Date Format by Country 2025

It is important for people to know what day it is, particularly when they travel overseas. That way, they do not get lost, end up in the wrong place, or miss a train or a plane. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for people to tell what date it is depending on the format that is used. There are several different date formats that countries use across the world, and people need to know what format is being used. Some people use a format that goes: day, then month, then year. There are other countries that use the format: year, then month, then day. There are even countries that use the format: month, then day, then year. Which countries use which format?

The United States Tend To Be an Outlier

Even though the United States is one of the largest countries on Earth, its date format is somewhat unusual compared to many other nations. In the United States, the date format follows the month-day-year sequence, meaning 1/10/2022 is read as January 10th, 2022. This format is consistent across all of the United States, and many of its island territories also adopt this convention. However, the U.S. is not the only country using this format; it is also used in countries like the Philippines and some in the Caribbean and Central America. When visiting U.S. territories or other regions using different date formats, it is important for visitors to seek clarification to ensure they understand the correct date, as variations can occur due to local influences and historical ties.

Most of the World Uses the Day, Month, Year Format

The vast majority of the world uses the format: day, then month, then year. Using the example above, 1/10/2022 would stand for the 1st of October, 2022. Clearly, this is very different than what it would mean in the United States. Just about every country in Europe uses this format. This includes the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, and numerous other countries. The vast majority of countries in South America also use this format. This includes Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. Countries in Western Asia also follow this format. This includes Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and numerous other countries in the Middle East.

What Is the Most Common Date Format Used in Asia?

The other common date format that people will see is the year, then month, then day. For example, January 10th, 2022 would be written as 2022-01-10 in Asia. Most of the biggest countries in Asia use this date format. This includes China, Japan, and South Korea. In addition, this format will be seen in a few scattered countries in Central Asia, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and a few others. This is the date format that is hardest to confuse because the year is written first; however, if the year is only represented by two numbers, it may be possible for people to get confused. The most important thing for people to remember when they are traveling is that they need to ask for clarification if something is unclear.