Longest and shortest day in Zanzibar
In Zanzibar, Tanzania, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 12h 29m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 11h 46m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:27 | 18:33 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:32 | 18:17 | 11h 46m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:12 | 18:19 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:06 | 18:35 | 12h 29m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:19 | 18:45 | 12h 27m |
| February | 06:28 | 18:46 | 12h 18m |
| March | 06:27 | 18:36 | 12h 8m |
| April | 06:24 | 18:22 | 11h 58m |
| May | 06:24 | 18:14 | 11h 50m |
| June | 06:30 | 18:16 | 11h 46m |
| July | 06:35 | 18:23 | 11h 48m |
| August | 06:30 | 18:25 | 11h 54m |
| September | 06:16 | 18:20 | 12h 4m |
| October | 06:01 | 18:16 | 12h 14m |
| November | 05:55 | 18:19 | 12h 24m |
| December | 06:03 | 18:32 | 12h 29m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Zanzibar
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Zanzibar 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 Zanzibar sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Zanzibar
When is the longest day in Zanzibar?
The longest day in Zanzibar falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 29m of daylight, sunrise at 06:06 and sunset at 18:35.
When is the shortest day in Zanzibar?
The shortest day in Zanzibar falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 46m of daylight, sunrise at 06:32 and sunset at 18:17.
How much does day length change through the year in Zanzibar?
Between the longest and shortest day, Zanzibar gains and loses about 0h 43m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Zanzibar's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.