As Ramadan 2025 begins, the length of fasting varies drastically across the globe—while some countries will barely go half a day without food, others will fast for nearly an entire day, with the sun barely setting in certain regions.
In the Arab world, fasting is already underway, with Algeria experiencing the longest fast at 16 hours 44 minutes, while Somalia will have one of the shortest at 13 hours. Most Arab nations will observe fasts between 16 to 17 hours.
Scandinavian countries face an extreme challenge, with parts of Sweden, Norway, and Finland observing fasts exceeding 20 hours. In Greenland, the “midnight sun” will keep the sky bright for most of the day, leading to a 20-hour fast.
Meanwhile, countries like Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan will have moderate fasting hours of 12 to 13 hours, while South Africa will see one of the shortest durations at 11 to 12 hours.
Countries with the Longest Fasting Hours:
- Sweden (Kiruna): 20 hours 30 minutes
- Norway: 20 hours 30 minutes
- Finland (Helsinki): 19 hours 9 minutes
- Iceland (Reykjavik): 19 hours 59 minutes
- Greenland (Nuuk): 20 hours
- Canada (Ottawa): 16.5 hours
- Algeria: 16 hours 44 minutes
- Scotland (Glasgow): 16.5 hours
- Switzerland (Zurich): 16.5 hours
- Italy (Rome): 16.5 hours
- Spain (Madrid): 16 hours
- United Kingdom (London): 16 hours
- France (Paris): 15.5 hours
Countries with the Shortest Fasting Hours:
- Brasilia, Brazil: 12-13 hours
- Harare, Zimbabwe: 12-13 hours
- Islamabad, Pakistan: 12-13 hours
- Johannesburg, South Africa: 11-12 hours
- Montevideo, Uruguay: 11-12 hours
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: 12 hours
- Christchurch, New Zealand: 12 hours
- Dubai, UAE: 13 hours
- New Delhi, India: 12.5 hours
- Jakarta, Indonesia: 12.5 hours
- Medina, Saudi Arabia: 13 hours
- New York, USA: ~13 hours
- Istanbul, Turkey: ~13 hours
As the holy month unfolds, the test of patience and endurance will vary, but the essence of Ramadan remains universal—self-discipline, spiritual devotion, and unity across the Muslim world. Whether fasting under the relentless Arctic sun or in the swift nightfall of the Southern Hemisphere, the spirit of Ramadan transcends time zones and borders.