Clocks Fall Back: 2024-2025 Daylight Saving Time Switch Dates & Global Debate

Worldwide DST Switch Dates: In late 2024, most of Europe ends “summer time” on Sunday, October 27, 2024, and North America follows on Sunday, November 3, 2024 ^[1] ^[2]. In 2025, Europe’s clocks fall back on October 26, 2025, with the U.S. and Canada changing a week later on November 2, 2025 ^[3] ^[4]. Southern Hemisphere countries (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, Chile) switch to winter time in their autumn (March–April) ^[5] ^[6].
Who Still Observes DST: Only about one-third of countries (roughly 70 nations) currently observe Daylight Saving Time, mainly in Europe, North America, and parts of the Middle East ^[7]. About half of all countries once used DST but have since abolished it – in the past decade alone, nations like Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Namibia, Uruguay and most of Mexico have all ended seasonal clock changes ^[8].
Looming Changes & Exceptions: The European Union’s 2018 plan to stop the twice-yearly clock change remains in limbo; as of 2025 the proposal is still under review and EU countries continue switching clocks pending a final decision ^[9] ^[10]. In the United States, 19 states have passed laws or resolutions in favor of permanent DST (“locking the clock”), but federal approval is required to enact it ^[11] ^[12]. Meanwhile, some regions recently made bold moves: Mexico abolished DST nationwide in 2022 (except in U.S. border areas) ^[13], Jordan and Syria shifted to year-round DST in 2022 ^[14], and Paraguay decided in late 2024 to stay on DST permanently (no more winter clock change) ^[15].
Health & Safety Concerns: Medical experts argue that DST transitions disrupt sleep and circadian rhythms. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine warns that shifting clocks twice a year poses health and safety risks – advocating instead for permanent standard time aligned with natural light cycles ^[16]. Studies have linked DST clock changes to spikes in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents, especially following the spring “forward” loss of sleep ^[17] ^[18]. A recent model even suggested that scrapping DST could prevent over 300,000 stroke cases and 2 million obesity cases annually in the U.S. ^[19].
Energy & Economic Impacts: Daylight Saving Time was originally intended to save energy, but modern research casts doubt on its benefits. An official study in Mexico found that DST reduced annual energy use by a mere 0.16%, while causing social and health side effects ^[20]. Similarly, many experts note that any evening lighting savings may be offset by increased morning heating or cooling needs ^[21]. Some proponents claim extra daylight in the evening boosts retail sales and outdoor activity, but overall evidence on DST’s economic impact remains mixed ^[22].

Global Schedule: When Clocks Switch to “Winter Time” in 2024-2025

Daylight Saving Time (DST) – also known as summer time – is the period when clocks are set one hour ahead of standard time to extend evening daylight. The switch back to standard “winter” time typically occurs in the autumn. Here is an overview of when various countries and regions will turn clocks back during the 2024/2025 cycle:

Europe: Last Sunday of October

Who & When: Nearly all European countries that observe DST change their clocks on the last Sunday of October each year. In 2024, that fell on October 27, and in 2025 it will be October 26 ^[23] ^[24]. At 01:00 UTC on those dates, clocks in Europe are set back by one hour to revert from summer time to standard time (often called winter time) ^[25]. This simultaneous Europe-wide change occurs at 2 a.m. local time in most of Western Europe (3 a.m. in Eastern Europe) due to the coordinated 01:00 UTC timing ^[26].

Countries Affected: All members of the European Union (from Portugal and Ireland to Poland and Cyprus) follow this schedule under EU law ^[27]. Notably, the United Kingdom, which observes “British Summer Time,” also aligns with Europe’s last-Sunday-of-October switch back to GMT each autumn ^[28]. Other European nations outside the EU – such as Norway, Switzerland, Albania, Serbia, Ukraine, etc. – likewise synchronize their DST period with the EU timetable ^[29] ^[30]. For example, clocks in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland all went back one hour in the early hours of Oct. 27, 2024, and will do so again on Oct. 26, 2025.

