Which country has the most time zones?

Explanation

France is the right answer because the count is not limited to metropolitan France in Europe. Guinness World Records identifies France as the country with the most time zones, owing to the territories it governs beyond Europe. France has 12 time zones, ahead of Russia with 11 and the USA with 9 official time zones by law, or 11 if uninhabited territories are counted. France can reach 13 for part of the year when Daylight Saving Time is observed in Saint Pierre and Miquelon. So the ranking turns on overseas territories, not on the physical size of the mainland country.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) China is not the answer because, despite its size, it uses a single time zone.
• (B) The USA falls short because it has 9 official time zones by law, or 11 if uninhabited territories are included, while France is ranked higher.
• (D) Russia is close but still second-tier, with 11 time zones compared with France's higher count.

Concept

Time zones are a political-geographical count, not simply a measure of mainland area. RAS often tests this concept because overseas territories can overturn the intuitive answer.

Source

• Guinness World Records

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