🇸🇹 What Time Zone Is Sao Tome and Principe In?
Sao Tome and Principe time zone facts for 2026
| Primary IANA time zone | Africa/Sao_Tome |
|---|---|
| UTC offset in January | UTC |
| UTC offset in July | UTC |
| Time zones in the country | 1 |
| Clock changes in 2026 | None — same offset all year |
Offsets and dates come from the IANA time zone database. For live daylight-saving dates worldwide see the DST tracker.
Time difference between Sao Tome and Principe and major cities
| Compared with | In January | In July |
|---|---|---|
| UTC | same time | same time |
| London | same time | 1 hour behind |
| New York | 5 hours ahead | 4 hours ahead |
| India (IST) | 5 hours 30 minutes behind | 5 hours 30 minutes behind |
| Tokyo | 9 hours behind | 9 hours behind |
"Ahead" means Sao Tome and Principe is later in the day than the city shown. Differences change when either side moves its clocks, which is why January and July are listed separately.
Sao Tome and Principe time zone — frequently asked questions
What time zone does Sao Tome and Principe use?
Sao Tome and Principe uses Africa/Sao_Tome. Its offset is UTC in January and the same in July.
Does Sao Tome and Principe observe daylight saving time?
No. Sao Tome and Principe does not change its clocks in 2026: Africa/Sao_Tome stays on UTC all year.
What is the time difference between Sao Tome and Principe and New York?
In January Sao Tome and Principe is 5 hours ahead of New York; in July it is 4 hours ahead of New York.
What is the time difference between Sao Tome and Principe and India?
In January Sao Tome and Principe is 5 hours 30 minutes behind India (IST, UTC+5:30); in July it is 5 hours 30 minutes behind India. India does not use daylight saving time.