The equator — the imaginary line at 0° latitude marking the exact midpoint between the North and South Poles — passes directly through thirteen countries. These countries near the equator share a distinctly tropical climate as a result.
Countries the Equator Passes Through
- Ecuador — named directly for the equator (“ecuador” is Spanish for equator)
- Colombia
- Brazil
- São Tomé and PrÃncipe
- Gabon
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Uganda
- Kenya
- Somalia
- Maldives
- Indonesia
- Kiribati — the only country with territory in all four hemispheres, as the equator and the International Date Line both pass through it
See area and climate-adjacent data for any of these countries on our Rankings page.
What Living on the Equator Actually Means
Contrary to popular belief, the equator isn’t necessarily the hottest place on Earth — high-altitude equatorial regions like the Andes in Ecuador or Mount Kenya can be genuinely cold. What is consistent is day length: equatorial countries experience almost exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness year-round, with none of the dramatic seasonal swing in day length seen at high latitudes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries does the equator pass through?
The equator passes through the territory of 13 countries.
Is Ecuador on the equator?
Yes — Ecuador is named directly for the equator, which passes through its northern region near the capital, Quito.
Is it always hot on the equator?
Not necessarily. While equatorial lowlands are consistently warm and humid, high-altitude equatorial regions can be cool or even cold year-round.
Compare geography and climate-adjacent facts for any country with our Compare tool.
[…] Countries Located on or Near the Equator […]