Longest and shortest day in Johannesburg
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 13h 47m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 10h 30m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:11 | 18:18 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:54 | 17:24 | 10h 30m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:57 | 18:03 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:12 | 18:59 | 13h 47m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:28 | 19:05 | 13h 36m |
| February | 05:52 | 18:50 | 12h 59m |
| March | 06:08 | 18:24 | 12h 16m |
| April | 06:23 | 17:52 | 11h 29m |
| May | 06:38 | 17:29 | 10h 51m |
| June | 06:53 | 17:23 | 10h 30m |
| July | 06:54 | 17:33 | 10h 39m |
| August | 06:36 | 17:48 | 11h 11m |
| September | 06:05 | 18:01 | 11h 56m |
| October | 05:33 | 18:14 | 12h 42m |
| November | 05:10 | 18:34 | 13h 24m |
| December | 05:09 | 18:56 | 13h 46m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Johannesburg
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Johannesburg
When is the longest day in Johannesburg?
The longest day in Johannesburg falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 13h 47m of daylight, sunrise at 05:12 and sunset at 18:59.
When is the shortest day in Johannesburg?
The shortest day in Johannesburg falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 30m of daylight, sunrise at 06:54 and sunset at 17:24.
How much does day length change through the year in Johannesburg?
Between the longest and shortest day, Johannesburg gains and loses about 3h 17m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Johannesburg's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.