Longest and shortest day in Cotonou
In Cotonou, Benin, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 12h 30m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 11h 45m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:54 | 19:01 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:37 | 19:06 | 12h 30m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:39 | 18:46 | 12h 7m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:55 | 18:41 | 11h 45m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:05 | 18:53 | 11h 48m |
| February | 07:06 | 19:02 | 11h 55m |
| March | 06:57 | 19:01 | 12h 5m |
| April | 06:42 | 18:58 | 12h 16m |
| May | 06:34 | 18:59 | 12h 25m |
| June | 06:36 | 19:05 | 12h 29m |
| July | 06:42 | 19:10 | 12h 27m |
| August | 06:45 | 19:04 | 12h 20m |
| September | 06:40 | 18:50 | 12h 9m |
| October | 06:36 | 18:35 | 11h 59m |
| November | 06:39 | 18:29 | 11h 50m |
| December | 06:52 | 18:38 | 11h 46m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Cotonou
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Cotonou leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Cotonou sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Cotonou
When is the longest day in Cotonou?
The longest day in Cotonou falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 30m of daylight, sunrise at 06:37 and sunset at 19:06.
When is the shortest day in Cotonou?
The shortest day in Cotonou falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 45m of daylight, sunrise at 06:55 and sunset at 18:41.
How much does day length change through the year in Cotonou?
Between the longest and shortest day, Cotonou gains and loses about 0h 45m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Cotonou's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.