Reading latitude and longitude means reading two numbers in order. Latitude comes first and shows how far a place sits north or south of the equator. Longitude comes next and shows how far it sits east or west of the Greenwich line. Each number is measured in degrees, and together they point to one exact spot on Earth.
- Latitude is always read before longitude
- Degrees can be written as minutes and seconds or as decimals
- Sample coordinates of Indonesian cities for hands-on practice
- A map or atlas with latitude and longitude lines
- A digital map app on your phone
- A notebook to write down coordinate numbers
BWhat latitude and longitude coordinates are
Latitude and longitude coordinates are a pair of numbers that point to one location on Earth. Latitude measures how far a place is to the north or south of the equator. The equator itself reads 0 degrees and splits Earth into the northern and southern halves. Lines of latitude run horizontally and stay parallel to one another, which is why they are often called parallels. Longitude measures how far a place is to the east or west of the Greenwich line in England. This reference line reads 0 degrees and is known as the prime meridian. Lines of longitude run vertically from pole to pole and meet at both ends. All of Indonesia lies east of Greenwich, so every longitude coordinate in the country carries an east label. Indonesia is also crossed by the equator, so some of its regions sit in northern latitude and others in southern latitude.
How to read latitude and longitude step by step
These five steps guide a beginner through reading geographic coordinates in order, from spotting the grid lines to placing a point on the map.
Identify the two reference lines on the map
Open a map or atlas that has a grid. Look for the thick horizontal line that splits the map through the middle; that is the equator at 0 degrees latitude. Then find the vertical line that marks zero longitude. On a world map, the zero longitude line passes through the town of Greenwich in England. Latitude numbers grow toward the north and south poles, while longitude numbers grow toward the east and west. Getting your eye used to these two reference lines makes the next reading steps feel clear, because every number is always measured against those zero lines.
- Trace the grid lines with a ruler so your eye does not jump across rows
- Notice the number labels at the map edges, usually latitude on the left and right, longitude on the top and bottom
Read the latitude number first
Work out how far the place sits from the equator. Latitude runs from 0 degrees at the equator to 90 degrees at the poles. Include its direction, either north or south. For example, the city of Yogyakarta sits at roughly 7 degrees south latitude, meaning it lies about 7 degrees below the equator. In formal writing, latitude always appears in the first position. The habit of stating latitude first matters so that anyone reading your coordinates lands on the same place. Naming only one number without a direction leaves the location vague and could point to two opposite spots on Earth.
- Write N for north and S for south so the direction is clear
- Remember that areas above the equator, such as northern Aceh, sit in northern latitude
Read the longitude number next
After latitude, work out how far the place sits east or west of the Greenwich line. Longitude runs from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. Include its direction, east or west. Yogyakarta sits at about 110 degrees east longitude, meaning it lies roughly 110 degrees east of Greenwich. Because all of Indonesia is in the eastern half, every longitude coordinate in the country carries an east label. Combining the latitude and longitude numbers produces a single point. These two numbers are what make the geographic coordinate system work: one number narrows the search to a single line, and the second crosses it into one point.
- Write E for east and W for west in international notation
- Compare two cities at similar latitudes to see how longitude sets their east-west positions apart
Understand the degrees-minutes-seconds and decimal formats
Coordinates can be written in two formats. The first uses degrees, minutes, and seconds. One degree splits into 60 minutes, and one minute splits again into 60 seconds, much like reading a clock. Yogyakarta in this format can appear as 7 degrees 48 minutes south latitude. The second format uses decimal degrees, widely used by digital map apps and GPS devices. To turn minutes and seconds into decimals, divide the minutes by 60 and the seconds by 3600, then add the results to the degree number. For example, 7 degrees 48 minutes becomes about 7.8 degrees. Handling both formats makes it easy to move between a printed atlas and an app on your phone.
- Conversion formula: degrees + (minutes divided by 60) + (seconds divided by 3600)
- Popular map apps show coordinates in decimal degrees by default
Plot the point and check it in a map app
The last step is placing the point. On a printed map, draw an imaginary line from the latitude number on the left edge and from the longitude number on the top edge; where they meet is the location. To verify, type the decimal coordinates into a digital map app search box in the order of latitude then longitude, separated by a comma, such as minus 7.8 and 110.3. A minus sign on latitude means south, and a minus sign on longitude means west. The app will mark that point on the map. Comparing your manual plot with the app result builds accuracy and gives quick feedback when the numbers you read are already correct.
- Save an important point as a marker so you can open it again anytime
- Practice with the coordinates of your own home or school so it feels real
Degrees-minutes-seconds compared with decimal degrees
| Aspect | Degrees-minutes-seconds | Decimal degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Number form | 7 degrees 48 minutes 30 seconds | 7.808 degrees |
| Common use | Printed atlases and topographic maps | Map apps and GPS devices |
| Subdivision | 60 minutes per degree, 60 seconds per minute | A decimal fraction after the point |
| Ease for beginners | Needs practice reading minutes and seconds | Ready to paste into a search box |
Both formats point to the same spot; only the way the fraction of a degree is written differs.
Two small habits keep coordinates accurate. First, latitude is always written before longitude. Second, the sign and direction decide which half of Earth you mean.
- Northern latitude is positive, southern latitude is negative
- Eastern longitude is positive, western longitude is negative
- Most of Indonesia sits in southern latitude and all of it in eastern longitude
Sample coordinates of Indonesian cities for practice
Sabang, Aceh
About 5 degrees 53 minutes north latitude and 95 degrees 19 minutes east longitude. This city sits above the equator, so its latitude carries a north label.
Pontianak, West Kalimantan
This city sits almost exactly on the equator, about 0 degrees latitude and 109 degrees 20 minutes east longitude. A good way to understand what zero latitude means.
Jayapura, Papua
About 2 degrees 32 minutes south latitude and 140 degrees 43 minutes east longitude. Its longitude is the largest, marking the easternmost position in Indonesia.
“When we teach geography, we always start from the equator and the Greenwich line as two anchors. Once students get used to naming latitude first and then longitude, reading coordinates turns from memorizing numbers into understanding position. Practicing with the coordinates of their own city makes the concept feel close.”
A quick check before you state a coordinate
- The latitude number is written in the first position
- A north or south direction is stated for latitude
- The longitude number is written after latitude
- An east or west direction is stated for longitude
- The format is consistent, all degrees-minutes-seconds or all decimals
- The point has been checked again in a digital map app
- Geographic coordinates are two numbers: latitude read first, then longitude.
- Latitude measures distance from the equator, longitude measures distance from the Greenwich line.
- Coordinates can be written in degrees-minutes-seconds or decimal degrees, both pointing to the same spot.
- Order and direction signs keep a coordinate pointing to the right location.