Northern Hemisphere

The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that lies north of the Equator. It contains the majority of the world’s landmass, population, and some of the planet’s most well-known cities. From Europe and North America to large parts of Asia and Africa, the Northern Hemisphere plays a central role in global geography, climate patterns, and seasonal cycles.

Understanding which hemisphere a place is in helps explain why seasons change, how daylight varies throughout the year, and how locations relate to one another across the globe.

What Is the Northern Hemisphere?

The Northern Hemisphere includes all locations on Earth that are positioned north of the Equator (0° latitude). Any place with a positive latitude value is in the Northern Hemisphere.

It is one of the four primary geographic divisions of Earth, alongside the Southern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres.

Where Is the Northern Hemisphere on Earth?

The Northern Hemisphere stretches from the Equator to the North Pole. It covers:

All of Europe
North America
Most of Asia
Northern Africa
Parts of Central America and the Caribbean

Because continents are unevenly distributed across the planet, the Northern Hemisphere contains significantly more land than the Southern Hemisphere.

Which Major Cities Are in the Northern Hemisphere?

Many of the world’s most recognisable cities are located in the Northern Hemisphere, including:

London
Paris
New York
Toronto
Tokyo
Berlin
Rome
Beijing

Each of these cities experiences seasonal changes that are opposite to cities in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Sydney or Cape Town.

Northern Hemisphere Seasons Explained

Seasons in the Northern Hemisphere are determined by Earth’s axial tilt as it orbits the Sun.

Summer occurs roughly from June to September, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.
Winter occurs from December to March, when it is tilted away from the Sun.

This is why summer in the Northern Hemisphere happens at the same time as winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Northern vs Southern Hemisphere

The key difference between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres lies in seasonal timing and solar exposure.

When it is:

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere → Winter in the Southern Hemisphere
Spring in the Northern Hemisphere → Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere

These opposing cycles are fundamental to understanding global climate patterns.

How the Northern Hemisphere Relates to Antipodes

Every location in the Northern Hemisphere has an antipode — a point on the Earth’s surface that lies directly opposite it.

In many cases, the antipode of a Northern Hemisphere city falls in the Southern Hemisphere, often in the ocean due to the uneven distribution of land. This relationship helps explain why antipodes are rare land-to-land matches.

How to Tell If a Place Is in the Northern Hemisphere

A location is in the Northern Hemisphere if:

Its latitude is north (N) of the Equator
Its latitude value is greater than 0°

For example:

London: 51.5074° N
New York: 40.7128° N

Both are clearly in the Northern Hemisphere.

Northern Hemisphere Maps and Visualisation

Maps of the Northern Hemisphere often highlight the Equator, major latitude lines, and the North Pole. Visualising a location within its hemisphere helps place it in global context — showing how far north it lies, how close it is to the Equator, and how it relates to the rest of the world.