Exceptions: A few parts of Europe do not observe DST at all and thus have no clock change. Notably Iceland stays on the same time year-round (it abolished DST in the 1960s). Russia also does not change clocks (it moved to “permanent” standard time in 2014 after experimenting with permanent DST) ^[31]. Turkey stopped switching in 2016, opting to remain on UTC+3 year-round (permanent daylight time) ^[32]. These countries will not turn clocks back in October because they no longer use DST.

Outlook in Europe: The continent’s synchronized clock change may not be permanent. In 2018, after an EU-wide survey found 84% of respondents opposed the biannual time change, the European Parliament voted to end seasonal clock shifts ^[33]. However, the plan stalled amid member-state disagreements and logistical concerns. As of March 2025, the European Commission confirmed the proposal “remains under review,” meaning no changes will occur before 2026 at the earliest ^[34] ^[35]. For now, Europeans will continue to “spring forward” in late March and “fall back” in late October each year ^[36].

North America: First Sunday of November

United States & Canada: In most of North America, DST runs a longer span and ends on the first Sunday of November. The U.S. and Canada will set clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. (local time) on November 3, 2024, and again on November 2, 2025, marking the return from DST to standard time ^[37] ^[38]. For instance, at 2:00 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2024, clocks across the continental U.S. were turned back to 1:00 a.m. ^[39]. Canada’s provinces (except those that don’t observe DST) make the change on the same dates as the U.S. ^[40]. This North American schedule (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November) has been in place since 2007, when the U.S. extended DST by about four weeks for alleged energy savings ^[41].

Regional Differences: Not all parts of the U.S. and Canada observe DST. Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not use DST at all ^[42] – their clocks remain unchanged in November. U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa also do not observe DST ^[43]. In Canada, most of Saskatchewan and parts of British Columbia, Nunavut, Ontario and Quebec stay on the same time year-round ^[44]. These regions will not “fall back” because they never “sprang forward” in the first place. Elsewhere, Mexico presents a special case: in 2022 Mexico’s government abolished DST nationwide, so most of Mexico no longer changes clocks at all ^[45]. The only exceptions are some northern border municipalities (e.g. Tijuana, Juárez) and the state of Baja California, which by local decision still align with the U.S. DST calendar due to close economic ties ^[46] ^[47]. Those Mexican border areas did set clocks back on Nov. 3, 2024 alongside the U.S., even as the rest of Mexico stayed on standard time permanently ^[48].

Notable Latin America: Almost all of Central and South America has abandoned DST in recent years. For example, Brazil hasn’t observed DST since 2019, Argentina since 2009, and most of the Caribbean equatorial countries never used it. One of the few remaining users was Paraguay, which historically set clocks forward in October and back in March. However, in an October 2024 policy shift, Paraguay decided not to roll back its clocks and instead keep DST (UTC–3) year-round going forward ^[49]. This meant Paraguay’s last ever winter-time change occurred on Oct. 6, 2024, after which it will no longer do seasonal shifts. Chile is now one of the only countries in South America still following an annual DST cycle, typically advancing clocks in September and reverting in April (Chile’s DST ended on April 6, 2024, and will end on April 7, 2025) ^[50]. Neighboring Peru, Colombia, and others have long since scrapped DST.

Southern Hemisphere: Spring & Autumn Transitions

In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons – and thus the DST schedule – are roughly opposite to the north. Countries here start their DST in September/October (as spring begins) and end it in March/April (when autumn arrives) ^[51] ^[52].

Oceania: In Australia, only some states observe DST. The states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT (plus Norfolk Island) advance clocks on the first Sunday in October and turn them back on the first Sunday in April ^[53]. For the 2024 season, these areas set clocks forward on Oct. 6, 2024 and will end DST on April 6, 2025; the cycle repeats with Oct. 5, 2025 start and April 5, 2026 end dates. (Note: Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory do not use DST, so no changes occur there ^[54].) Uniquely, Lord Howe Island (Australia) sets clocks only 30 minutes forward/back at DST transitions ^[55]. In New Zealand, DST runs from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April. Clocks in NZ moved back an hour at 3 a.m. on April 7, 2024, and will do so again on April 6, 2025 ^[56]. The Chatham Islands (NZ territory) follow the same dates but with a 45-minute offset change ^[57].

