diff --git a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
index 56e5f43..220467c 100644
--- a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -2162,13 +2162,15 @@ function drupal_bootstrap($phase = NULL, $new_phase = TRUE) {
  */
 function drupal_get_user_timezone() {
   global $user;
-  if (variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1) && $user->uid && $user->timezone) {
+  $config = config('system.regional');
+  if ($config->get('timezone.user.configurable') && $user->uid && $user->timezone) {
     return $user->timezone;
   }
   else {
     // Ignore PHP strict notice if time zone has not yet been set in the php.ini
     // configuration.
-    return variable_get('date_default_timezone', @date_default_timezone_get());
+    $config_data_default_timezone = $config->get('timezone.default');
+    return isset($config_data_default_timezone) ? $config_data_default_timezone : @date_default_timezone_get();
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/includes/install.core.inc b/core/includes/install.core.inc
index e53e895..2cca97e 100644
--- a/core/includes/install.core.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.core.inc
@@ -1820,7 +1820,7 @@ function _install_configure_form($form, &$form_state, &$install_state) {
     '#type' => 'select',
     '#title' => st('Default country'),
     '#empty_value' => '',
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('site_default_country', NULL),
+    '#default_value' => config('system.regional')->get('country.default'),
     '#options' => $countries,
     '#description' => st('Select the default country for the site.'),
     '#weight' => 0,
@@ -1882,8 +1882,10 @@ function install_configure_form_submit($form, &$form_state) {
     ->set('mail', $form_state['values']['site_mail'])
     ->save();
 
-  variable_set('date_default_timezone', $form_state['values']['date_default_timezone']);
-  variable_set('site_default_country', $form_state['values']['site_default_country']);
+  config('system.regional')
+    ->set('timezone.default', $form_state['values']['date_default_timezone'])
+    ->set('country.default', $form_state['values']['site_default_country'])
+    ->save();
 
   // Enable update.module if this option was selected.
   if ($form_state['values']['update_status_module'][1]) {
diff --git a/core/modules/locale/locale.module b/core/modules/locale/locale.module
index aec8978..016a212 100644
--- a/core/modules/locale/locale.module
+++ b/core/modules/locale/locale.module
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ function locale_library_info_alter(&$libraries, $module) {
           'ui' => array(
             'datepicker' => array(
               'isRTL' => $language_interface->direction == LANGUAGE_RTL,
-              'firstDay' => variable_get('date_first_day', 0),
+              'firstDay' => config('system.regional')->get('date.first_day'),
             ),
           ),
         ),
diff --git a/core/modules/openid/lib/Drupal/openid/Tests/OpenIDRegistrationTest.php b/core/modules/openid/lib/Drupal/openid/Tests/OpenIDRegistrationTest.php
index d556309..b776161 100644
--- a/core/modules/openid/lib/Drupal/openid/Tests/OpenIDRegistrationTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/openid/lib/Drupal/openid/Tests/OpenIDRegistrationTest.php
@@ -41,8 +41,11 @@ class OpenIDRegistrationTest extends OpenIDTestBase {
    */
   function testRegisterUserWithEmailVerification() {
     config('user.settings')->set('verify_mail', TRUE)->save();
-    variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1);
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'Europe/Brussels');
+
+    config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.user.configurable', 1)
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'Europe/Brussels')
+      ->save();
 
     // Tell openid_test.module to respond with these SREG fields.
     variable_set('openid_test_response', array(
@@ -98,8 +101,11 @@ class OpenIDRegistrationTest extends OpenIDTestBase {
    */
   function testRegisterUserWithoutEmailVerification() {
     config('user.settings')->set('verify_mail', FALSE)->save();
-    variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1);
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'Europe/Brussels');
+
+    config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.user.configurable', 1)
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'Europe/Brussels')
+      ->save();
 
     // Tell openid_test.module to respond with these SREG fields.
     variable_set('openid_test_response', array(
@@ -139,8 +145,10 @@ class OpenIDRegistrationTest extends OpenIDTestBase {
    * information (a username that is already taken, and no e-mail address).
    */
   function testRegisterUserWithInvalidSreg() {
-    variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1);
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'Europe/Brussels');
+    config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.user.configurable', 1)
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'Europe/Brussels')
+      ->save();
 
     // Tell openid_test.module to respond with these SREG fields.
     $web_user = $this->drupalCreateUser(array());
@@ -190,7 +198,6 @@ class OpenIDRegistrationTest extends OpenIDTestBase {
    * information (i.e. no username or e-mail address).
    */
   function testRegisterUserWithoutSreg() {
-    variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1);
 
