What Is the Afghanistan Date Converter?
The Afghanistan Date Converter is a free online tool that converts any date between the three calendars used in Afghanistan and the broader Muslim world: Shamsi (Solar Hijri / Afghan calendar), Miladi (Gregorian), and Hijri (Islamic Lunar). Unlike most converters that only go one direction, this tool updates all three calendars simultaneously the moment you change any date — making it the fastest and easiest Afghan date converter available online.
The Three Afghan Calendars Explained
Shamsi Calendar — The Official Afghan Calendar
The Shamsi calendar (also called the Solar Hijri or Persian calendar) is the official civil calendar of Afghanistan. It is a solar calendar, meaning one year = one full orbit of Earth around the Sun (~365.25 days), so it stays perfectly aligned with the seasons. The Shamsi year currently runs 621–622 years behind the Gregorian calendar. Shamsi year 1404 runs from approximately March 21, 2025 to March 20, 2026. The Afghan New Year — Nawroz — falls on 1 Hamal, the Spring Equinox (~March 20–21).
Miladi Calendar — Gregorian International Standard
The Miladi (Gregorian) calendar is the international standard used in global business, science, and travel. In Afghanistan it is called "Miladi" (from Arabic, meaning "birth") and is used alongside the Shamsi calendar for passports, visa applications, international contracts, and foreign correspondence.
Hijri Calendar — Islamic Lunar Calendar
The Hijri calendar is the Islamic lunar calendar used across the Muslim world to determine religious dates: Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Hajj, and other observances. It has 12 lunar months totaling ~354 days — about 11 days shorter than a solar year. This is why Islamic holidays shift backward through the Gregorian calendar each year, cycling through all seasons over ~33 years.
Common Conversion Examples
| Shamsi شمسی | Miladi میلادی | Hijri هجری | Event |
|---|
| 1 Hamal 1404 | 21 March 2025 | 21 Ramadan 1446 | Nawroz (New Year) |
| 1 Hamal 1403 | 20 March 2024 | 10 Ramadan 1445 | Nawroz 1403 |
| 8 Sawr 1358 | 28 April 1979 | 1 Jumada II 1399 | Historical date |
| 1 Jadi 1401 | 22 December 2022 | 28 Jumada I 1444 | Winter Solstice |
| 1 Hamal 1400 | 21 March 2021 | 8 Sha'ban 1442 | Nawroz 1400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Shamsi new year (1 Hamal) falls around March 20–21 each Gregorian year. So from January 1 to ~March 20, 2025 it is Shamsi year 1403. From ~March 21, 2025 to ~March 20, 2026 it is Shamsi year 1404.
Enter your Shamsi birth year, month, and day in the Shamsi section above. The Miladi (Gregorian) date updates instantly in the Miladi section. This is the date to write on international forms, visa applications, and passports.
Nawroz (also Nowruz / نوروز) is the Afghan New Year, celebrated on 1 Hamal — the Spring Equinox. In 2025 (Shamsi 1404) Nawroz fell on Friday, March 21, 2025. It is a national public holiday in Afghanistan marked by outdoor celebrations, Buzkashi games, and traditional foods.
Both calendars count from 622 CE (the Hijra), but the Shamsi uses solar years (~365.25 days) while the Hijri uses lunar years (~354 days). The ~11-day difference per year means the Hijri year number is currently about 43 years ahead of the Shamsi year number (e.g., Shamsi 1404 ≈ Hijri 1447).
The Shamsi ↔ Gregorian conversion uses the established Borkowski astronomical algorithm (via Julian Day Numbers) and is accurate to the day for any date in the supported range (Shamsi 1300–1500). The Hijri conversion uses the standard tabular algorithm and is accurate to within one day — in practice, Hijri month starts vary by one day depending on moon sighting, so verify with your local authority for religious purposes.