Africa & Middle East: There is very limited DST usage in Africa – Egypt is currently the only African country observing DST after reintroducing it in 2023 ^[58]. Egypt’s 2024 DST period ran from late April until the last Thursday of October: clocks were turned back by an hour at 12:00 midnight on October 26, 2024 per the new law ^[59]. In 2025, Egypt’s DST is expected to end on October 30, 2025 (the last Thursday of that October). Morocco, by contrast, maintains permanent DST (UTC+1) year-round since 2018 ^[60] – the only exceptions are during the holy month of Ramadan when Morocco temporarily switches to standard time (UTC+0) to shorten the daily fast. In 2025, for example, Morocco will turn clocks back an hour on February 23 (just before Ramadan) and forward again on April 6 (after Ramadan) ^[61], but it does not observe a seasonal winter change in October.

In the Middle East and Asia, a patchwork of practices exists. Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine all still use DST, generally similar to Europe’s schedule. In Israel, DST ended at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 and will end on Oct. 26, 2025 (last Sunday of October) ^[62]. Lebanon aligned with a similar timeframe in 2024. (Notably, Lebanon experienced a one-time political dispute in March 2023 that delayed the DST start date, briefly creating two local time zones ^[63], but it returned to the normal schedule afterward.) The Palestinian territories typically follow a similar March–October DST, though timing may adjust around Ramadan ^[64]. Many Asian countries that once had DST have eliminated it – e.g. Japan, India, and China do not observe DST at all. In recent years Iran (as of 2022) and Syria (2022) abolished their DST transitions, opting to stay on a fixed time year-round ^[65]. Jordan likewise did not “fall back” in October 2022, moving to permanent summer time (UTC+3) to allow more evening light ^[66]. These decisions mean an increasing number of countries in Asia/Middle East have no winter time change anymore.

The Push to Abolish DST: Politics and Public Opinion

The practice of daylight saving has faced growing political scrutiny and public debate. Many governments are reassessing whether the hassle of changing clocks is worth any benefits. Here are some key developments:

