In this article, we list and discuss the 44 Countries With Hot and Wet Equatorial Climate. If you would like to skip our detailed discussion of equatorial climate and its benefits to the economy, you can go directly to the top 8 Countries With Hot and Wet Equatorial Climate.
The equator is an imaginary line on the Earth’s surface at zero-degree latitude, dividing the Earth into two halves, the Northern and Southern hemispheres. According to National Geographic, Earth is widest at its equator and runs around 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles) distance.
Equatorial climate, also known as the tropical rainforest climate, usually falls upon the countries found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. It is a tropical climate sub-type and is characterized by high temperatures of around 30 °C (86 °F), extreme humidity, abundant rainfall, and, most importantly, little to no variation in temperature throughout the year. Regions with Equatorial climates experience hot weather throughout the year as the sun remains almost directly overhead, keeping temperatures high. Also, the Earth’s position and the tilt on its axis results in more direct sunlight. These two factors, combined with warm air and the influence of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) all year round also bring about high amounts of rainfall, which accounts for the countries in these regions being hot and wet.
Owing to such a climate, the country and its residents face quite a few challenges, with one of the major challenges being the existence of diseases like Malaria and Dengue Fever. According to the WHO report, there were a total of 2,376,522 dengue observed cases in Brazil, which is one of the 44 countries with a hot and wet Equatorial climate, during the first half of 2023. Other than diseases, there’s a high risk of natural disasters, like hurricanes, as with the increase in proximity to the Equator comes an increase in temperatures, which warms the seawater and results in forming hurricanes.
From an economic perspective, countries near the equator are tropical, and the warm weather and natural beauty act as magnets for tourists. Moreover, these countries are rich in renewable resources like minerals and oil, rare agriculture products, and forest products like timber and wood.
Some equatorial countries are also the leading suppliers of rubber, cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. Therefore, key players and companies dealing in cocoa, palm oil, and other tropical crops may operate in equatorial regions. Some of the key players in the agriculture and rubber industry, like Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (NYSE: ADM), Bunge Global SA (NYSE: BG), and Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NASDAQ: GT), are starting or have started their operations in these countries.
Last year, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (NYSE: ADM) announced plans to make a series of investments in crush expansion in Brazil to meet the soybean oil demand and sustain the food industry. The company announced investing in three oilseed processing facilities – Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul), Porto Franco (Maranhão), and Uberlândia (Minas Gerais). Moreover, in the same year, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (NYSE: ADM) acquired Buckminster Química, a glycerin manufacturer for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
On the other hand, Bunge Global SA (NYSE: BG) collaborated last year with Bangkok Produce Merchandising Public Company Limited (BKP) to work on a blockchain technology and develop a solution for the traceability of soybeans as well as deforestation-free products for Brazil-sourced grains. Bunge Global SA (NYSE: BG) says that the partnership will help both companies conduct technical, commercial, and operational feasibility studies and build a sustainable supply chain.
Meanwhile, Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NASDAQ: GT), a global giant in the tire manufacturing industry, has a subsidiary company, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in Brazil as well. In 2023, Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NASDAQ: GT) had a total of 373,000 import shipments, with 72,700 shipments from Brazil (72,700), according to its OEC company profile.
Overall, while Equatorial countries may have some downsides, they enjoy a significant global standing in industries like rubber, agriculture, and renewable energy.
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Our Methodology
For our list of 44 Countries With Hot and Wet Equatorial Climate, we have included all the countries with a hot and wet equatorial climate. These include countries that are:
- On or near the equator
- Have been typically designated Af by the Köppen climate classification
- Have a hot, humid, and wet climate with no dry season.
We’ve picked these countries from South America, Central America, Central Africa, and South East Asia, among others. However, note that not all of these countries fall entirely into the equatorial climate region, but some parts and portions of their lands do. The list is ranked in ascending order based on the average yearly rainfall by country – for countries in which an average rainfall range was involved, we’ve only considered the upper bound.
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44 Countries With Hot and Wet Equatorial Climate
44. Kenya
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,000 m
Kenya’s average temperature between 1991 and 2020 stood at around 25.1°C. It’s a country with an equatorial climate, and its high rainfall zones experience about 1,000 mm of annual rainfall. As a whole, according to the World Bank’s data, the country is a hot and humid one.
