Understanding Week Numbers (ISO 8601)
Most of the world uses the ISO 8601 standard for week numbering, which has a few key rules:
- A week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday.
- Week 1 of any year is the first week that contains a Thursday. This means it is the first week with four or more of its days in the new year.
- A year can have either 52 or 53 weeks.
Why Are Week Numbers Used?
Using week numbers (e.g., "W25" for Week 25) avoids ambiguity across different regions that might format dates differently. It is common in international business for fiscal reporting, project planning, and production schedules.
Conclusion
The week number is a standardized way to reference a specific week of the year. To find out the week number for today or any other date, use our accurate Week Number Calculator.