Every year, Europe, even the European Parliament, deals with the issue of the time change. As with so many issues, there is no unanimity here either. How do people view the time change and different times? The figures on keeping time are just as interesting as the question of whether people prefer summer or winter time.
The majority of Germans want one time
The Germans are by far the people who are in favor of a uniform time throughout the year, with 75 percent of respondents. Sweden follows some way behind at 58 percent. In Germany, only 18% are in favor of switching between summer and winter time. In contrast to the Italians at the other end of the scale, 32% of whom are in favor of abolishing the time change, but 56% are in favor of keeping it. The Spanish are the most balanced on the issue. While 42 percent are in favor of the time change, 46 percent would be happier with a standard time.
What is preferred? Summer or winter time?
It is well known that winters in Scandinavia are longer and darker than in Germany, for example. Nevertheless, 51 percent of respondents in Sweden are in favor of continuous “winter time”. Only 33 percent would prefer summer time. In all the other countries listed as examples, the situation is exactly the opposite, albeit with significantly different weightings. For example, 48% of Germans prefer to keep daylight saving time, while Italy and England are on a par with 59% each. The Spanish top the list of pro-summer time countries with 64%, a clear majority.
History of the time change
While in other countries, such as the USA, the time change has always been common practice, it was only introduced in Germany in 1980, at the same time as in the former GDR. This took place within the framework of an agreement of the Council of Europe. However, Europe-wide harmonized summer time has only existed since 1996. The background to this, as in other European countries, was the experience of the oil crisis and the desire to reduce energy consumption. The easiest way to achieve this was to have longer days and thus lower electricity consumption. It is only since 1996 that there has been a uniform regulation from when to when the annual Central European Summer Time (CEST) applies. However, there are also deviations. Ukraine “turned the clock” for the last time in 2024. The country is doing away with summer time for 2025. Georgia abolished summer time in 2014, Iceland in 1967, Russia in 2010 and some other former Soviet republics.
The question naturally arises as to how much energy is actually saved. For a one-person household, the Wirtschaftsdienst has calculated a saving of 3.85 euros (source: Wirtschaftsdienst)
However, the roots of daylight saving time in Germany go back to the German Empire. During the First World War, summer time was in force from 1916 to 1919. During the Second World War, summer time was also reintroduced, this time beyond the end of the war until 1950.
Summer time – not everyone joins in
There are too many countries in the world to list them all individually. We have therefore drawn up a continental list showing how daylight saving time is used on each continent:
| Continent | Daylight Saving in 2025 | Daylight Saving Abolished | Never Had Daylight Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 3 countries | 15 countries | 38 countries |
| Asia | 4 countries | 28 countries | 19 countries |
| Australia & Pacific | 3 countries | 5 countries | 11 countries |
| Europe | 49 countries | 5 countries | 1 country |
| North America | 8 countries | 11 countries | 20 countries |
| South America | 1 country | 8 countries | 5 countries |
Source: timeanddate.de
With the exception of Europe, the time change is met with cautious approval or even rejection worldwide.
Criticism of the time change
Biologists, human and veterinary physicians repeatedly criticize daylight saving time. The abrupt change to a shorter night at the beginning of summer time and the spontaneous early onset of darkness at the beginning of winter time is a biological burden for both humans and animals. The number of accidents involving wild animals that are active at dusk increases with the time change. The Fraunhofer Institute has shown that there are significant peaks in wildlife accidents twice a year – on the days after the time change (source: Tagesschau). According to a study by the health insurance company DAK, the majority of respondents state that they suffer health losses due to the time change (source: DAK).
For people, the list of disadvantages reads as follows:
- Disruption of sleep/biorhythm,
- increased number of traffic accidents,
- reduced performance at work,
- increased consumption of heating energy,
- increased consumption of fuel.
(Source: Wirtschaftsdienst)
What does the future hold?
Although the European Parliament voted in 2019 to abolish the clock change from 2021, nothing has happened. Despite the decision, the member states cannot reach an agreement, the decision is on ice and what remains is the wait for something to happen after all. Until then, people are using the mnemonic device of putting garden furniture outside the door in spring and bringing it back indoors in winter to answer the question of whether to move forward or back.
