Where Is the Tropic of Cancer? Location, Map, and Countries

The Tropic of Cancer is an imaginary line at about 23.5° north latitude. It circles Earth through the Northern Hemisphere and crosses parts of North America, Africa, and Asia. Its route passes through Mexico, the Bahamas, northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, and Taiwan.

The line sits between the Equator and Arctic Circle. It also marks the northern edge of the tropical zone. On a world map, you can picture it as a broad east-west line running around Earth.

For more geographic context, see our guides to where is equator and where is the Tropic of Capricorn.

Featured Snippet Answer

The Tropic of Cancer is located at approximately 23.5° north latitude. It circles Earth through the Northern Hemisphere and crosses parts of North America, Africa, and Asia. The line passes through Mexico, the Bahamas, northern Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. It lies about 1,620 miles north of the Equator.

Quick Facts

Fact	Information
Name	Tropic of Cancer
Type	Major line of latitude
Approximate Latitude	23.5° N
Precise Position	About 23° 26′ N
Hemisphere	Northern Hemisphere
Position	North of the Equator
Geographic Extent	Circles the Earth
Continents Crossed	North America, Africa, and Asia
Major Countries Crossed	Mexico, Egypt, India, China, and others
Northern Boundary	Approximate northern edge of the tropics
Distance from Equator	About 1,620 miles (2,610 km)
Direction	Generally east–west
Important Solar Event	Northernmost latitude where the Sun can appear directly overhead

Where Is This Latitude on a World Map?

On a world map, the line appears across the Northern Hemisphere at approximately 23.5° N.

It begins its route through the Pacific Ocean before reaching North America. It crosses Mexico and the Bahamas, then continues through the Atlantic toward Africa. From there, it crosses the Sahara and moves through the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia before returning to the Pacific.

Unlike a city or country, it does not have one fixed point. It is a complete circle around Earth.

One easy way to find it is to locate the Equator first. Move north by about 23.5 degrees of latitude and you reach the approximate position of this major parallel.

What Is a Line of Latitude?

Latitude measures how far a location lies north or south of the Equator.

The Equator represents 0° latitude. Locations north of it have north latitude, while locations south of it have south latitude.

The Tropic of Cancer is one of Earth’s major parallels. Other well-known reference lines include:

• Equator — 0°
• Tropic of Cancer — about 23.5° N
• Tropic of Capricorn — about 23.5° S
• Arctic Circle — about 66.5° N
• Antarctic Circle — about 66.5° S

These lines make it easier to describe Earth’s position and broad geographic zones.

Which Countries Does It Cross?

The route crosses several countries and territories in three major continental areas. Commonly listed locations include:

North America

• Mexico
• Bahamas

Africa

• Western Sahara
• Mauritania
• Mali
• Algeria
• Niger
• Libya
• Egypt

Asia

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman
• India
• Bangladesh
• Myanmar
• China
• Taiwan

The exact list can vary slightly depending on how territories and disputed areas are treated.

The line also crosses large stretches of ocean between these land areas.

Its Route Through North America

The first major land areas along the route include Mexico and the Bahamas.

In Mexico, the parallel crosses the country from the Pacific side toward the Gulf of Mexico region. It therefore provides a useful reference for understanding the country’s north-south geography.

The line then reaches the Bahamas in the Atlantic.

It does not cross the mainland United States. This makes northern Mexico a useful reference point for U.S. readers trying to picture its position.

For another useful North American geographic reference, you can also read where is Mexico .

Its Route Across Africa

After crossing the Atlantic, the line reaches northern Africa.

It crosses the Sahara region and passes through or near several countries, including Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Niger, Libya, and Egypt.

This section of its route is especially easy to recognize on a physical map because much of the land around the parallel consists of the Sahara Desert.

In Egypt, the line passes through the southern part of the country rather than near Cairo. The capital is considerably farther north.

Its Route Through the Middle East

The parallel continues eastward from North Africa toward the Arabian Peninsula.

It crosses or passes through:

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman

Large portions of this route cross dry landscapes. The line then continues over the Arabian Sea toward South Asia.

Its position provides a useful geographic reference when comparing the Arabian Peninsula with Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Its Route Across South Asia

The line crosses India, making the country one of the most recognizable places associated with this geographic feature.

It travels across central India and passes through several states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Tripura.

It then continues through Bangladesh and Myanmar before reaching Southeast Asia.

For broader geographic context, our where is India guide explains India’s position within Asia.

Its Route Through East Asia

After Myanmar, the parallel reaches China.

It crosses southern parts of the country before continuing eastward toward the Pacific. It also passes through Taiwan.

This section places the line well south of many major East Asian cities farther north. It also shows why latitude is useful when comparing the geographic positions of countries and cities.

How Far Is It From the Equator?

The Tropic of Cancer lies about 23.5 degrees north of the Equator.

One degree of latitude covers roughly 69 miles, or 111 kilometers. Based on that measurement, the north-south distance between the Equator and this parallel is approximately:

23.5 × 69 ≈ 1,620 miles

That equals about 2,610 kilometers.

This is a latitude-based distance rather than the distance between two specific cities or landmarks.

Is It North or South of the United States?

It is south of the continental United States.

The line crosses Mexico but does not cross the mainland United States. It also remains south of the lower 48 states.

This makes northern Mexico one of the simplest reference areas for U.S. readers. On a North American map, place the line below the United States and across Mexico.

Is It Near Mexico City?

Mexico City lies south of the parallel.

The city is located at about 19.4° N, while the line is near 23.5° N. Their latitude difference is therefore a little more than four degrees.

