Longest and shortest day in Pietermaritzburg
In Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 14h 3m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 10h 15m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:01 | 18:09 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:52 | 17:07 | 10h 15m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:48 | 17:54 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 04:54 | 18:58 | 14h 3m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:12 | 19:02 | 13h 50m |
| February | 05:38 | 18:45 | 13h 7m |
| March | 05:58 | 18:15 | 12h 17m |
| April | 06:16 | 17:39 | 11h 23m |
| May | 06:35 | 17:14 | 10h 39m |
| June | 06:51 | 17:06 | 10h 15m |
| July | 06:52 | 17:17 | 10h 25m |
| August | 06:31 | 17:34 | 11h 3m |
| September | 05:56 | 17:50 | 11h 54m |
| October | 05:20 | 18:08 | 12h 47m |
| November | 04:55 | 18:31 | 13h 36m |
| December | 04:52 | 18:54 | 14h 2m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Pietermaritzburg
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Pietermaritzburg 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 Pietermaritzburg sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Pietermaritzburg
When is the longest day in Pietermaritzburg?
The longest day in Pietermaritzburg falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 3m of daylight, sunrise at 04:54 and sunset at 18:58.
When is the shortest day in Pietermaritzburg?
The shortest day in Pietermaritzburg falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 15m of daylight, sunrise at 06:52 and sunset at 17:07.
How much does day length change through the year in Pietermaritzburg?
Between the longest and shortest day, Pietermaritzburg gains and loses about 3h 48m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Pietermaritzburg's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.