Ramadan 2025: Shortest and longest fasting hours around the world

Dubai: As Muslims around the world prepare to welcome Ramadan on Saturday, March 1, 2025, fasting hours will vary significantly depending on geographical location.

In the Arab world, Algeria will experience the longest fasting duration, with Muslims abstaining from food and drink for 16 hours and 44 minutes, according to astronomical calculations.

In contrast, Somalia will see the shortest fasting period in the region, lasting just 13 hours.

Across most Arab nations, fasting hours this year are expected to range between 16 and 17 hours.

However, in Scandinavian countries, where the sun barely sets or remains visible for long stretches, fasting hours will exceed 20 hours.

Longest fasting hours

In Sweden, Norway, and Finland, some areas will see the longest fasting durations reaching 20 hours and 30 minutes.

In the Swedish city of Kiruna, for instance, the sun only dips below the horizon for a few minutes, while in some northern locations, it does not set at all.

In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, fasting will last up to 20 hours due to the “midnight sun” phenomenon, which results in prolonged daylight in regions near the Arctic Circle.

Iceland will see similar conditions, with fasting extending to 19 hours and 59 minutes, while in Finland, the duration will be around 19 hours and 9 minutes.

The pattern continues across Norway, Sweden, Canada, and Alaska, where high latitudes lead to extended daylight and, consequently, some of the longest fasting hours worldwide.

Shortest fasting durations

On the other hand, the shortest fasting durations will be recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, where daylight hours are shorter during this time of year. In cities such as Brasilia, Brazil, and Harare, Zimbabwe, fasting hours will range between 12 and 13 hours.

Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, along with Ciudad del Este in Paraguay and Montevideo in Uruguay, will see fasting durations of approximately 11 to 12 hours. Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Christchurch, New Zealand, will observe fasting for around 12 hours. Meanwhile, King Scott in Chile will experience one of the shortest fasting durations, lasting between 11 and 12 hours.