Longest and shortest day in Kitwe
In Kitwe, Zambia, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 12h 53m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 11h 22m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:11 | 18:17 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:27 | 17:50 | 11h 22m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:56 | 18:03 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:38 | 18:31 | 12h 53m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:52 | 18:40 | 12h 48m |
| February | 06:05 | 18:36 | 12h 30m |
| March | 06:10 | 18:21 | 12h 11m |
| April | 06:12 | 18:01 | 11h 49m |
| May | 06:17 | 17:49 | 11h 32m |
| June | 06:26 | 17:48 | 11h 23m |
| July | 06:30 | 17:56 | 11h 26m |
| August | 06:21 | 18:02 | 11h 41m |
| September | 06:01 | 18:03 | 12h 1m |
| October | 05:41 | 18:04 | 12h 23m |
| November | 05:30 | 18:12 | 12h 42m |
| December | 05:35 | 18:28 | 12h 53m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Kitwe
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Kitwe 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 Kitwe sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Kitwe
When is the longest day in Kitwe?
The longest day in Kitwe falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 53m of daylight, sunrise at 05:38 and sunset at 18:31.
When is the shortest day in Kitwe?
The shortest day in Kitwe falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 22m of daylight, sunrise at 06:27 and sunset at 17:50.
How much does day length change through the year in Kitwe?
Between the longest and shortest day, Kitwe gains and loses about 1h 31m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Kitwe's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.