Roughly 90% of the world’s population lives in the Northern Hemisphere, largely because there is so much more land there. The countries in the Southern Hemisphere are fewer, more ocean-dominated, and include some of the least densely populated nations on Earth.
Countries Entirely in the Southern Hemisphere
- Australia — the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere
- Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay — the southern cone of South America
- New Zealand
- South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Lesotho and Eswatini — southern Africa
- Fiji, Papua New Guinea (mostly), Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, and most other Pacific island nations
- East Timor
See area and population data for any of these countries on our Rankings page.
Countries Split by the Equator
Some countries — Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Indonesia, and Kiribati among them — actually straddle the equator itself, with territory in both hemispheres. Brazil, despite having territory in both hemispheres, has the vast majority of its population and land area in the south.
Why the Southern Hemisphere Has Fewer People
Roughly 80% of Earth’s land area lies north of the equator, and most of the largest, most historically populous civilizations developed there. The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by ocean — the Pacific, Southern, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans together cover the vast majority of it — which is part of why even a landmass as large as Australia has a comparatively modest population and one of the lowest population densities in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere?
Australia is the largest country located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.
Does any country lie entirely south of the Antarctic Circle?
No inhabited sovereign country lies entirely within the Antarctic Circle; Antarctica itself has no permanent population and is not a sovereign country.
Which countries straddle the equator?
Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Indonesia, and Kiribati all have territory in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Compare any of these countries using our Compare tool.
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