Shamsi year 1404 runs from approximately March 21, 2025 to March 20, 2026 in the Gregorian calendar. Add 621 years before Nawroz and 622 after to estimate, or use the converter above for the exact day.
Shamsi year 1403 runs from approximately March 20, 2024 to March 20, 2025. It was a Shamsi leap year, so the month of Hoot had 30 days.
From January 1 to about March 19, 2024 it is Shamsi 1402. From Nawroz (about March 20, 2024) onward it is Shamsi 1403.
From January 1 to about March 20, 2026 it is Shamsi 1404. From Nawroz (about March 21, 2026) onward it is Shamsi 1405.
Shamsi 1400 runs from approximately March 21, 2021 to March 20, 2022.
Shamsi 1380 runs from approximately March 21, 2001 to March 20, 2002. To convert an exact birth date, enter the full Shamsi date in the converter above.
Shamsi 1370 runs from approximately March 21, 1991 to March 20, 1992.
Shamsi 1360 runs from approximately March 21, 1981 to March 20, 1982.
A common Shamsi year has 365 days and a leap year has 366 days. The first six months (Hamal–Sunbula) have 31 days, the next five (Mizan–Dalwa) have 30 days, and the last month (Hoot) has 29 days, or 30 in a leap year.
A Hijri (Islamic lunar) year has 354 days, or 355 in a leap year. This is about 11 days shorter than a solar year, which is why Islamic dates move earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year.
In 2025 the Hijri year is 1446 until about June 25, then 1447 begins around June 26, 2025. The "Hijri اليوم" box at the top of this page always shows today's exact Hijri date.
Hijri year 1447 begins around June 26, 2025 and ends around June 15, 2026 in the Gregorian calendar.
Ramadan 1446 began around March 1, 2025. The exact start depends on the local moon sighting, so it may vary by one day between countries.
Ramadan 1447 is expected to begin around February 18, 2026, subject to moon sighting in your region.
Eid al-Fitr 1446 (1 Shawwal) is expected around March 30–31, 2025, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Eid al-Adha 1446 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah) is expected around June 6–7, 2025, subject to moon sighting and the Hajj schedule.
The first month is Hamal (حمل), which begins on Nawroz (1 Hamal), the spring equinox around March 20–21.
The last month is Hoot (حوت), the twelfth month, which has 29 days in a common year and 30 days in a leap year.
The Shamsi calendar has 12 months: Hamal, Sawr, Jawza, Saratan, Asad, Sunbula, Mizan, Aqrab, Qaws, Jadi, Dalwa, and Hoot. The names come from the zodiac signs.
Spring: Hamal, Sawr, Jawza. Summer: Saratan, Asad, Sunbula. Autumn: Mizan, Aqrab, Qaws. Winter: Jadi, Dalwa, Hoot. Because Shamsi is a solar calendar, the months always stay aligned with the seasons.
Yes — both Afghanistan and Iran use the same Solar Hijri calendar with identical year numbers and day counts. Only the month names differ: Afghanistan uses the zodiac names (Hamal, Sawr…) while Iran uses Persian names (Farvardin, Ordibehesht…).
They refer to the same months. For example, Afghan Hamal = Iranian Farvardin, Afghan Sawr = Iranian Ordibehesht, and so on. The day counts and dates are identical.
Each serves a purpose: the Shamsi calendar is the official civil calendar for daily life and government; the Miladi (Gregorian) calendar is used for international business and travel; and the Hijri calendar sets Islamic religious dates.
The Shamsi (Solar Hijri) calendar is the official civil calendar of Afghanistan, used for government records, schools, newspapers, and public life.
Type the year, month, and day into the Miladi section of the converter above. The Shamsi date appears instantly in the Shamsi section, with no button to press.
Enter the date in the Hijri section. Both the Shamsi and Miladi sections update at once so you can read all three calendars together.
Enter your Shamsi birth date in the converter to get the Gregorian equivalent, then subtract it from today's date. As a quick estimate, your Gregorian birth year is your Shamsi birth year plus 621 (or 622 if born after Nawroz).
