Singapore Standard Time facts for kids

Singapore Standard Time (often called SST) is the official time zone used in Singapore. It is 8 hours ahead of UTC, which means it's known as UTC+08:00. This time zone helps everyone in Singapore stay on the same schedule, from schools to businesses.

How Singapore's Time Changed

Singapore's time hasn't always been the same! Over the years, it has changed several times for different reasons.

Early Times

Long ago, before 1905, Singapore's local time was based on its exact location. It was about 6 hours, 55 minutes, and 25 seconds ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This was a very precise time, but it was unique to Singapore.

Changes During World War II

During World War II, when Japan occupied Singapore, the time zone changed to follow Japan's time. This meant Singapore used UTC+09:00. This made it easier for the Japanese to manage things across their occupied territories. Sometimes, they also used daylight saving time, which meant shifting the clock forward by 20 or 30 minutes.

Moving to UTC+08:00

A big change happened on 31 December 1981. Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore's neighbor, decided to move its standard time forward by 30 minutes, changing from UTC+07:30 to UTC+08:00. To keep things simple and help with travel and business between the two places, Singapore decided to do the same.

So, on 1 January 1982, Singapore officially started using UTC+08:00. This meant that people in Singapore celebrated New Year's Day half an hour earlier than they would have if the time hadn't changed! Since then, Singapore has stayed on UTC+08:00.

Images for kids

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  Time Ball Observatory at Fort Canning Hill