As of today (January 14, 2026, Gregorian calendar), the year in Ethiopia is 2018 under the Ethiopian calendar.

Ethiopia uses its own calendar system, which runs about 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world. This difference is normal, expected, and intentional-it is not a mistake or a political statement.

If you are reading this on a different date, the Ethiopian year may differ slightly depending on whether the Ethiopian New Year has already passed.

This question trends globally for a few recurring reasons:

  • Travelers and expatriates notice the year mismatch on documents, phones, or hotel receipts
  • Social media posts highlight that “Ethiopia is in a different year,” often without explanation
  • Businesses dealing with Ethiopian partners encounter date discrepancies
  • Ethiopian New Year (usually September 11 or 12) triggers annual spikes in searches

The confusion typically arises when people assume all countries use the same calendar system. Ethiopia does not.

What’s Confirmed vs What’s Unclear

Confirmed Facts

  • Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, derived from the ancient Alexandrian/Coptic calendar
  • The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months:
    • 12 months of 30 days
    • 1 short month (“Pagume”) of 5 or 6 days
  • The Ethiopian year currently lags the Gregorian calendar by:
    • 7 years and ~8 months (before Ethiopian New Year)
    • 8 years (after Ethiopian New Year)

What’s Often Unclear

  • The exact Ethiopian year depends on the current Gregorian date
  • The year changes in September, not January

What People Are Getting Wrong

Several misconceptions circulate widely:

  • “Ethiopia is behind or undeveloped.”
    False. This is a calendar difference, not a technological or economic one.

  • “Ethiopia uses the wrong calendar.”
    Incorrect. It uses a different historical system, just as China, Israel, and Islamic countries do.

  • “Phones or computers are misconfigured.”
    No. Ethiopian devices often intentionally display the Ethiopian calendar.

Real-World Impact (Everyday Scenarios)

Scenario 1: Travel or Immigration

A passport stamp or visa issued in Ethiopia may show the year 2018 even though the rest of the world says 2026. This is normal and legally recognized when properly converted.

Scenario 2: Business and Contracts

Companies working with Ethiopian firms must explicitly specify the calendar in contracts (e.g., “Gregorian calendar”) to avoid deadline disputes.

Benefits, Risks & Limitations

Benefits

  • Preserves cultural and historical continuity
  • Aligns religious and national observances accurately
  • Internally consistent and widely understood within Ethiopia

Risks / Limitations

  • International confusion if dates are not clearly labeled
  • Administrative friction in global systems that assume Gregorian dates
  • Errors in scheduling, billing, or compliance if conversions are ignored

What to Watch Next

Nothing is changing. Ethiopia is not planning to abandon its calendar, and there is no policy debate about switching systems. The calendar difference will continue exactly as it has for centuries.

What You Can Ignore Safely

  • Claims that Ethiopia is “living in the past”
  • Viral posts implying time travel or isolation
  • Assertions that the calendar difference affects modern technology or governance

These are exaggerations or misunderstandings.

Why is Ethiopia 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar?
Because the Ethiopian calendar calculates the birth of Jesus differently and follows older Alexandrian traditions.

When does the Ethiopian New Year start?
Usually on September 11 (September 12 in Gregorian leap years).

Does Ethiopia use Gregorian dates at all?
Yes. For international communication, aviation, diplomacy, and trade, Gregorian dates are commonly referenced alongside Ethiopian dates.