Today's Shamsi date is shown in the Shamsi امروز box at the top of this page, and is pre-filled in the converter when you load the page.
Today's Hijri date is displayed in the Hijri اليوم box at the top of the page. Remember that Hijri dates can vary by one day depending on local moon sighting.
Yes, Shamsi 1403 is a leap year, so the month of Hoot has 30 days instead of 29. The converter shows a "Shamsi Leap Year" badge whenever a leap year is selected.
No, Shamsi 1404 is a common (non-leap) year of 365 days, so Hoot has 29 days.
A Shamsi leap year occurs roughly every four years — eight times in each 33-year cycle. The exact pattern is set astronomically by the spring equinox, which makes the Solar Hijri calendar one of the most accurate in the world.
Hoot, the last Shamsi month, has 29 days in a common year and 30 days in a leap year.
"Solar Hijri" means a solar calendar that counts its years from the Hijra (the Prophet Muhammad's migration in 622 CE). It tracks the Sun, so the Shamsi year stays in step with the seasons — unlike the lunar Hijri calendar.
"AH" stands for Anno Hegirae — Latin for "in the year of the Hijra." It marks years counted from 622 CE, when the Islamic calendar begins.
"Miladi" (میلادی) comes from the Arabic word for "birth" and refers to the Gregorian calendar, which counts years from the traditional birth of Jesus. It is the international standard calendar.
The Hijri calendar follows the Moon (about 354 days for 12 lunar months), while the Gregorian calendar follows the Sun (about 365 days). The 11-day gap is why Islamic months like Ramadan move earlier each Gregorian year.
Yes. The converter supports a wide range — roughly Shamsi years 1300 to 1500, which covers Gregorian dates well into the past and future. Enter any date within that range for an accurate result.
It supports Shamsi years 1300–1500, Gregorian years 1900–2075, and the matching Hijri range. This covers virtually all birth dates, historical events, and future planning needs.
The Shamsi ↔ Gregorian conversion is accurate to the day and is reliable for visas, passports, and forms. For Hijri religious dates, confirm with your local authority since month starts can shift by a day based on moon sighting.
1 Hamal (the Shamsi New Year, Nawroz) falls on the spring equinox, around March 20 or 21 each Gregorian year.
March 21 usually corresponds to 1 Hamal, the first day of the Shamsi year and the Nawroz holiday. The exact Shamsi day can be 1 Hamal or the last day of Hoot depending on the year — check the converter for the specific year.
January 1, 2025 falls in the Shamsi month of Jadi in the year 1403. Enter the date in the Miladi section above to see the exact Shamsi day.
Enter your Shamsi birth date in the Shamsi section, then copy the Gregorian date shown in the Miladi section. That is the format to use on English-language forms, schools, and visa applications.
In Dari and Pashto the Gregorian calendar is usually called Miladi (میلادی) or sometimes Eesawi (عیسوی), both meaning the calendar dated from the birth of Jesus.
Afghan passports and international documents generally use the Gregorian (Miladi) date so they can be read worldwide, while domestic paperwork often uses the Shamsi date. Converting between the two is exactly what this tool is for.
Friday (Jumma) is the main day of rest and worship in Afghanistan, and many offices also close on Thursday. The week traditionally starts on Saturday (Shanbe).
Enter the Shamsi date in the converter — the day of the week (for example, Friday) is shown below the three calendars automatically.
Yes. Nawroz in Afghanistan and Nowruz in Iran are the same celebration of the solar new year on 1 Hamal / 1 Farvardin, the spring equinox. It is observed across Central and South Asia.
Each calendar starts counting from a different point and measures years differently. The Gregorian counts from the birth of Jesus, while the Shamsi and Hijri both count from 622 CE — but the Shamsi uses solar years and the Hijri uses shorter lunar years, so their numbers drift apart over time.