     // Load the front page to get the user login block.
     $this->drupalGet('');
@@ -230,7 +237,9 @@ class OpenIDRegistrationTest extends OpenIDTestBase {
    */
   function testRegisterUserWithAXButNoSREG() {
     config('user.settings')->set('verify_mail', FALSE)->save();
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'Europe/Brussels');
+    config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'Europe/Brussels')
+      ->save();
 
     // Tell openid_test.module to respond with these AX fields.
     variable_set('openid_test_response', array(
diff --git a/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php b/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php
index 25139e6..a9473e4 100644
--- a/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php
+++ b/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ abstract class WebTestBase extends TestBase {
     // Restore necessary variables.
     variable_set('install_task', 'done');
     config('system.site')->set('mail', 'simpletest@example.com')->save();
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', date_default_timezone_get());
+    config('system.regional')->set('timezone.default', date_default_timezone_get())->save();
 
     // Set up English language.
     unset($conf['language_default']);
diff --git a/core/modules/system/config/system.regional.yml b/core/modules/system/config/system.regional.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1360c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/system/config/system.regional.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+country:
+    default: ''
+date:
+    first_day: '0'
+timezone:
+    default: ''
+    user:
+        configurable: '1'
+        default: '0'
+        warn: '0'
diff --git a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/FormatDateTest.php b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/FormatDateTest.php
index 9639758..a746411 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/FormatDateTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/FormatDateTest.php
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ class FormatDateTest extends WebTestBase {
   }
 
   function setUp() {
-    parent::setUp();
-    variable_set('configurable_timezones', 1);
+    parent::setUp('language');
+    config('system.regional')->set('timezone.user.configurable', 1)->save();
     variable_set('date_format_long', 'l, j. F Y - G:i');
     variable_set('date_format_medium', 'j. F Y - G:i');
     variable_set('date_format_short', 'Y M j - g:ia');
diff --git a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/System/DateTimeTest.php b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/System/DateTimeTest.php
index 6494a4a..960b4aa 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/System/DateTimeTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/System/DateTimeTest.php
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ class DateTimeTest extends WebTestBase {
    */
   function testTimeZoneHandling() {
     // Setup date/time settings for Honolulu time.
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'Pacific/Honolulu');
-    variable_set('configurable_timezones', 0);
+    $config = config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'Pacific/Honolulu')
+      ->set('timezone.user.configurable', 0)
+      ->save();
     variable_set('date_format_medium', 'Y-m-d H:i:s O');
 
     // Create some nodes with different authored-on dates.
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ class DateTimeTest extends WebTestBase {
     $this->assertText('2007-07-31 21:00:00 -1000', t('Date should be identical, with GMT offset of -10 hours.'));
 
     // Set time zone to Los Angeles time.
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'America/Los_Angeles');
+    $config->set('timezone.default', 'America/Los_Angeles')->save();
 
     // Confirm date format and time zone.
     $this->drupalGet("node/$node1->nid");
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc b/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc
index 72c50d4..023f9b6 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc
@@ -1954,11 +1954,12 @@ function system_rss_feeds_settings_submit($form, &$form_state) {
  * Form builder; Configure the site regional settings.
  *
  * @ingroup forms
- * @see system_settings_form()
+ * @see system_config_form()
  * @see system_regional_settings_submit()
  */
-function system_regional_settings() {
+function system_regional_settings($form, &$form_state) {
   $countries = country_get_list();
+  $config = config('system.regional');
 
   // Date settings:
   $zones = system_time_zones();
@@ -1972,7 +1973,7 @@ function system_regional_settings() {
     '#type' => 'select',
     '#title' => t('Default country'),
     '#empty_value' => '',
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('site_default_country', ''),
+    '#default_value' => $config->get('country.default'),
     '#options' => $countries,
     '#attributes' => array('class' => array('country-detect')),
   );
@@ -1980,7 +1981,7 @@ function system_regional_settings() {
   $form['locale']['date_first_day'] = array(
     '#type' => 'select',
     '#title' => t('First day of week'),
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('date_first_day', 0),
+    '#default_value' => $config->get('date.first_day'),
     '#options' => array(0 => t('Sunday'), 1 => t('Monday'), 2 => t('Tuesday'), 3 => t('Wednesday'), 4 => t('Thursday'), 5 => t('Friday'), 6 => t('Saturday')),
   );
 
@@ -1989,14 +1990,15 @@ function system_regional_settings() {
     '#title' => t('Time zones'),
   );
 
+  $date_default_timezone = $config->get('timezone.default');
   $form['timezone']['date_default_timezone'] = array(
     '#type' => 'select',
     '#title' => t('Default time zone'),
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('date_default_timezone', date_default_timezone_get()),
+    '#default_value' => isset($date_default_timezone) ? $date_default_timezone : date_default_timezone_get(),
     '#options' => $zones,
   );
 