European Union – Stuck in Time: After strong public outcry, the EU appeared poised to end DST changes. In 2018 the European Commission proposed abolishing seasonal clock shifts, citing an EU-wide survey in which 84% of 4.6 million respondents wanted to stop changing clocks ^[67]. The European Parliament voted in 2019 to phase out DST by 2021. However, implementation stalled as EU member states could not agree on whether to stay on permanent summer or winter time, and the COVID-19 pandemic shifted priorities. By 2025, the plan has not been enacted – the EU has officially kept the proposal “under review,” asking for more impact studies ^[68] ^[69]. This means the status quo continues: EU countries will keep toggling between summer and winter time indefinitely until a consensus emerges ^[70]. Nevertheless, pressure remains from some politicians and citizens to “end the clock-changing tyranny,” and the topic resurfaces periodically in Brussels discussions ^[71] ^[72].
United States – “Lock the Clock” Movement: In the U.S., federal law governs DST, and changing it is politically contentious. Over the past several years, 19 states (from California and Oregon to Florida and Maine) have passed bills or resolutions calling for an end to the seasonal time change – most aiming to adopt permanent DST year-round ^[73]. However, U.S. states cannot move to year-round DST without Congressional approval (states can stay on permanent standard time unilaterally, but none of the DST-observing states have chosen that) ^[74]. In March 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent nationwide ^[75]. Yet, the bill stalled in the House of Representatives and expired, meaning the clock changes continued. Lawmakers like Senator Marco Rubio (who sponsored the bill) have been vocal: “This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support,” Rubio said in 2023 ^[76]. The issue was re-introduced in the new Congress in 2023 and again in 2024, but as of late 2024 no final action has been taken ^[77]. Frustration over the health effects has even led some advocates to push for permanent standard time instead, which could be enacted at the state level without Congress ^[78]. (Several western states including California and Washington have indicated they would prefer permanent standard time if DST cannot be made permanent nationwide ^[79].) For now, Americans still dutifully change clocks each March and November, though polls show a majority favor ending the practice.
Countries That Recently Ended DST: A number of countries have in fact abolished DST in the last decade, often citing popular dislike or negligible benefits. Mexico provides a prominent example: in October 2022, Mexico’s Congress voted overwhelmingly to eliminate DST after 26 years of observing it ^[80]. The change was effective immediately, so when Mexicans turned clocks back in October 2022, the government announced they would “never again” jump forward in spring ^[81]. This move aligned with Mexican public opinion and a study by the national university indicating DST saved only 0.16% of energy and caused disruptions to people’s well-being ^[82]. Now, aside from a few northern towns tied to U.S. time, Mexico stays on standard time all year. Syria and Jordan also scrapped DST in 2022, with both governments announcing they would remain on GMT+3 permanently to avoid winter’s early nightfall ^[83] ^[84]. Syria cited energy savings and economic benefits for staying on “summer time” year-round ^[85], while Jordan’s officials noted it would improve safety by ensuring more daylight during commutes ^[86]. In Iran, a 2022 law abolished the DST practice from 2023 onward, ending a decades-long tradition of clock changes each March and September ^[87]. Russia had already switched to permanent standard time (UTC+3 Moscow Time) in 2014, following complaints after a brief experiment with permanent DST that led to very dark winter mornings. Other examples include Turkey (permanent DST since 2016) and Namibia (which ended DST in 2017) ^[88]. Even small islands like Fiji and Samoa have canceled DST in recent years due to local opposition or lack of benefit ^[89]. This trend reflects a growing global move away from biannual clock changes.
Paraguay’s 2024 Decision: As mentioned, Paraguay surprised observers by becoming the latest country to quit seasonal time changes. In October 2024 the Paraguayan government announced that after decades of shifting between Paraguay Summer Time (UTC–3) and Winter Time (UTC–4), the nation will stay on UTC–3 permanently going forward ^[90]. The last DST switch was on October 6, 2024 (when clocks were due to go forward for spring); after that, clocks will not fall back in March. Paraguay thus joins its neighbors (like Argentina and Brazil) in no longer observing DST at all. The move was justified in terms of energy and public preference – many Paraguayans found the clock changes inconvenient. Neighboring Chile, however, has maintained DST and even extended it in recent years, showing that policies still vary by country.
Public Sentiment: In many countries where DST persists, public opinion appears split or increasingly negative. The Pew Research Center notes that Europe and North America are actually outliers – most of the world’s nations have no DST ^[91] ^[92]. Awareness of health studies and the relatively small energy savings has fueled campaigns like “Stop Switching, Stay Fixated” in Europe and “Lock the Clock” in the U.S. The fact that dozens of countries have abandoned DST without major issues is often cited by reformers: e.g., when Mexico ditched DST, American commentators asked if the U.S. should follow suit ^[93]. Still, some industries (retail, sports, tourism) have lobbied to keep later daylight on summer evenings, and time change policies can get tangled with politics. The debate is far from settled, but the momentum toward ending DST transitions has grown in the 2020s.

Expert Opinions: Health, Safety, and Energy Effects of DST

Does daylight saving time still make sense? Experts in fields from medicine to economics have weighed in on the impacts of the biannual clock change. Here are some of the key arguments and findings:

