How to convert Datetime to Unix timestamp in SAS

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    data ConvertDateToUnix;
        sas_date = '15JUL2018:12:30:45'dt; /* A random date in 2018 */
        unix_timestamp = (sas_date - '01JAN1970:00:00:00'dt) / 1;
        format sas_date datetime20.;
        put unix_timestamp=;
    run;

Output:

1531657845

Example only. There may be multiple ways to perform this operation.

Code Explanation

In this example, the SAS datetime value 15JUL2018:12:10:45 is converted to a Unix timestamp by subtracting the base date (01JAN1970:00:00:00) from it.
The difference is automatically given in seconds, and the Unix timestamp is calculated. The result is displayed in seconds since 1970-01-01, giving a Unix timestamp of '1531657845'.

Convert Unix timestamp to Date in SAS

Other useful SAS date functions

Function	Description	Example
`intnx()`	Advances a date, time, or datetime value by a specified number of intervals.	`intnx('SECOND', '01JAN1970'd, 1514764800)` returns 01JAN2018:00:00:00
`intck()`	Returns the number of intervals between two dates, times, or datetime values.	`intck('SECOND', '01JAN1970:00:00:00'dt, '15JUL2018:12:30:45'dt)` returns the Unix timestamp 1531656645.
`today()`	Returns the current date as a SAS date value.	`today()` returns the current date.
`time()`	Returns the current time as a SAS time value.	`time()` returns the current time.
`datetime()`	Returns the current date and time as a SAS datetime value.	`datetime()` returns the current datetime.
`datepart()`	Extracts the date part from a SAS datetime value.	`datepart('15JUL2018:12:30:45'dt)` returns 15JUL2018.
`timepart()`	Extracts the time part from a SAS datetime value.	`timepart('15JUL2018:12:30:45'dt)` returns 12:30:45.
`mdy()`	Creates a SAS date value from month, day, and year.	`mdy(7, 15, 2018)` returns the date 15JUL2018.
`hms()`	Creates a SAS time value from hour, minute, and second.	`hms(12, 30, 45)` returns the time 12:30:45.
`dhms()`	Creates a SAS datetime value from date, hour, minute, and second.	`dhms('15JUL2018'd, 12, 30, 45)` returns 15JUL2018:12:30:45.

Current Unix Timestamp SECONDS SINCE JAN 01 1970

Current UTC Time

2025-08-20