What country starts off the day first?

Question

It's seems to me that the tip of Russia is practically touching the international time line but no one said Russia?

Answer 1

In terms of 'major' countries (i.e. countries you've heard of!) it is New Zealand, followed by the east coast of Australia two hours later.

I flew west from San Francisco to Sydney and lost a day out of my life. Very weird experience.

Answer 2

The Republic of Kiribati is the country furthest east yet still west of the international date line. Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand's Kermadec Islands are all just west of that line too.

Yes, good point, there might be a month or two during the height of the Northern Hemisphere's summer where the sun rises on the eastern tip of Russia before the eastern tip of Kiribati but for almost all the rest of the year Kiribati wins that race by virtue of being significantly farther east.

Answer 3

Nuka'alofa it is the closest to the international date line