Circumference of the Earth

The circumference of the Earth is the distance all around its edge, measured along a circular path. If you could walk in a straight line around the planet's equator, that distance would be approximately 24,900 miles (40,075 kilometers). There’s also a slightly shorter path around the Earth through the poles, called the meridional circumference, which is about 24,860 miles (40,007 kilometers). These measurements help scientists understand the size of our planet and are essential for navigation, mapping, and understanding Earth's shape as an oblate spheroid—slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.