Science & Earth · Updated September 2026
What is the equator?
The equator is 0° latitude — the imaginary line around Earth’s middle. Countries it crosses, why days are ~12 hours, and the difference from the prime meridian.
The equator is the imaginary line at 0° latitude. It splits Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is about 40,075 km long — the circle used for “circumference of the Earth” quizzes.
Countries on the equator include Ecuador (named for it), Colombia, Brazil, Gabon, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia and Kiribati. Ecuador’s monument near Quito is a tourist search of its own.
The prime meridian (0° longitude) is a different line — Greenwich, London. Together they set the coordinate grid. Near the equator, day and night stay close to 12 hours all year. Seasons are more about rainfall than temperature.
What is the equator? — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 0° |
| Splits | Northern and Southern Hemispheres |
| Length | About 40,075 km |
| Sister line (longitude 0°) | Prime meridian, Greenwich |
| Name origin country | Ecuador (“equator” in Spanish) |
| Day length | Roughly 12 hours year-round |
| Climate word | Tropical — but altitude (Quito, Andes) can still be cool |
| Earth bulge | Earth is slightly wider at the equator |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
How many countries does the equator pass through?
About a dozen, depending on whether you count island states and overseas territories. Ecuador, Brazil, Kenya and Indonesia are the names quizzes want first.
Is the equator hotter than everywhere else?
Lowland equator is hot and humid. High cities on the equator can be mild. Poles are cold because sunlight hits at a low angle.
What is 0° longitude?
The prime meridian, not the equator.