Discover the 13 Countries that Lie on the Equator

The world is a fascinating place. There are countries with vast landscapes that are diverse and unique. There are countries located in the North that are extremely cold. And in the South, there are countries that are extremely warm. Depending on where you are, you may experience completely different weather than someone else in another place in the world. The countries that lie on the equator, which is the imaginary line that separates the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, are generally considered to be hotter. Let’s take a look at the 13 countries that lie on the equator. We’ll explore their geographies and other fun facts.

São Tomé and Príncipe

The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is off the coast of Africa, in the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean. The main island is surrounded by two archipelagos. São Tomé and Príncipe has a population of around 200,000.

Gabon

Located on the coast of western Africa, Gabon is a country that is rich in biodiversity. The country contains mountainous regions, coastal plains, and savannahs. The country has a population of 2.3 million, which is one of the least populated countries in the African continent.

Congo

Located in Western Africa, Congo (otherwise known as the Republic of Congo) is on the equator line. Half the country is north of the equator and the other half is south. Congo is a biodiverse country with coastal plains, savannahs, rainforests, and mountainous regions.

DR Congo

About one-third of the country is located north of the equator and the other two-thirds is south of it. As stated before, the climate in DR Congo can get quite hot. But, the area around the equator experiences a lot of rain and an extreme amount of thunderstorms. The Congo Rainforest is located here, which is the second-largest rainforest.

Uganda

The imaginary line of the equator passes through the country south of Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The equator also passes through Lake Victoria, which sits next to Uganda and other African countries including Kenya and Tanzania.

Kenya

Located in eastern Africa, Kenya borders the Indian Ocean. The equator passes through the center of the country, dividing it between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Kenya is a biodiverse country with coastal plains and highlands.

Somalia

Located in East Africa, Somalia has a long coastline on the African continent. The equator passes right through the southern part of the country. Somalia is mainly desert and has a semi-arid type of climate in the southern part of the country, as opposed to the northern part, which can be slightly cooler.

Maldives

The Maldives is a nation made up of 27 atolls in the Indian Ocean. The equator passes through the islands and separates two atolls — the Fuvahmulah and Addu atolls — from the other 25 atolls. The Maldives is known for its pristine beaches, where tourists from around the world flock.

Indonesia

With over 17,000 Islands Indonesia lies on the equator. It is the fourth largest country in the world in terms of population, with the island of Java (south of the Equator) being the most populous in the nation. The country is also home to the Equator Monument, located in the city of Pontianak.

Kiribati

Consisting of 320 atolls, Kiribati is located on the equator. The island nation is in the Pacific Ocean. Fascinatingly enough it is the only country in the entire world that is located in all hemispheres.

Ecuador

Located in South America, Ecuador is Spanish for “equator.” And the name was a purposeful thing. The equator imaginary line goes through the northern part of the country. There is also a monument about 45 minutes away from the country’s capital where you can stand in both hemispheres. How cool!

Colombia

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. There are lush rainforests, grasslands, and even deserts located in Colombia. It is also a country that borders both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world. This means that the equator passes through it, but also the Tropic of Capricorn passes through the country. Brazil is home to the most Portuguese speakers in the world.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the 13 countries that lie on the equator. Every single one of these countries is unique in their way. They are located throughout the world, from South America to Africa to Asia. The people living in these countries have different cultures and speak different languages. This is what makes the world fascinating and amazing.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © johanna goodyear/iStock via Getty Images