
Neither is a quirk for visitors to admire. Both are in daily use, and both will affect you if nobody explains them, usually at the moment somebody tells you a bus leaves at two.
The year right now. Ethiopia entered 2019 on 11 September 2026. Before that date it was 2018. The year changes at Enkutatash every September, not on 1 January, so the gap against the Gregorian calendar is seven years for part of the year and eight for the rest.
Why it is behind
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church calculates the date of the Annunciation differently from the Roman church. That difference of a few years, fixed centuries ago, is the whole reason, and it has simply been carried forward ever since.
It is not an approximation or a rounding. It is a different starting point, consistently applied.
Thirteen months
Twelve months of exactly thirty days, then a thirteenth month of five days, or six in a leap year.
| Ethiopian month | Roughly |
|---|---|
| Meskerem | September to October |
| Tikimt | October to November |
| Hidar | November to December |
| Tahsas | December to January |
| Tir | January to February |
| Yekatit | February to March |
| Megabit | March to April |
| Miyazia | April to May |
| Ginbot | May to June |
| Sene | June to July |
| Hamle | July to August |
| Nehase | August to September |
| Pagumen | The last five or six days of the year |
Meskerem 1 is New Year, which is 11 September in most Gregorian years and 12 September in the year before a Gregorian leap year.
The tourism slogan "thirteen months of sunshine" comes from Pagumen, and it is a genuine feature of the calendar rather than marketing.
The clock, which catches people out more than the calendar
Ethiopian time starts counting at dawn. Six in the morning by your watch is hour zero, so Ethiopian one o'clock is seven in the morning.
| Ethiopian time | International time |
|---|---|
| 12 (twelve) | 6:00 |
| 1 (one) | 7:00 |
| 2 (two) | 8:00 |
| 3 (three) | 9:00 |
| 4 (four) | 10:00 |
| 5 (five) | 11:00 |
| 6 (six) | 12:00 noon |
| 7 (seven) | 13:00 |
| 8 (eight) | 14:00 |
| 9 (nine) | 15:00 |
| 10 (ten) | 16:00 |
| 11 (eleven) | 17:00 |
| 12 (twelve) | 18:00 |
The rule is simple: add six, or subtract six. Ethiopian three is nine in the morning. Nine in the morning is Ethiopian three.
It runs twelve hours from dawn and twelve from dusk, which works neatly this close to the equator, where sunrise and sunset barely move across the year.
When each system is actually used
International time is used for anything with a foreigner in it. Flights, hotels, formal appointments and almost anything written down for visitors.
Ethiopian time is used in ordinary conversation. A driver, a guide, a shopkeeper or a hotel employee speaking Amharic will very often mean Ethiopian time.
The single question that solves it: ask "Ethiopian time or international time?" Nobody will be surprised or offended. Everybody has had this confusion.
Flights are always international time. Ethiopian Airlines tickets, airport displays and boarding times use the clock you already use. Do not convert anything on a plane ticket.
Where you will see the Ethiopian year
Documents and receipts. A date stamped 2019 is not a typo.
Newspapers, signage and official paperwork.
Vehicle plates and registration documents, which matters if you are hiring a car.
Nothing on your side. Your visa, passport stamps and flight documents all use the Gregorian calendar.
Festivals follow the Ethiopian calendar
This is where the two systems have a practical consequence for a trip.
Ethiopian festivals fall on fixed Ethiopian dates, so their Gregorian dates shift by a day in some years. Timkat is 19 January in most years and 20 January in others. Fasika, the Orthodox Easter, follows the Julian Paschal calculation and moves by weeks.
Our festival calendar sets out the dates and which ones are worth planning a trip around, and our Enkutatash guide covers the New Year itself.
FAQ
What year is it in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia entered 2019 on 11 September 2026. The Ethiopian calendar runs seven to eight years behind the Gregorian one, and the year changes at Enkutatash in September rather than on 1 January, so the size of the gap depends on the time of year.
Why is Ethiopia seven years behind?
Because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church calculates the date of the Annunciation differently from the Roman church. That difference was fixed centuries ago and has been carried forward consistently since. It is a different starting point rather than an error.
How many months are in the Ethiopian calendar?
Thirteen. Twelve months of exactly thirty days each, followed by Pagumen, a short month of five days, or six in a leap year. That thirteenth month is where the phrase "thirteen months of sunshine" comes from.
How does Ethiopian time work?
The clock starts counting at dawn, so Ethiopian hour one is seven in the morning. To convert, add six hours to Ethiopian time to get international time, or subtract six going the other way. Ethiopian three o'clock is nine in the morning.
Will my flight use Ethiopian time?
No. Flights, tickets, airport displays and boarding times all use international time. Never convert anything printed on a plane ticket. Ethiopian time appears in conversation rather than on travel documents.
How do I avoid confusion over appointment times?
Ask which system is meant. "Ethiopian time or international time?" is a normal question that nobody finds strange, because everyone in Ethiopia deals with this daily. Confirm it for any pickup, tour start or restaurant booking arranged verbally.
When is Ethiopian New Year?
Enkutatash falls on 11 September in most years and 12 September in the year before a Gregorian leap year. It is the first day of Meskerem and the start of the Ethiopian year.
Do Ethiopian dates appear on official documents?
Yes. Receipts, newspapers, signage, official paperwork and vehicle registration documents commonly use the Ethiopian year. Your own passport, visa and flight documents use the Gregorian calendar.
Ask us and we will confirm in both
Every time we send an itinerary we give times in international time, because that is the one that matches your flight.
Send us your dates and everything you get back will be unambiguous. We reply within a maximum of two hours, and you will have a detailed itinerary and a quote within 24 hours.