Longest and shortest day in Dakar
In Dakar, Senegal, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 13h 0m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 11h 15m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:14 | 19:20 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:41 | 19:41 | 13h 0m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:58 | 19:06 | 12h 7m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:30 | 18:45 | 11h 15m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:38 | 18:59 | 11h 21m |
| February | 07:34 | 19:14 | 11h 40m |
| March | 07:17 | 19:20 | 12h 2m |
| April | 06:56 | 19:23 | 12h 28m |
| May | 06:42 | 19:30 | 12h 49m |
| June | 06:40 | 19:40 | 13h 0m |
| July | 06:48 | 19:43 | 12h 55m |
| August | 06:55 | 19:32 | 12h 37m |
| September | 06:58 | 19:11 | 12h 13m |
| October | 07:01 | 18:49 | 11h 49m |
| November | 07:10 | 18:37 | 11h 27m |
| December | 07:27 | 18:42 | 11h 16m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Dakar
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Dakar 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 Dakar sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Dakar
When is the longest day in Dakar?
The longest day in Dakar falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 13h 0m of daylight, sunrise at 06:41 and sunset at 19:41.
When is the shortest day in Dakar?
The shortest day in Dakar falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 15m of daylight, sunrise at 07:30 and sunset at 18:45.
How much does day length change through the year in Dakar?
Between the longest and shortest day, Dakar gains and loses about 1h 45m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Dakar's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.