That corresponds to roughly 280 miles of north-south separation when using the standard distance per degree of latitude. The actual shortest distance between the city and the line varies because longitude also matters.

Is It Near Cairo?

Cairo is north of the line.

The Egyptian capital sits near 30° N latitude, while the parallel is around 23.5° N. Their latitude positions differ by roughly 6.5 degrees.

That places the line more than 400 miles south of Cairo when comparing latitude directly.

The line therefore crosses southern Egypt rather than the area around the capital.

Does It Cross India?

Yes. The parallel crosses central and northeastern India.

It passes through several Indian states as it travels west to east. This makes India one of the most important countries for understanding its route across Asia.

The line then continues through Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The geographic relationship is easy to see on a map: the parallel enters India from the west, crosses the country, and exits toward Southeast Asia.

Why Is This Line Important?

Its importance comes from both geography and astronomy.

Around the June solstice, the Sun can appear directly overhead at noon at the northernmost latitude reached during its yearly apparent movement. That latitude is approximately 23.5° N.

The parallel also forms the approximate northern boundary of the tropics.

The tropics extend between this line in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south. This broad zone covers parts of several continents and many islands.

You can compare it with where is the Tropic of Capricorn. to see the opposite boundary of the tropical zone.

What Is the Tropical Zone?

The tropical zone is the broad region between the two tropics.

Its northern boundary is the Tropic of Cancer, while its southern boundary is the Tropic of Capricorn.

The Equator runs through the middle of this zone.

The region includes parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It also includes large areas of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.

The tropical zone is not one uniform climate. Elevation, rainfall, ocean currents, distance from the sea, and other geographic factors create major differences within it.

What Is the Difference From the Equator?

The two lines have different positions and geographic roles.

FeatureLatitudeMain RoleEquator0°Divides Northern and Southern HemispheresTropic of CancerAbout 23.5° NNorthern boundary of the tropicsTropic of CapricornAbout 23.5° SSouthern boundary of the tropics

The Equator crosses the middle of the tropical zone. The Tropic of Cancer forms its northern edge.

For a broader explanation of the Equator’s location, see where is equator.

What Is the Difference From the Tropic of Capricorn?

The two tropics sit on opposite sides of the Equator.

The Tropic of Cancer lies about 23.5° north, while the Tropic of Capricorn lies about 23.5° south.

They are separated by approximately 47 degrees of latitude.

Together, they define the broad limits of the tropics and provide important reference points for understanding Earth’s relationship with the Sun.

Does Its Exact Position Change?

Yes, but only very slowly.

Earth’s axial tilt changes over long periods. Since the latitude of the tropics is related to that tilt, the exact position of this parallel also changes gradually.

For normal geographic maps and general reference purposes, 23.5° N is the appropriate rounded value.

There is no need to use a highly precise coordinate when explaining its general location.

Can You See It on the Ground?

No. The line itself is imaginary.

You cannot see a natural line across the landscape. It works like the Equator and other lines of latitude as a geographic reference system.

Some locations along the route have signs or monuments marking the approximate position. Those structures identify the latitude, but the Earth itself does not have a visible line at that location.

On a globe or digital map, however, the parallel can be displayed clearly.

What Lies North of It?

Areas north of the parallel extend toward the Arctic Circle and North Pole.

This includes large parts of North America, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.

Many major cities lie north of it, including Cairo, New York City, London, Paris, Beijing, and Tokyo.

The comparison is useful because latitude provides a simple way to understand the north-south position of places around the world.

What Lies South of It?

Areas south of the parallel extend toward the Equator and then the Tropic of Capricorn.

This includes much of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, central and southern Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australia.

The entire tropical zone lies south of this line until it reaches the opposite tropical boundary.

Does It Cross the Sahara?

Yes. The parallel crosses the Sahara Desert in northern Africa.

The Sahara covers a huge area, and the line passes through several countries within the desert region.

This makes the Sahara and the parallel closely connected on many physical and geographic maps. The route then continues east toward Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.

Why Is It Called the Tropic of Cancer?

The name comes from the constellation Cancer.

Ancient astronomers associated the June solstice with the constellation Cancer. Earth’s long-term axial movement has since changed the apparent position of the solstice relative to the background stars.

The traditional geographic name remained, so the parallel is still called the Tropic of Cancer.

The name today identifies a latitude rather than the constellation’s current position.

FAQs

Where exactly is the Tropic of Cancer?

It lies at approximately 23.5° north latitude and circles Earth through the Northern Hemisphere.

Which countries does it cross?

Its route includes Mexico, the Bahamas, parts of northern Africa, several countries on the Arabian Peninsula, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, and Taiwan.

Does it cross the United States?

No. It passes through Mexico but does not cross the continental United States.

Does it cross India?

Yes. It crosses several Indian states as it travels from western India toward the country’s northeast.

How far is it from the Equator?

It is about 1,620 miles (2,610 km) north of the Equator when measured along a north-south line.

Is it part of the tropics?

Yes. It forms the approximate northern boundary of the tropical zone.

Is it north or south of the Equator?

It is north of the Equator, at approximately 23.5° N latitude.

Why is it important?

It marks the northernmost latitude where the Sun can appear directly overhead during the June solstice and serves as one of Earth’s major geographic reference lines.

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Conclusion

The Tropic of Cancer is a major latitude at approximately 23.5° north. It circles the Northern Hemisphere and crosses land in Mexico, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia.

The simplest mental map is to place it north of the Equator, south of the continental United States, and along the northern edge of the tropics. It is an imaginary line, but it provides an important reference for understanding Earth’s geography, latitude, and seasonal relationship with the Sun.