Convert Gregorian calendar to Ethiopian calendar instantly with our free online converter. Works on any device, with a step-by-step manual method, examples and a month chart.
Gregorian to Ethiopian calendar
Pick a Gregorian date to see the same day in the Ethiopian calendar.
The Gregorian calendar to Ethiopian calendar conversion translates a date from the Gregorian calendar, used almost everywhere in the world, into the Ethiopian calendar (Ge’ez calendar). Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar in daily life, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church uses it for religious holidays.
Need the Reverse Conversion?
If you have an Ethiopian date and need the Gregorian equivalent, use our Ethiopian to Gregorian Calendar Converter.
How to Use the Gregorian to Ethiopian Calendar Converter Online
- Select a Gregorian date using the date picker, or click Today.
- The Ethiopian equivalent appears below, with the month name in Amharic and English, the weekday, and the year.
- Check the month grid to see where your date falls in the Ethiopian month.
The converter is ideal for students, researchers, developers, travelers, and anyone working with Ethiopian dates, such as birth certificates, visa paperwork, church holidays, or business deadlines.
Is the converter free? Do I need an app or download?
Yes, it is completely free. It runs in your browser on phones, tablets, and computers, so you don’t need a Gregorian to Ethiopian calendar converter app or any download. To keep it handy on your phone, add this page to your home screen or bookmark it.
Can I save a conversion as a PDF?
Yes. Use your browser’s Print → Save as PDF option to keep a copy of your result or of this page’s conversion chart.
Key Differences Between the Gregorian and Ethiopian Calendars
1. Year difference. The Ethiopian calendar is 7 or 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. The gap comes from a different calculation of the date of the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus. The Ethiopian year starts on 1 Meskerem, which falls on September 11 or 12 in the Gregorian calendar.
- From January 1 until the day before Ethiopian New Year: subtract 8 years.
- From Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) until December 31: subtract 7 years.
2. Month structure. The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months:
- 12 months of 30 days each
- Pagume, a short 13th month with 5 days, or 6 days in a leap year
3. Leap year rule. The Ethiopian calendar adds a leap day every 4 years with no century exceptions, in line with the Julian calendar. An Ethiopian year is a leap year when it leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by 4 (for example 2015 and 2019), and the extra day goes at the end of Pagume. Because of this, Ethiopian New Year falls on September 12 in a Gregorian year that is followed by a Gregorian leap year (such as 2023 and 2027). In every other year it falls on September 11. This holds for dates from 1901 to 2099.
Ethiopian Months and Their Gregorian Start Dates
| Ethiopian month | Amharic | Typical Gregorian start |
|---|---|---|
| Meskerem | መስከረም | Sept 11 |
| Tikimt | ጥቅምት | Oct 11 |
| Hidar | ኅዳር | Nov 10 |
| Tahsas | ታኅሣሥ | Dec 10 |
| Tir | ጥር | Jan 9 |
| Yekatit | የካቲት | Feb 8 |
| Megabit | መጋቢት | Mar 10 |
| Miazia | ሚያዝያ | Apr 9 |
| Genbot | ግንቦት | May 9 |
| Sene | ሰኔ | Jun 8 |
| Hamle | ሐምሌ | Jul 8 |
| Nehase | ነሐሴ | Aug 7 |
| Pagume | ጳጉሜን | Sept 6 (5 or 6 days) |
In years when Ethiopian New Year falls on September 12, Meskerem through Yekatit start one day later than shown. Megabit onward start on the same dates.
How to Convert Gregorian Calendar to Ethiopian Calendar Manually
Follow these steps to convert a Gregorian date to the Ethiopian calendar by hand:
Step 1: Find the Ethiopian New Year that began the year your date falls in.
- If your date is on or after September 11 or 12, use the New Year of that same Gregorian year.
- If your date is earlier than that, use the New Year of the previous Gregorian year.
- New Year is September 12 if that Gregorian year divided by 4 leaves a remainder of 3. Otherwise it is September 11.
Step 2: Find the Ethiopian year.
- On or after New Year: Ethiopian year = Gregorian year − 7
- Before New Year: Ethiopian year = Gregorian year − 8
Step 3: Count the days since New Year. Day number = (days between New Year and your date) + 1. New Year’s Day is day 1.
Step 4: Find the month and day.
- Month = day number ÷ 30, rounded up
- Day = day number − 30 × (month − 1)
- Month 13 is Pagume.
Example 1: October 15, 2023
- 2023 leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by 4, so New Year was September 12, 2023.
- The date is after New Year, so the Ethiopian year is 2023 − 7 = 2016.
- September 12 to October 15 is 33 days, so the day number is 34.
- 34 days = Meskerem (30 days) + 4 days.
- Result: 4 Tikimt 2016
Example 2: February 20, 2024
- The date is before New Year, so the Ethiopian year is 2024 − 8 = 2016.
- The relevant New Year is September 12, 2023, since 2023 leaves a remainder of 3.
- From September 12, 2023 to February 20, 2024 is 161 days, so the day number is 162.
- 162 days = 5 full months (150 days) + 12 days, which puts the date in month 6, Yekatit.
- Result: 12 Yekatit 2016
Example 3: The New Year transition (September 11 and 12, 2023)
- September 11, 2023 is the last day of Ethiopian year 2015: 6 Pagume 2015. Ethiopian year 2015 was a leap year, so Pagume had 6 days.
- September 12, 2023 is 1 Meskerem 2016, the Ethiopian New Year.
Quick Reference: Year Adjustment
| Gregorian date | Ethiopian year | Ethiopian month at the start of the range |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – day before Ethiopian New Year (Sept 10, or Sept 11 before a leap year) | Gregorian year − 8 | Tahsas or Tir, running through Pagume |
| Ethiopian New Year (Sept 11 or 12) – Dec 31 | Gregorian year − 7 | Meskerem, running through Tahsas |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to convert Gregorian calendar to Ethiopian calendar?
Use the free online converter above. It gives the Ethiopian date instantly. Manual conversion works too, but counting from New Year by hand is slower and easier to get wrong.
Why is the Ethiopian calendar 7 to 8 years behind?
It calculates the year of the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus differently from the Gregorian calendar. The result is a gap of 7 years from September to December and 8 years from January to September.
When is Ethiopian New Year?
Enkutatash falls on September 11 in most years and on September 12 in the Gregorian year before a leap year.
Why does the Ethiopian calendar have 13 months?
It has 12 months of 30 days plus Pagume, which has 5 days or 6 in a leap year, giving 365 or 366 days.
Conclusion
The Ethiopian calendar is unique and still in everyday use in Ethiopia and in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. If you work across countries or manage projects, documents, or travel involving Ethiopia, a Gregorian calendar to Ethiopian calendar converter saves time and avoids errors. Bookmark this free online tool for fast, accurate conversions.