Many countries are located on the Equator! The Equator is an imaginary line circling the Earth at 0 degrees latitude. It divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Several countries have portions of their landmass directly on this line.
Countries Crossed by the Equator
The following list details some of the countries that the Equator passes through. Note that the exact number varies depending on the source and how “on” the Equator is defined (some sources may only include countries where the Equator crosses a significant portion of land).
- Africa: São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia
- South America: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil
- Asia: Maldives, Indonesia
- Oceania: Kiribati
It's important to note that the Equator also passes through various territories and island nations. The precise number of countries and territories crossed is sometimes debated due to the complexities of geography and varying definitions.
Several sources confirm a significant number of countries lie on the Equator, including:
- ThoughtCo: Lists 13 countries crossed by the Equator. https://www.thoughtco.com/countries-that-lie-on-the-equator-1435319
- PBS: Also states that the Equator passes through 13 countries including Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and others. https://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/world/pup/world_equator.html
- Wikipedia: Provides a list of equatorial countries and territories, highlighting the presence of several countries and portions of various islands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equator
Therefore, there isn't one country on the Equator; instead, a significant number of countries have portions of their land situated along this important geographical line.
