Qibla direction in Svalbard and Jan Mayen
The Qibla in Svalbard and Jan Mayen lies towards the south-east. Depending on the city the angle from true north ranges from 123.6° in Olonkinbyen to 153.3° in Longyearbyen, and the Kaaba is between 6,323 km and 6,442 km away. The table gives the exact bearing for 2 cities.
Stand facing true north, then turn clockwise by the angle of your city. A phone compass shows magnetic north, which in Svalbard and Jan Mayen can differ from true north by a few degrees; our Qibla finder corrects this automatically when your phone reports true heading.
Why the Qibla changes across the country
Between the cities in the table the Qibla angle varies by 29.7°. Olonkinbyen is the closest to the Kaaba (6,323 km) and Longyearbyen the farthest (6,442 km). The farther apart two cities are, the more their bearings to Makkah diverge, which is why the angle of the capital, 153.3°, should not be used everywhere.
Inside a mosque, the mihrab already shows the Qibla. Elsewhere, a compass app, the position of the sun or our Qibla finder can be used; scholars agree that facing the general direction is enough when the exact angle cannot be known.
Qibla in Svalbard and Jan Mayen: questions
What is the Qibla direction in Longyearbyen?
153.3° from true north, towards the south-east, 6,442 km from the Kaaba.
Which city in Svalbard and Jan Mayen is closest to Makkah?
Olonkinbyen, 6,323 km from the Kaaba, among the 2 cities listed.
Does a phone compass show the right Qibla?
Only if it is calibrated and corrected for magnetic declination. Turn the phone in a figure 8 and keep it away from metal; our Qibla finder uses the true heading when the phone provides it.
| City | Qibla | Direction | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longyearbyen | 153.3° | south-east | 6,442 km |
| Olonkinbyen | 123.6° | south-east | 6,323 km |