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Worldwide Ramadan Fasting Periods
Fasting, a fundamental tenet of Islam, stands as one of the five pillars of the faith. As the Islamic calendar progresses through the month of Ramadan each Hijri year, adherents observe a fast, refraining from consuming food and drink from Sahri (pre-dawn meal) until sunset.
The duration of fasting varies worldwide due to variations in sunset and sunrise times linked to the geographical locations of different countries. In the upcoming Ramadan, Bangladeshi Muslims, for instance, will observe fasting periods ranging from approximately 13 hours and 13 minutes to 13 hours and 56 minutes.
A recent report by Al-Jazeera highlights the diversity in fasting durations across the globe during Ramadan 2024. In Christchurch, New Zealand, Muslims will experience the shortest fasting day, lasting 12 hours and 42 minutes. In contrast, the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, will witness the longest fasting duration at 17 hours and 52 minutes. Meanwhile, Iceland will observe fasting periods exceeding 16 hours.
Across Europe and parts of Asia, including Finland, Norway, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, and Kazakhstan, Muslims will engage in fasting for over 15 hours. Belgium, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Romania, Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Portugal, Canada, Japan, Greece, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Tunisia, Algeria, Iran, India, Morocco, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt will observe fasting periods exceeding 14 hours.
Shorter fasting periods of around 13 hours will be observed in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Somalia, Paraguay, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Angola, Thailand, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay, Australia, Chile, and among Muslims in New Zealand.
This global variation in fasting times underscores the rich diversity within the Muslim community, highlighting the unique experiences of believers around the world during the holy month of Ramadan.
