Several countries are crossed by the equator, making them the closest to it. There isn't one single closest country, but rather a group of nations that the equator passes directly through.
Countries Crossed by the Equator
The equator line passes through a number of countries, including:
- Ecuador: The name itself is a clue! This South American nation is famously situated directly on the equator.
- Colombia: Another South American country where the equator runs through.
- Brazil: A significant portion of Brazil is crossed by the equator.
- Congo (Republic of the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo): Both Congolese states lie on the equator.
- Kenya: This East African nation is another example.
- Somalia: The equator crosses through this East African country.
- Indonesia: An archipelago nation in Southeast Asia that also sits on the equator.
- Kiribati: This island nation in the central Pacific Ocean is partially located on the equator.
- Maldives: An island nation in the Indian Ocean also touched by the equator.
- Malaysia: Part of this Southeast Asian nation lies on the equator.
- Thailand: A small portion of Thailand is located on the equator.
- Sao Tome and Principe: A small island nation off the coast of west central Africa.
- Vietnam: The equator intersects a small part of southern Vietnam.
Several sources [(ThoughtCo), (Unacademy), (WorldAtlas), (Mappr)] confirm that the countries listed above are crossed by the equator. Therefore, these countries are equally "closest" to the equator.
