Longest and shortest day in Soweto
In Soweto, 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 | 06:12 | 18:19 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:55 | 17:25 | 10h 30m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:58 | 18:04 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:12 | 19:00 | 13h 47m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:29 | 19:05 | 13h 36m |
| February | 05:53 | 18:51 | 12h 59m |
| March | 06:09 | 18:25 | 12h 16m |
| April | 06:24 | 17:52 | 11h 28m |
| May | 06:39 | 17:29 | 10h 50m |
| June | 06:53 | 17:24 | 10h 30m |
| July | 06:55 | 17:33 | 10h 39m |
| August | 06:37 | 17:48 | 11h 11m |
| September | 06:06 | 18:01 | 11h 56m |
| October | 05:33 | 18:15 | 12h 42m |
| November | 05:11 | 18:35 | 13h 24m |
| December | 05:10 | 18:57 | 13h 47m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Soweto
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Soweto 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 Soweto sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Soweto
When is the longest day in Soweto?
The longest day in Soweto 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 19:00.
When is the shortest day in Soweto?
The shortest day in Soweto falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 30m of daylight, sunrise at 06:55 and sunset at 17:25.
How much does day length change through the year in Soweto?
Between the longest and shortest day, Soweto 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 Soweto's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.