43. Uganda
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,180 mm
Uganda, a country in East Africa, is one of the six African countries that lie on the equator. It is also one of the 44 countries with a hot and wet equatorial climate. Famously known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is also one of the poorest countries in terms of PPP. (See: 50 Poorest Countries Based on GDP Per Capita (2023 PPP)). The temperatures in Uganda range from 16-28°C for most of the year.
42. Ecuador
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,500 mm
While lying on the Equator, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries and the land of Cocoa beans with an annual average rainfall of 1,500 mm. Moreover, the country also hosts a part of the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon.
41. Madagascar
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,513 mm
Ranked 41, Madagascar is an East African island country best known for flora and fauna, especially lemurs and orchids Overall, the country enjoys a subtropical climate, with the east coast experiencing a sub-equatorial climate and the northern part experiencing an equatorial climate. Madagascar receives an average annual rainfall of 1,513 mm, while the average annual temperature varies between 23°C and 27°C.
40. Republic of Congo
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,612 mm
The Republic of Congo is a country in Central Africa with rainforests that are habitats for gorillas. It has an equatorial climate with warm temperatures, high humidity, and abundant rainfall of 1,612 mm annually.
39. Sri Lanka
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,712 mm
Sri Lanka, a country in South Asia, best known for its scenic views, tuk-tuks, and cultural diversity, ranks 39th in our list of 44 countries with hot and wet equatorial climates. According to the World Bank, Sri Lanka is one of the hottest countries in the world, with an average temperature of 27 – 28°C. The annual average rainfall for the country is 1,712 mm.
38. Vietnam
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,821 mm
Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, best known for its scenic beaches and rivers as well as Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities. The country has both, a tropical climate zone and a temperate climate zone, with most of the country experiencing a hot and wet equatorial climate, receiving an annual rainfall of about 1,821 mm and having an annual average temperature of 24–25°C.
37. Honduras
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,976 mm
Next on the list of countries with hot and wet equatorial climates, comes Honduras. It is a country in Central America, which lies 1,036.40 mi north of the equator. It experiences a tropical climate with little variations in its hot temperature and an average of 1,976mm of annual rainfall.
36. Brazil
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,000 mm
Located in South America, Brazil is home to the largest rainforest and biologically diverse place on the planet Earth. The country lies on the Equator and experiences an annual average rainfall of 2,000 mm.
35. Guatemala
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,000 mm
Guatemala, a Central American country located south of Mexico, is home to diverse landscapes with incredible mountains, active and dormant volcanoes, and some pretty scenic beaches. The country enjoys a hot, tropical climate with an annual average rainfall of 2,000 mm.
34. Vanuatu
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,000 mm
Vanuatu is an archipelago country made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers in distance. The country experiences a wet tropical climate in the northern islands and overall an average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm.
33. Venezuela
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,044 mm
Located on the northern coast of South America, Venezuela is a country with a hot and humid tropical climate. While being a hot and humid country, Venezuela experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,044 mm.
32. Jamaica
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,051 mm
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean with a tropical climate and an abundance of mountains. The tropical climate means the country experiences a warm and humid climate, with the temperatures only dropping as low as 82 °F during its relatively coldest month.
31. Tarawa, Kiribati
Average Annual Rainfall: 2100 mm
Kiribati is an island country in Oceania in the central Pacific Ocean. It experiences a hot, humid, tropical climate. Its capital and atoll, Tarawa, enjoys a hot and humid equatorial climate with an average temperature of 28.3°C and an average rainfall of about 2,100 mm per year.
30. Guam
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,128 mm
At 13 degrees north latitude, Guam is an unincorporated U.S. island territory in the Western Pacific and the largest one in Micronesia. Just like any region with a tropical climate, Guam features warm weather throughout the year, and according to Weather-and-Climate, the island experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,128 mm.
29. Trinidad and Tobago
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,200mm
Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island country in the Caribbean with high humidity and abundant rainfall, averaging 2,200 mm yearly.
28. Suriname
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,200 mm
Defined by vast swaths of tropical rainforest, Suriname is a small country located on the northeastern coast of South America. It experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,200 mm.
27. Nicaragua
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,280 mm
Set between the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, Nicaragua is a country in Central America. With little seasonal variation in temperature and an average annual rainfall of 2,280 mm, the country features some vast terrain of lakes, beaches, and incredible volcanoes.
