ISLAMABAD: As Muslims around the world prepare to observe the holy month Ramadan, fasting hours in 2025 will vary significantly depending on geographical location, with some countries experiencing fasting durations of over 20 hours while others observe considerably shorter periods.
According to astronomical calculations reported by Time and Date and various meteorological agencies, the longest fasting durations will be recorded in northern regions such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Greenland.
Meanwhile, countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, will witness the shortest fasting periods.
Longest Fasting Hours
In Scandinavian countries, where daylight extends for long hours during this time of the year, fasting durations will exceed 20 hours in some locations.
- Sweden (Kiruna): 20 hours 30 minutes
- Norway: 20 hours 30 minutes
- Greenland (Nuuk): 20 hours
- Iceland (Reykjavik): 19 hours 59 minutes
- Finland (Helsinki): 19 hours 9 minutes
- Canada (Ottawa): 16.5 hours
- Algeria: 16 hours 44 minutes
- United Kingdom (London): 16 hours
- France (Paris): 15.5 hours
Muslims living in these northernmost regions will have to fast for extended periods due to the “midnight sun” phenomenon, where the sun remains visible for prolonged durations or sets for only a short time.
In Kiruna, Sweden, the sun dips below the horizon for just a few minutes.
Shortest Fasting Hours
Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, where daylight hours are shorter in March, fasting durations will be considerably less.
- Christchurch, New Zealand: 12 hours
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: 12 hours
- Johannesburg, South Africa: 11-12 hours
- Montevideo, Uruguay: 11-12 hours
- King Scott, Chile: 11-12 hours
- Islamabad, Pakistan: 12-13 hours
- Jakarta, Indonesia: 12.5 hours
- Dubai, UAE: 13 hours
In these locations, shorter daylight hours result in fasting periods that range between 11 and 13 hours, significantly less than their northern counterparts.
Regional Comparisons
In the Arab world, Algeria will experience the longest fasting hours, lasting 16 hours and 44 minutes, while Somalia will have the shortest, at 13 hours.
Most other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, will observe fasting durations ranging between 13 and 17 hours, depending on their geographical positioning.
In the United States, New York will have a fasting duration of approximately 13 hours, while Istanbul, Turkey, will experience similar conditions. European cities such as Madrid, Rome, and Zurich will see fasting times of around 16.5 hours.
Determining Fasting Hours
Fasting durations are influenced by the Earth’s tilt and its position in orbit around the sun. During Ramadan 2025, which begins on March 1, daylight hours will be longer in the Northern Hemisphere as it approaches the summer solstice, while the Southern Hemisphere heads into autumn, resulting in shorter days.
In extreme northern and southern locations, where the sun does not set or rises for only a short period, Islamic scholars recommend following fasting durations based on Makkah’s timings or the nearest moderate city.
