Equator Map and Countries on the Equator
Explore the Earth’s Equator (0° latitude) on an interactive world map, inspect all 13 countries it crosses from the Prime Meridian eastward, and calculate how many miles or kilometers north or south of the Equator any location lies.
All 13 Countries & Territories Crossed by the Equator (0.0000° Latitude)
| # | Country / Territory | ISO Code | Region | Longitude Span Along Equator | Map Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Tomé and Principe | ST | Africa (Gulf of Guinea) | 6.51° E to 6.53° E | |
| 2 | Gabon | GA | Africa | 9.33° E to 13.88° E | |
| 3 | Republic of the Congo | CG | Africa | 13.88° E to 17.79° E | |
| 4 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | CD | Africa | 17.79° E to 29.71° E | |
| 5 | Uganda | UG | Africa | 29.71° E to 33.92° E | |
| 6 | Kenya | KE | Africa | 33.92° E to 40.98° E | |
| 7 | Somalia | SO | Africa | 40.98° E to 42.88° E | |
| 8 | Maldives | MV | Asia (Indian Ocean) | 72.95° E to 73.55° E | |
| 9 | Indonesia | ID | Asia (Maritime Southeast Asia) | 98.33° E to 129.37° E | |
| 10 | Kiribati | KI | Oceania (Central Pacific) | 172.90° E to 176.60° E | |
| 11 | Ecuador | EC | South America | 91.60° W to 75.52° W | |
| 12 | Colombia | CO | South America | 75.52° W to 70.07° W | |
| 13 | Brazil | BR | South America | 70.07° W to 49.37° W |
What Is the Equator and Which 13 Countries Does It Pass Through?
The Equator is the great circle of latitude at exactly 0° latitude, equidistant from the North Pole (90° N) and the South Pole (90° S), dividing Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Along the WGS84 reference ellipsoid, the Equator has a circumference of approximately 24,901.46 statute miles (40,075.02 kilometers). About 78.7% of that line crosses the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, while 21.3% crosses continental land or territorial island chains across 13 sovereign countries, listed in the table above from the Prime Meridian (0°) eastward:
- Africa (7 Countries): Starting in the Gulf of Guinea, the Equator passes directly across Ilhéu das Rolas in São Tomé and Príncipe, then crosses mainland Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda (and Lake Victoria), Kenya, and southern Somalia.
- Asia & Oceania (3 Countries): In the Indian and Pacific Oceans, 0° latitude passes through the southern atoll channel of the Maldives (between Huvadhu Atoll and Fuvahmulah), crosses multiple islands of Indonesia (Sumatra, Lingga, Borneo/Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Kayoa, Halmahera, and Waigeo), and spans the oceanic archipelagos of Kiribati.
- South America (3 Countries): In the Western Hemisphere, the Equator crosses Ecuador (including Volcán Wolf on Isabela Island in the Galápagos and Cayambe on the Andean mainland), southern Colombia, and northern Brazil (Amazonas, Roraima, Pará, and Amapá, passing right through the state capital of Macapá near the mouth of the Amazon River).
How Distance to the Equator Is Calculated
Because every meridian of longitude is a great circle perpendicular to the Equator, the shortest path from any location at latitude φ to the Equator runs straight south (from the Northern Hemisphere) or straight north (from the Southern Hemisphere) along the same meridian (0°, λ). Using the IUGG mean spherical radius (R = 6,371.0088 km), each degree of latitude equals 69.054 miles (111.195 km). Compare with the Tropic of Cancer Map, check daylight hours on Sunrise and Sunset Times, or find your opposite point on the Antipode Map.