Longest and shortest day in Pretoria
In Pretoria, South Africa, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 13h 45m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 10h 32m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:10 | 18:18 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:53 | 17:24 | 10h 32m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:56 | 18:03 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:12 | 18:57 | 13h 45m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:29 | 19:03 | 13h 34m |
| February | 05:52 | 18:49 | 12h 57m |
| March | 06:08 | 18:23 | 12h 16m |
| April | 06:22 | 17:51 | 11h 29m |
| May | 06:37 | 17:29 | 10h 52m |
| June | 06:51 | 17:23 | 10h 32m |
| July | 06:52 | 17:33 | 10h 41m |
| August | 06:35 | 17:47 | 11h 12m |
| September | 06:04 | 18:00 | 11h 56m |
| October | 05:32 | 18:13 | 12h 41m |
| November | 05:10 | 18:33 | 13h 22m |
| December | 05:10 | 18:54 | 13h 44m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Pretoria
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Pretoria 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 Pretoria sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Pretoria
When is the longest day in Pretoria?
The longest day in Pretoria falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 13h 45m of daylight, sunrise at 05:12 and sunset at 18:57.
When is the shortest day in Pretoria?
The shortest day in Pretoria falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 32m of daylight, sunrise at 06:53 and sunset at 17:24.
How much does day length change through the year in Pretoria?
Between the longest and shortest day, Pretoria gains and loses about 3h 13m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Pretoria's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.