tzdata
Provider of IANA time zone data
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. This is a lightweight, actively maintained utility with zero dependencies and permissive licensing. Install it when your application needs reliable timezone support in environments where system timezone data is unavailable or unreliable—particularly in containers and cross-platform deployments.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution.
- Actively maintained with a recent release; last commit on 2026-08-04 and no runtime dependencies.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in proprietary and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-07-10 (35 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-04 · 112 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 504,527,593 downloads/mo, #80 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install tzdata
import tzdata
# System will use tzdata as fallback when system timezone data is unavailable- How frequently the package updates to track IANA time zone database changes
- Whether this package is necessary on systems with standard time zone data already installed
What it is and what it does
tzdata is a Python package containing compiled IANA time zone database binaries. It implements PEP 615 by providing a pip-installable fallback for systems that lack system time zone data or have it in non-standard locations. The package contains zic-compiled time zone definitions and requires no runtime dependencies.
When installed, tzdata serves as a safety net for Python applications that need accurate time zone information but cannot rely on the host system to provide it. This is particularly useful in containerized environments, minimal systems, or cross-platform deployments where time zone data availability is uncertain.
Use it for
- Running Python applications in Docker containers where system timezone data may not be installed
- Ensuring consistent timezone handling across different operating systems and environments
- Developing applications that need reliable IANA timezone support independent of system configuration
- Deploying Python services in minimal or sandboxed environments with limited system libraries
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
This is a lightweight, actively maintained utility with zero dependencies and permissive licensing. Install it when your application needs reliable timezone support in environments where system timezone data is unavailable or unreliable—particularly in containers and cross-platform deployments.
Install
tzdata on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Actively maintained with a recent release; last commit on 2026-08-04 and no runtime dependencies.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in proprietary and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install tzdata
import tzdata
# System will use tzdata as fallback when system timezone data is unavailableVerify before relying
- How frequently the package updates to track IANA time zone database changes
- Whether this package is necessary on systems with standard time zone data already installed
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=2 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 35 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 504,527,593 / month, #80 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: tzdata-2026.3-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also pytz · types-tzlocal · tzwhere · iso8601