Eastern Hemisphere

The Eastern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that lies east of the Prime Meridian, extending from 0° longitude to 180° east. It includes Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, as well as vast areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Understanding the Eastern Hemisphere helps explain how the world is divided by longitude, how time zones are organised, and how locations relate to one another across the globe.

What Is the Eastern Hemisphere?

The Eastern Hemisphere includes all locations on Earth that are positioned east of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude). Any place with an east (E) longitude value falls within the Eastern Hemisphere.

Together with the Western Hemisphere, it forms the planet’s primary east–west geographic division.

Where Is the Eastern Hemisphere on Earth?

The Eastern Hemisphere stretches from the Prime Meridian eastward to the 180° meridian. It covers:

Europe
Asia
Africa
Australia
Large parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans

Because the Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich in London, many places near western Europe lie close to the boundary between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Which Major Cities Are in the Eastern Hemisphere?

Many of the world’s largest and most influential cities are located in the Eastern Hemisphere, including:

London
Paris
Berlin
Rome
Tokyo
Beijing
Singapore
Sydney

Some cities, such as London, lie very close to the Prime Meridian and are often used as reference points when explaining eastern and western longitude.

How the Eastern Hemisphere Is Different from the Western Hemisphere

The Eastern and Western Hemispheres are divided by longitude rather than latitude. This division is primarily used for navigation, timekeeping, and global reference.

When comparing the two hemispheres:

The Eastern Hemisphere contains most of the world’s population
It includes the majority of Earth’s historic civilisations
It spans a wide range of climates, from polar regions to the tropics

Eastern Hemisphere and Time Zones

Longitude plays a central role in determining time zones, which is why the Eastern Hemisphere is closely associated with global timekeeping.

As you move eastward from the Prime Meridian, local time increases. This relationship between longitude and time is why many Eastern Hemisphere locations are ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

How the Eastern Hemisphere Relates to Antipodes

Every location in the Eastern Hemisphere has an antipode located in the Western Hemisphere.

Because continents are unevenly distributed, many antipodes of Eastern Hemisphere cities fall in the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. This imbalance helps explain why land-to-land antipodal pairs are uncommon.

How to Tell If a Place Is in the Eastern Hemisphere

A location is in the Eastern Hemisphere if:

Its longitude is marked east (E) of the Prime Meridian
Its longitude value is between 0° and 180° east

For example:

Tokyo: 139.6917° E
Singapore: 103.8198° E

Both cities are clearly located in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Eastern Hemisphere Maps and Visualisation

Maps of the Eastern Hemisphere often highlight the Prime Meridian, major longitude lines, and continental boundaries. Viewing a place within the Eastern Hemisphere provides context — showing how far east it lies and how it connects to global geography, time zones, and antipodal relationships.