Longest and shortest day in Harare
In Harare, Zimbabwe, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 13h 12m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 11h 4m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 05:59 | 18:06 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:25 | 17:29 | 11h 4m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:45 | 17:51 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:17 | 18:29 | 13h 12m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:32 | 18:37 | 13h 5m |
| February | 05:49 | 18:30 | 12h 40m |
| March | 05:58 | 18:10 | 12h 12m |
| April | 06:05 | 17:46 | 11h 42m |
| May | 06:13 | 17:30 | 11h 17m |
| June | 06:24 | 17:28 | 11h 4m |
| July | 06:27 | 17:36 | 11h 9m |
| August | 06:15 | 17:45 | 11h 30m |
| September | 05:51 | 17:50 | 11h 59m |
| October | 05:27 | 17:56 | 12h 29m |
| November | 05:12 | 18:09 | 12h 57m |
| December | 05:15 | 18:26 | 13h 12m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Harare
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Harare 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 Harare sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Harare
When is the longest day in Harare?
The longest day in Harare falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 13h 12m of daylight, sunrise at 05:17 and sunset at 18:29.
When is the shortest day in Harare?
The shortest day in Harare falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 4m of daylight, sunrise at 06:25 and sunset at 17:29.
How much does day length change through the year in Harare?
Between the longest and shortest day, Harare gains and loses about 2h 8m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Harare's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.