Degrees to Distance
Approximate ground distance per degree of latitude.
Formula
Variables
Example
One degree of latitude is about 111 km anywhere on Earth.
How it works
A degree of latitude is the angular spacing between two lines running east-west on Earth. Because Earth is close to a sphere, moving 1 degree north or south along a meridian corresponds to nearly the same surface distance everywhere, about 111 km. This value comes from dividing Earth’s approximate polar circumference by 360 degrees, so it is an average rather than an exact constant.
When to use it
Use this when converting a change in latitude into an approximate north-south distance, such as estimating how far apart two cities are on a map. It is especially useful in geography, navigation, and quick mental calculations.
Worked example, step by step
A town is at 18°N and another is at 23°N. Change in latitude = 23° - 18° = 5° Distance ≈ 5 × 111 km Distance ≈ 555 km Final answer: the towns are about 555 km apart north-south.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using this value for longitude as well; longitude distance changes with latitude
- Forgetting to use the difference in latitude, not the absolute latitude value
- Treating 111 km as exact everywhere, even though Earth is not a perfect sphere
Did You Know?
One degree of latitude is always about 111 km, but a degree of longitude shrinks to zero at the poles.
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