Health and Circadian Rhythms: Medical researchers caution that abruptly changing the clock by one hour can disturb humans’ circadian rhythms (the internal 24-hour body clock), leading to short-term stress and potential long-term health effects ^[94]. Studies have documented a spike in heart attacks and strokes in the days following the spring DST transition, when one hour of sleep is lost ^[95]. For instance, a 2019 study in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences found heart attack rates increased ~24% in the week after clocks moved forward in spring (and conversely fell after the fall back switch). The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has taken a strong stance that seasonal time changes are detrimental: the AASM’s official position (updated in 2020 and 2022) is that the U.S. should abolish DST transitions entirely and adopt permanent standard time, which is more in sync with natural light/dark cycles ^[96]. The AASM and many sleep experts argue that darker mornings caused by permanent DST can themselves harm health, but flipping back and forth between DST and standard is worst of all ^[97] ^[98]. In their view, sticking to one stable time (especially standard time, which places dawn closer to waking hours) would improve sleep quality, reduce circadian misalignment, and benefit public health ^[99]. Some health professionals have even dubbed DST transitions a “massive societal experiment” where nearly everyone is slightly jetlagged for a few days. While an hour’s shift might seem minor, at a population level it correlates with measurable increases in traffic accidents and emergency room visits in the week after the change ^[100]. As one researcher quipped, with millions undergoing the shift, even rare risks (like an extra heart attack per thousands of people) will affect someone – “someone’s going to win the lottery, just not one you want to win,” referring to adverse events ^[101].
Psychological and Productivity Effects: Beyond acute medical events, DST shifts can impact mood and productivity. Many people report feeling groggy or out-of-sorts for days after a clock change – essentially a mini jet lag. This can lead to decreased work productivity and concentration. A study in Mexico (cited by the Mexican Congress when eliminating DST) pointed to increased difficulties in attention and memory around clock change periods ^[102]. School children and students may also experience disrupted sleep patterns affecting learning. In countries with very late summer sunsets under DST, some have raised concerns about children’s bedtimes being delayed. On the other hand, proponents claim brighter evenings during DST can improve mental health by encouraging outdoor activity and exercise after work. The evidence is mixed: a Danish study found a slight uptick in depression diagnoses right after the fall time change (potentially related to earlier darkness in the evenings), whereas other research suggests any mood effects are small and transient. Still, the general medical consensus is that minimizing abrupt time shifts is kinder to our bodies and minds ^[103] ^[104].
Safety on Roads: One oft-cited benefit of DST is that extending daylight into the evening could reduce traffic accidents (since more people drive home in daylight). Some studies in the 1970s and 80s did find lower crash rates after the spring switch. However, more recent analyses paint a complex picture. While dark morning commutes (as happens under DST) can increase risks, so can sleepy drivers right after a time change. A 2020 report in Current Biology found an increase in fatal car accidents in the week following the spring DST shift in the U.S., attributing it to sleep loss and circadian disruption. Conversely, having extra light on autumn mornings after the fall-back may briefly improve safety. The net effect is hard to measure and likely varies by location and commuting patterns. The U.S. Department of Transportation has maintained that DST “saves lives” by reducing accidents during daylight, but many experts now challenge that, saying the clock change itself creates a short-term hazard that might outweigh any lighting benefit ^[105]. In any case, permanent DST or permanent standard time would eliminate the sudden transition period, which is when some of the worst accident spikes occur.
Energy Consumption: Saving electricity was the original rationale for DST – shifting an hour of daylight from morning to evening was supposed to reduce the need for artificial lighting in the evening. Indeed, during World War I and II, many countries adopted DST to conserve coal and energy. Modern energy studies, however, indicate that the savings from DST are marginal at best in today’s world ^[106]. Lighting is a smaller portion of household energy usage now (due to efficient LED lights), and heating/air-conditioning play a bigger role. Some research finds DST may even increase energy use in certain regions, as people run air conditioners on warm lighter evenings or need heating on dark chilly mornings. For example, a study by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2008 found a very slight electricity savings (about 0.5% over the DST period). On the other hand, a comprehensive study in Indiana (which introduced statewide DST in 2006) actually showed a 1–4% rise in energy usage due to greater AC use on summer evenings. In Mexico, as noted, the government found only a 0.16% savings in electricity from DST ^[107] – an amount so small it was deemed not worth the hassle. European Commission experts similarly acknowledged that overall energy savings from DST are now “negligible” in Europe ^[108]. As a result, energy agencies mostly no longer advocate strongly for DST as an efficiency measure. Any minor lighting savings tend to be offset by other factors in modern life.
Economic and Social Effects: The economic impact of DST is a mixed bag with arguments on both sides. Sectors like retail, sports, and tourism often favor DST, claiming that extra daylight in the evening prompts people to go out shopping or engage in activities, boosting business. For instance, the golf industry once estimated DST brought in hundreds of millions in additional revenue as people play more after-work rounds. The barbecue and patio industries similarly saw increased sales tied to long summer evenings. However, these gains may be balanced by costs in other areas: workplace fatigue from DST changeovers can mean productivity losses (some studies even noted more cyberloafing at work the Monday after a clock change!). There are also administrative costs to adjust schedules, timetables, and systems – for example, airline schedules and train timetables must be recalibrated, and there’s a risk of meetings missed or computer glitches around the switchover time. One famous incident occurred in 1999 when terrorists’ bomb timers in the West Bank were thrown off by Israel and Palestine being out of sync on DST, leading to bombs detonating prematurely. While rare, such examples show the complication of inconsistent time changes. From a broad economic standpoint, a 2022 U.S. Congressional study concluded that the overall GDP effect of DST is likely very small, positive or negative. In other words, for most people the inconvenience outweighs any economic gain. This has led many business groups to stop lobbying for DST, and instead some support a fixed year-round time (either standard or daylight) so that commerce isn’t disrupted twice a year.
Experts’ Bottom Line: Increasingly, sleep scientists and chronobiologists (experts in body clocks) recommend ending the clock changes. They tend to prefer permanent standard time, which ensures the sun is closer to overhead at 12:00 and mornings are lighter. This, they argue, aligns better with human natural rhythms – essentially, standard time is “solar time.” Permanent DST (meaning later sunsets year-round) would deliver bright evenings in winter but very dark mornings, which many experts say could cause chronic sleep deprivation for early risers (children going to school in pitch dark, etc.) ^[109] ^[110]. Nonetheless, if forced to choose between switching or any permanent schedule, either permanent option is seen as better than biannual shifts in terms of public health ^[111] ^[112]. Organizations like the AASM and the American Heart Association have published statements urging policymakers to eliminate the DST transitions for the sake of societal well-being. As one sleep medicine professor put it, “It’s not about morning people or night owls – it’s that standard time is biologically more appropriate for everyone. But whichever we pick, let’s just pick one and stop changing the clocks”. The DST debate thus increasingly centers on how to stop the switching (and whether to favor permanent DST or standard time), rather than whether to stop it at all.

