Sunrise and sunset times around the world: how latitude affects daylight

How latitude shapes your daily light

The amount of daylight you experience each day is determined by your latitude — your distance north or south of the equator. Someone in Miami at 26 degrees north enjoys relatively stable daylight year-round, while a resident of Anchorage at 61 degrees north swings between 5 and 22 hours of daylight depending on the season.

This variation exists because Earth's rotational axis is tilted 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. As our planet completes its annual journey, different latitudes receive dramatically different amounts of sunlight. You can check sunrise and sunset times for any of Timerjoy's 348 cities to see exactly how this plays out for your location.

The equinox: when everywhere gets equal light

Twice a year — around March 20 and September 22 — the Earth reaches a position where its axial tilt is oriented sideways relative to the Sun. On these equinoxes, the Sun sits directly over the equator, and every location on Earth receives approximately 12 hours of daylight.

Whether you are in New York, Los Angeles, or Sydney, sunrise and sunset are roughly 12 hours apart. In practice, atmospheric refraction bends sunlight over the horizon, adding a few extra minutes of visible sun — but the equinox is the closest the planet comes to universal daylight equality.

The solstice: maximum extremes

Around June 21 and December 21, the Earth's tilt points most directly toward or away from the Sun, creating the longest and shortest days of the year.

At the summer solstice, Chicago gets over 15 hours of daylight, with the sun rising before 5:20 AM. Seattle stretches to nearly 16 hours. At the winter solstice, Chicago drops to around 9 hours and 10 minutes. The swing between longest and shortest days grows with latitude — about one hour near the equator, six hours at 40 degrees, and extreme beyond 60 degrees.

Midnight sun and polar night

Above the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees north), there are periods when the sun never sets — and periods when it never rises.

Midnight sun occurs in summer at high latitudes. In northern Norway, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 continuous hours from roughly May through July. Residents report a strange timelessness: birds sing at 2 AM and children play outside at midnight.

Polar night is the winter counterpart. The same locations that enjoy endless summer daylight endure weeks when the sun never rises above the horizon. The sky is not completely black — twilight produces dim, blue-toned light around midday — but the sun itself remains invisible. These phenomena are foreign to most of the world's population, which lives between the tropics and 50 degrees latitude.

How daylight varies across 348 cities

Timerjoy tracks sunrise and sunset times for 348 cities worldwide, and the range of daylight patterns is striking.

Equatorial cities experience the most stable daylight. Cities near the equator get roughly 12 hours of light year-round, with variation measured in minutes. If you live near the equator, your sunrise is always near 6 AM and sunset near 6 PM.

Subtropical cities (20-35 degrees) see moderate variation. Honolulu ranges from about 10.5 to 13.5 hours — a 3-hour swing. Phoenix and Houston range from about 10 to 14 hours.

Mid-latitude cities (35-50 degrees) experience the most familiar seasonal rhythm. San Francisco, Washington DC, and Tokyo range from about 9 to 15 hours of daylight.

Northern cities (50-65 degrees) have dramatic swings. London ranges from about 8 to 16.5 hours. Stockholm ranges from under 6 hours in December to over 18 in June — cities where winter afternoons are dark by 3:30 PM and summer evenings stay bright until 10 PM.

Seasonal patterns and the rate of change

Daylight does not change at a constant rate. Near the solstices, change is slowest — less than a minute per day. Near the equinoxes, mid-latitude cities gain or lose 2 to 3 minutes daily. Over a single March week, New York gains nearly 19 minutes of daylight — a change you can feel. In June, the daily change drops below 30 seconds.

This uneven pace is why spring and fall feel rapid while the long summer days and short winter days seem to linger. Check the calendar to see how these shifts align with planning milestones throughout the year.

Practical implications

Travel planning. A trip to Reykjavik in June means nearly 24 hours of light — bring an eye mask. The same trip in December means 4-5 hours of daylight. The experiences are profoundly different.

Circadian health. Your body's internal clock is anchored to sunlight. Morning light exposure is critical for circadian regulation. Check your local sunrise time and try to get outdoors shortly after.

Photography. At high latitudes, the sun skims the horizon at shallow angles, creating golden hour periods lasting over an hour. Near the equator, the sun drops steeply, producing brilliant but brief 20-minute golden windows.

The moon follows its own logic

While the sun's behavior is governed by Earth's tilt and orbit, the moon adds another layer of complexity. The Moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees from the ecliptic, so its rising and setting positions shift on a different cycle. At high latitudes, the full moon in winter rides high in the sky for extended periods — almost compensating for the absent sun. Track the lunar cycle on our moon phases page.

Frequently asked questions

Which city has the biggest daylight swing?
Among Timerjoy's tracked cities, the most extreme swings occur at the highest latitudes. Anchorage goes from about 5.5 hours in December to over 19 hours in June — a difference of nearly 14 hours.

Does altitude affect sunrise and sunset times?
Yes, but modestly. At higher elevations your effective horizon is lower, meaning you see the sun 2-3 minutes earlier at sunrise and later at sunset than the same latitude at sea level.

How fast do daylight hours change in spring?
At mid-latitudes, daylight increases by about 2-3 minutes per day near the spring equinox — roughly 15-20 minutes per week. Use the sunrise and sunset page to track the daily change for your city.