-  $configurable_timezones = variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1);
+  $configurable_timezones = $config->get('timezone.user.configurable');
   $form['timezone']['configurable_timezones'] = array(
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Users may set their own time zone.'),
@@ -2016,14 +2018,14 @@ function system_regional_settings() {
   $form['timezone']['configurable_timezones_wrapper']['empty_timezone_message'] = array(
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Remind users at login if their time zone is not set.'),
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('empty_timezone_message', 0),
+    '#default_value' => $config->get('timezone.user.warn'),
     '#description' => t('Only applied if users may set their own time zone.')
   );
 
   $form['timezone']['configurable_timezones_wrapper']['user_default_timezone'] = array(
     '#type' => 'radios',
     '#title' => t('Time zone for new users'),
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('user_default_timezone', DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_DEFAULT),
+    '#default_value' => $config->get('timezone.user.default'),
     '#options' => array(
       DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_DEFAULT => t('Default time zone.'),
       DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_EMPTY   => t('Empty time zone.'),
@@ -2032,7 +2034,24 @@ function system_regional_settings() {
     '#description' => t('Only applied if users may set their own time zone.')
   );
 
-  return system_settings_form($form);
+  return system_config_form($form, $form_state);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Form builder submit handler; Handle submission for regional settings.
+ *
+ * @ingroup forms
+ * @see system_regional_settings()
+ */
+function system_regional_settings_submit($form, &$form_state) {
+  config('system.regional')
+    ->set('country.default', $form_state['values']['site_default_country'])
+    ->set('date.first_day', $form_state['values']['date_first_day'])
+    ->set('timezone.default', $form_state['values']['date_default_timezone'])
+    ->set('timezone.user.configurable', $form_state['values']['configurable_timezones'])
+    ->set('timezone.user.warn', $form_state['values']['empty_timezone_message'])
+    ->set('timezone.user.default', $form_state['values']['user_default_timezone'])
+    ->save();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.install b/core/modules/system/system.install
index b8d402c..1d71553 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.install
@@ -2062,6 +2062,22 @@ function system_update_8017() {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Moves site system regional settings from variable to config.
+ *
+ * @ingroup config_upgrade
+ */
+function system_update_8018() {
+  update_variables_to_config('system.regional', array(
+    'site_default_country' => 'country.default',
+    'date_first_day' => 'date.first_day',
+    'date_default_timezone' => 'timezone.default',
+    'configurable_timezones' => 'timezone.user.configurable',
+    'empty_timezone_message' => 'timezone.user.warn',
+    'user_default_timezone' => 'timezone.user.default',
+  ));
+}
+
+/**
  * @} End of "defgroup updates-7.x-to-8.x".
  * The next series of updates should start at 9000.
  */
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.module b/core/modules/system/system.module
index 69a1f62..4bd68fc 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.module
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.module
@@ -2218,7 +2218,7 @@ function system_custom_theme() {
  * Implements hook_form_FORM_ID_alter().
  */
 function system_form_user_profile_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state) {
-  if (variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1)) {
+  if (config('system.regional')->get('timezone.user.configurable')) {
     system_user_timezone($form, $form_state);
   }
   return $form;
@@ -2228,7 +2228,8 @@ function system_form_user_profile_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state) {
  * Implements hook_form_FORM_ID_alter().
  */
 function system_form_user_register_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state) {
-  if (variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1) && variable_get('user_default_timezone', DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_DEFAULT) == DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_SELECT) {
+  $config = config('system.regional');
+  if ($config->get('timezone.user.configurable') && $config->get('timezone.user.default') == DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_SELECT) {
     system_user_timezone($form, $form_state);
     return $form;
   }
@@ -2238,8 +2239,9 @@ function system_form_user_register_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state) {
  * Implements hook_user_presave().
  */
 function system_user_presave($account) {
-  if (variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1) && empty($account->timezone) && !variable_get('user_default_timezone', DRUPAL_USER_TIMEZONE_DEFAULT)) {
-    $account->timezone = variable_get('date_default_timezone', '');
+  $config = config('system.regional');
+  if ($config->get('timezone.user.configurable') && empty($account->timezone) && !$config->get('timezone.user.default')) {
+    $account->timezone = $config->get('timezone.default');
   }
 }
 
