Ramadan is a month-long observance in the Islamic faith that requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sunset. This year, the holy month is set to begin later this week and will last for approximately 30 days. However, the duration of the fast may vary depending on the location and the time of year. In this article, we will explore the fasting hours and iftar times around the world in 2023.
Why Does Ramadan Start on Different Dates Every Year?
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar Hijri calendar, which consists of months that are either 29 or 30 days long. As a result, Ramadan begins 10 to 12 days earlier each year. This year, the first day of fasting in Mecca is expected to be on Thursday, March 23, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Fasting Hours Around the World
The number of daylight hours varies across the world, which means that the duration of the fast also differs depending on the location. Muslims living in the world’s southernmost countries, such as Chile or New Zealand, will fast for an average of 12 hours, while those living in northernmost countries, such as Iceland or Greenland, will have 17-plus hours fasts.
Cities with the Longest Fasting Hours
Below is a list of cities around the world with the longest fasting hours in 2023:
- Nuuk, Greenland: 17 hours
- Reykjavik, Iceland: 17 hours
- Helsinki, Finland: 17 hours
- Stockholm, Sweden: 17 hours
- Glasgow, Scotland: 17 hours
- Amsterdam, the Netherlands: 16 hours
- Warsaw, Poland: 16 hours
- London, UK: 16 hours
- Astana, Kazakhstan: 16 hours
- Brussels, Belgium: 16 hours
- Paris, France: 15 hours
- Zurich, Switzerland: 15 hours
- Bucharest, Romania: 15 hours
- Ottawa, Canada: 15 hours
- Sofia, Bulgaria: 15 hours
- Rome, Italy: 15 hours
- Madrid, Spain: 15 hours
- Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina: 15 hours
- Lisbon, Portugal: 14 hours
- Athens, Greece: 14 hours
- Beijing, China: 14 hours
- Washington, DC, US: 14 hours
- Pyongyang, North Korea: 14 hours
- Ankara, Turkey: 14 hours
- Rabat, Morocco: 14 hours
- Tokyo, Japan: 14 hours
- Islamabad, Pakistan: 14 hours
- Kabul, Afghanistan: 14 hours
- Tehran, Iran: 14 hours
- Baghdad, Iraq: 14 hours
- Beirut, Lebanon: 14 hours
- Damascus, Syria: 14 hours
- Cairo, Egypt: 14 hours
- Jerusalem: 14 hours
- Kuwait City, Kuwait: 14 hours
- Gaza City, Palestine: 14 hours
- New Delhi, India: 14 hours
- Hong Kong: 14 hours
- Dhaka, Bangladesh: 14 hours
- Muscat, Oman: 14 hours
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 14 hours
- Doha, Qatar: 14 hours
- Dubai, UAE: 14 hours
- Aden, Yemen: 14 hours
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 13 hours
- Dakar, Senegal: 13 hours
- Abuja, Nigeria: 13 hours
- Colombo, Sri Lanka: 13 hours
- Bangkok, Thailand: 13 hours