26. The Philippines
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,348 mm
The Philippines is an archipelagic country of over 7,100 islands in Southeast Asia. The country experiences an average rainfall of 2,348 mm.
25. Guyana
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,387 mm
Guyana, a country in South America located 345.47 mi north of the equator, experiences a wet tropical climate with warm temperatures and high rainfall all year round. Temperatures do not vary a lot throughout the year.
24. Liberia
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,391 mm
Liberia is a country in West Africa with a predominantly equatorial climate. It experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,391 mm.
23. Singapore
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,497
Located near the Equator, Singapore experiences a typical tropical climate with abundant rainfall averaging 2,497 mm annually and high temperatures that stay uniform throughout the year.
22. Tonga
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,500 mm
Tonga is a Polynesian country located in the South Pacific Ocean, south of Samoa. It lies 1,381.87 miles to the south of the equator, and the country experiences a tropical climate as a whole. According to the Tonga Meteorological Service, the northernmost islands, which experience an equatorial climate, receive approximately 2500 mm of rainfall every year.
21. Taiwan (Southern)
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,521 mm
Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, is an island country in Asia with a tropical climate in the Southern part of the island. According to WRA, Southern Taiwan experiences an annual average rainfall of 2,521 mm.
20. Colombia
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,630 mm
With extensive coastlines and incredible islands along the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, Columbia announces itself as a biodiverse country, and according to OEC, after Brazil and Vietnam, it is the third largest exporter of coffee. The average annual rainfall in Columbia is 2,630 mm.
19. Samoa
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,880 mm
Samoa is a Polynesian island country in Oceania with a typical hot, humid tropical climate and an annual average rainfall of 2,880 mm.
18. Panama
Average Annual Rainfall: 2,928 mm
Panama, a country in Central America, has a hot and humid tropical climate with an average rainfall of 2,928 mm. The temperature stays uniform throughout the year.
17. Peru
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,000 mm
Peru, situated about 690 miles south of the Equator, falls between the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. It is located in the tropical climatic zone and features a variety of terrains and climates including desert climate, mountain climates, and the equatorial climate. In the equatorial climate zones of the country i.e. the Eastern lowlands and Amazon, the average temperature ranges between 22˚C in the eastern Andes to 31˚C in the Amazon, and the annual rainfall average ranges from 1,000mm to 3,000 mm.
16. Fiji
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,000 mm
Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is an archipelago of more than 300 islands, featuring rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches, and coral reefs with crystal-clear lagoons. The country offers a tropical climate with an annual average rainfall of 3,000 mm.
15. Tuvalu
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,000 mm
Located in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu is an island country with an annual average rainfall of 3,000 mm.
14. Solomon Islands
Average Annual Rainfall:: 3,028 mm
With six major islands and over 900 smaller islands, the Solomon Islands is a country in Oceania that offers a hot and humid all-year-round climate. It also experiences an annual average rainfall of 3,028 mm.
13. Malaysia
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,086 mm
Featuring a tropical climate, Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the island of Borneo and the Malay Peninsula. It’s a hot, wet country with an annual mean temperature of 25.4°C and annual average rainfall of 3,086 mm.
12. Papua New Guinea
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,142
Known for its beaches and coral reefs, Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania with a hot, humid tropical climate. It experiences an average annual rainfall of 3,142 mm.
11. Costa Rica
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,202 mm
Costa Rica is a rugged rainforest country in Central America with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans. Costa Rica experiences an annual average rainfall of 3,202 mm as of 2021.
10. Hawaii, US
Average Annual Rainfall: 3218.6 mm
Hawaii is an island state in the United States. According to the US Climate data, Hawaii experiences a tropical climate with an annual average temperature varying between 25°C and 30°C and an annual average rainfall of 3218.6 mm.
9. Indonesia
Average Annual Rainfall: 3,360 mm
Located on the Equator, Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia, consisting of over 17,000 islands and spanning over 1.9 million square kilometers. Being a country with an equatorial climate, Indonesia is one of the world’s main suppliers of rubber, cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. The abundant rainfall, averaging 3,360 mm annually, makes it a suitable agricultural land for rare crops.
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Disclosure: None. 44 Countries With Hot and Wet Equatorial Climate is originally published on Insider Monkey.