Daylight Savings Facts and Statistics for 2024
Last Updated on: January 8th, 2024
Here are a few of the most interesting Daylight Savings facts and statistics I was able to dig up in my internet travels. As always, be sure to check back in the future as I will be updating this post as new and updated stats become available.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a system that is used in many countries to adjust the time by one hour during the summer months. The idea behind DST is to shift the hours of daylight to better align with the working hours of society, thereby reducing energy consumption and promoting outdoor activities. The clock is adjusted forward by one hour in the spring, usually in March or April, and is adjusted back by one hour in the fall, usually in October or November.
During DST, the sun appears to rise and set one hour later than it normally would according to the clock. For example, if sunset is normally at 6:00 pm, it would be pushed to 7:00 pm during DST. This can affect many aspects of daily life, such as work schedules, transportation schedules, and sleep patterns.
Not all countries observe DST, and those that do may have different start and end dates, depending on their location and climate. In the United States, DST begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Some countries, such as Japan and China, do not observe DST at all, while others, such as Australia, observe DST only in certain regions or territories.
Daylight Savings Facts
Who first proposed modern Daylight Saving Time?
George Hudson of New Zealand in 1895
Where was the first implementation of Daylight Saving Time?
Germany and Austria-Hungary in April 1916
When did Daylight Savings originate in the UK?
When did Daylight Savings originate in the U.S.?
Why was Daylight Saving Time implemented in the U.S.?
To reduce the need for artificial lighting
When does Daylight Saving begin each year in the U.S.?
The second Sunday in March
(as of 2007)
When does Daylight Saving end each year in the U.S.?
The first Sunday in November
(as of 2007)
Where, in the U.S., is Daylight Saving Time not observed?
Daylight Saving Time was actually repealed in the U.S. in 1919 and only existed sporadically until it was standardized in 1966.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the time between November and March is called “standard time” and the period between March and November is called “saving time.”
BONUS FACTOID: Coldplay’s Chris Martin is the great-great-grandson of the ‘father’ of British Daylight Savings, William Willettt. One of Coldplay’s most popular songs was titled ‘Clocks.’ hmmmmm…..
Please note that some of these numbers are easier to find than others. Most of these fun facts come from internet reports and may not be official tallies. No information contained on DMR should be relied upon to make investment decisions. Basically, this is the best I can find and I don’t guarantee anything to be 100%.