@@ -2247,8 +2249,9 @@ function system_user_presave($account) {
  * Implements hook_user_login().
  */
 function system_user_login(&$edit, $account) {
+  $config = config('system.regional');
   // If the user has a NULL time zone, notify them to set a time zone.
-  if (!$account->timezone && variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1) && variable_get('empty_timezone_message', 0)) {
+  if (!$account->timezone && $config->get('timezone.user.configurable') && $config->get('timezone.user.warn')) {
     drupal_set_message(t('Configure your <a href="@user-edit">account time zone setting</a>.', array('@user-edit' => url("user/$account->uid/edit", array('query' => drupal_get_destination(), 'fragment' => 'edit-timezone')))));
   }
 }
@@ -2269,7 +2272,7 @@ function system_user_timezone(&$form, &$form_state) {
   $form['timezone']['timezone'] = array(
     '#type' => 'select',
     '#title' => t('Time zone'),
-    '#default_value' => isset($account->timezone) ? $account->timezone : ($account->uid == $user->uid ? variable_get('date_default_timezone', '') : ''),
+    '#default_value' => isset($account->timezone) ? $account->timezone : ($account->uid == $user->uid ? config('system.regional')->get('timezone.default') : ''),
     '#options' => system_time_zones($account->uid != $user->uid),
     '#description' => t('Select the desired local time and time zone. Dates and times throughout this site will be displayed using this time zone.'),
   );
diff --git a/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserRegistrationTest.php b/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserRegistrationTest.php
index d89192f..051f801 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserRegistrationTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserRegistrationTest.php
@@ -149,17 +149,18 @@ class UserRegistrationTest extends WebTestBase {
   }
 
   function testRegistrationDefaultValues() {
-    $config = config('user.settings');
     // Don't require e-mail verification and allow registration by site visitors
     // without administrator approval.
-    $config
+    $config_user_settings = config('user.settings')
       ->set('verify_mail', FALSE)
       ->set('register', USER_REGISTER_VISITORS)
       ->save();
 
     // Set the default timezone to Brussels.
-    variable_set('configurable_timezones', 1);
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'Europe/Brussels');
+    $config_system_regional = config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.user.configurable', 1)
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'Europe/Brussels')
+      ->save();
 
     // Check that the account information fieldset's options are not displayed
     // is a fieldset if there is not more than one fieldset in the form.
@@ -181,8 +182,8 @@ class UserRegistrationTest extends WebTestBase {
     $this->assertEqual($new_user->theme, '', t('Correct theme field.'));
     $this->assertEqual($new_user->signature, '', t('Correct signature field.'));
     $this->assertTrue(($new_user->created > REQUEST_TIME - 20 ), t('Correct creation time.'));
-    $this->assertEqual($new_user->status, $config->get('register') == USER_REGISTER_VISITORS ? 1 : 0, t('Correct status field.'));
-    $this->assertEqual($new_user->timezone, variable_get('date_default_timezone'), t('Correct time zone field.'));
+    $this->assertEqual($new_user->status, $config_user_settings->get('register') == USER_REGISTER_VISITORS ? 1 : 0, t('Correct status field.'));
+    $this->assertEqual($new_user->timezone, $config_system_regional->get('timezone.default'), t('Correct time zone field.'));
     $this->assertEqual($new_user->langcode, language_default()->langcode, t('Correct language field.'));
     $this->assertEqual($new_user->preferred_langcode, language_default()->langcode, t('Correct preferred language field.'));
     $this->assertEqual($new_user->picture, 0, t('Correct picture field.'));
diff --git a/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserTimeZoneTest.php b/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserTimeZoneTest.php
index 3ff4daf..6969a42 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserTimeZoneTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/user/lib/Drupal/user/Tests/UserTimeZoneTest.php
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ class UserTimeZoneTest extends WebTestBase {
    */
   function testUserTimeZone() {
     // Setup date/time settings for Los Angeles time.
-    variable_set('date_default_timezone', 'America/Los_Angeles');
-    variable_set('configurable_timezones', 1);
+    $config = config('system.regional')
+      ->set('timezone.user.configurable', 1)
+      ->set('timezone.default', 'America/Los_Angeles')
+      ->save();
     variable_set('date_format_medium', 'Y-m-d H:i T');
 
     // Create a user account and login.
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.api.php b/core/modules/user/user.api.php
index 98b9887..e213fe5 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.api.php
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.api.php
@@ -297,8 +297,9 @@ function hook_user_update($account) {
  *   The user object on which the operation was just performed.
  */
 function hook_user_login(&$edit, $account) {
+  $config = config('system.regional');
   // If the user has a NULL time zone, notify them to set a time zone.
-  if (!$account->timezone && variable_get('configurable_timezones', 1) && variable_get('empty_timezone_message', 0)) {
+  if (!$account->timezone && $config->get('timezone.user.configurable') && $config->get('timezone.user.warn')) {
     drupal_set_message(t('Configure your <a href="@user-edit">account time zone setting</a>.', array('@user-edit' => url("user/$account->uid/edit", array('query' => drupal_get_destination(), 'fragment' => 'edit-timezone')))));
   }
 }