Tonga Time (Tongatapu)

Tonga Time (TOT) is UTC+13, making the Kingdom of Tonga one of the first nations to welcome each new day and new year. Tonga discontinued DST in 2017. Nukualofa, the capital, is located on the island of Tongatapu, the largest island in the Tongan archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited). Tonga is the only remaining indigenous monarchy in the Pacific and has never been colonized by a European power. The country gained international attention in January 2022 when the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption, one of the most powerful in modern history, caused a tsunami and severed the undersea cable that connected Tonga to the internet for weeks. The kingdom's economy relies on agriculture, fishing, tourism, and remittances from the large Tongan diaspora in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Tonga's position at UTC+13 creates a unique situation with neighboring Samoa (also UTC+13) where both countries are among the first to enter each new calendar day. The country's strong Christian traditions mean Sunday observance is strict, with most commercial activity prohibited. Rugby is the de facto national sport, and Tonga has produced players for teams worldwide.