Conclusion: A Time of Change?

As the 2024/2025 winter-time switch approaches across the world, the practice of daylight saving time finds itself at a crossroads. This year, over 70 countries will still perform the familiar ritual of turning clocks back in October or November. They will join a tradition begun over a century ago in the name of energy conservation and wartime efficiency. Yet, as we’ve seen, a growing chorus of experts, legislators, and citizens is questioning that ritual. Is it time to put DST to bed?

The immediate reality is that for 2024 and 2025, the clock changes will go on as scheduled in Europe, North America, and elsewhere – people will gain an “extra” hour of sleep in the fall, and lose an hour come spring. But the trend lines are clear: many places have recently opted out of shifting clocks, and major economies are contemplating it. The European Union’s decision, whenever it comes, could affect over 440 million residents and set an example for others. In the U.S., while federal gridlock persists, the near-unanimous state-level support for ending clock changes is a strong signal of public sentiment.

Daylight saving time was always a trade-off – chasing a bit more evening sun at the cost of darker mornings and biannual disruptions. In an era of modern lighting and flexible work schedules, that trade-off seems increasingly unnecessary to many. “Falling back” and “springing forward” may soon become relics of a bygone timekeeping tradition. For now, though, remember to check when your local clocks change – and perhaps savor that extra hour in bed when winter time arrives, as it might not be forever.

Sources: European and U.S. government statements on DST policy ^[113] ^[114]; Pew Research Center analysis of global DST adoption ^[115] ^[116]; Timeanddate.com world DST schedule for 2024-2025 ^[117] ^[118]; The Guardian on Mexico’s DST abolition ^[119] ^[120]; Timeanddate News on Syria, Jordan, and Paraguay time change decisions ^[121] ^[122]; American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement ^[123]; Live Science reporting on health studies ^[124] ^[125]; Timeanddate “DST: What’s the point?” explainer ^[126]. Each provides insight into why the world’s twice-yearly time warp is under more scrutiny than ever.