Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Ethiopia Uses 2018 While World in 2026
Ethiopia uses a special calendar called the Geʽez calendar.
This calendar is different from the one most of the world uses, called the Gregorian calendar.
Because of this, when the world is in the year 2026, Ethiopia is still in the year 2018.
The Geʽez calendar has 13 months, with 12 months having 30 days each and a short 13th month called Pagume that has 5 days, or 6 days in a leap year.
The Ethiopian New Year starts in September, not January.
This difference happens because Ethiopia uses an older way of calculating the birth year of Jesus Christ.
The Geʽez calendar is used officially in Ethiopia for things like courts, schools, banks, and government offices.
Ethiopia uses the Geʽez calendar, which is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.
As of 2026 in the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia is in the year 2018.
The Ethiopian New Year begins in September, not January.
The Geʽez calendar has 13 months: 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5-6 days.
The difference arises from how the birth year of Jesus Christ was calculated.
- Who
- Ethiopia
- What
- Uses a different calendar system
- When
- As of 2026 Gregorian calendar
- Where
- Ethiopia
- Why
- Follows the Geʽez calendar, which is based on ancient Coptic calendar calculations
- Calendar Used
- Geʽez calendar
- Year Difference
- 7-8 years behind Gregorian calendar
- New Year Start
- September
- Months
- 13 months (12 of 30 days, 1 of 5-6 days)
- Official Use
- Courts, schools, banks, government offices
- Derivation
- Ancient Coptic calendar of Egypt
- Leap Year
- 13th month has 6 days
- Current Year
- 2018 (as of 2026 Gregorian)