Ethiopian Calendar Date Converter

How the Ethiopian calendar converter works

The Ethiopian calendar (also called the Ge'ez calendar) is a solar calendar derived from the ancient Coptic calendar. It has 13 months: twelve months of 30 days each, plus a short 13th month called Pagume (ጳጉሜ) of 5 days, or 6 days in a leap year. The Ethiopian year begins on Meskerem 1, which is September 11 on the Gregorian calendar (or September 12 in the year just before a Gregorian leap year).

Because the two calendars start their years on different dates, the gap between them is not fixed. The Ethiopian year is 7 years behind the Gregorian year from September 11 through December 31, and 8 years behind from January 1 through September 10. Today is May 4, 2026 on the Gregorian calendar, which corresponds to Miyazya 26, 2018 E.C. on the Ethiopian calendar.

Ethiopian leap years

Ethiopian leap years occur every four years, in the year just before a Gregorian leap year. In a leap year, Pagume (the 13th month) has 6 days instead of 5, so the Ethiopian year totals 366 days. The converter on this page applies the leap-year rule automatically — Ethiopian year 2018 E.C. is a common year (Pagume has 5 days).

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ethiopia 7 years behind the world?

Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which counts years from a different dating of the Annunciation than the Gregorian calendar adopted by most of the world. The Ethiopian year is 7 years behind the Gregorian year from September 11 through December 31, and 8 years behind from January 1 through September 10. The current Ethiopian year is 2018 E.C., while the Gregorian year is 2026.

Is Ethiopia in 2018 or 2026?

On the Ethiopian calendar Ethiopia uses for daily civil life, it is currently year 2018 E.C. On the Gregorian calendar, the year is 2026. The Ethiopian year changes on Meskerem 1 (September 11 on the Gregorian calendar).

Why is Ethiopia in 2018 now?

The Ethiopian calendar is a solar calendar derived from the ancient Coptic calendar. It counts years from a different starting point than the Gregorian calendar, which is why Ethiopia is currently in 2018 E.C. while most of the world is in 2026. Ethiopia is the only country whose civil calendar still uses this dating system in everyday life.

What country still goes by 13 months?

Ethiopia is the country that uses a 13-month calendar in everyday civil life. Twelve months of the Ethiopian calendar are 30 days each, and a short 13th month called Pagume (ጳጉሜ) has 5 days, or 6 days in a leap year, for a total of 365 or 366 days per year.

How do I convert an Ethiopian date to Gregorian?

Use the converter at the top of this page. Pick the Ethiopian day, month and year on the left side; the matching Gregorian (Western) date appears on the right instantly.

How do I convert a Gregorian date to Ethiopian?

Use the converter at the top of this page. Pick the Gregorian day, month and year on the right side; the matching Ethiopian date appears on the left instantly.

When is Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)?

Ethiopian New Year, called Enkutatash, falls on Meskerem 1, which corresponds to September 11 on the Gregorian calendar (or September 12 in the year before a Gregorian leap year).

How many months does the Ethiopian calendar have?

The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months. Twelve months have 30 days each, and the 13th month, Pagume, has 5 days (6 in a leap year).

Does Ethiopia use daylight saving time?

No. Ethiopia stays on UTC+3 (East Africa Time) year-round.