Longest and shortest day in Kigali
In Kigali, Rwanda, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 12h 14m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 12h 1m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:03 | 18:10 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:01 | 18:01 | 12h 1m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:49 | 17:55 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:50 | 18:04 | 12h 14m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:02 | 18:15 | 12h 13m |
| February | 06:08 | 18:19 | 12h 10m |
| March | 06:05 | 18:12 | 12h 7m |
| April | 05:57 | 18:01 | 12h 4m |
| May | 05:55 | 17:56 | 12h 2m |
| June | 05:59 | 18:00 | 12h 1m |
| July | 06:05 | 18:06 | 12h 1m |
| August | 06:02 | 18:05 | 12h 3m |
| September | 05:52 | 17:57 | 12h 6m |
| October | 05:41 | 17:50 | 12h 9m |
| November | 05:38 | 17:50 | 12h 12m |
| December | 05:47 | 18:01 | 12h 14m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Kigali
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Kigali 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 Kigali sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Kigali
When is the longest day in Kigali?
The longest day in Kigali falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 14m of daylight, sunrise at 05:50 and sunset at 18:04.
When is the shortest day in Kigali?
The shortest day in Kigali falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 1m of daylight, sunrise at 06:01 and sunset at 18:01.
How much does day length change through the year in Kigali?
Between the longest and shortest day, Kigali gains and loses about 0h 13m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Kigali's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.