Province of Équateur

{{short description|Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

{{About|the present-day province of the DRC|the former province|Équateur (former province)}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Équateur

| native_name = Province de l'Équateur (French)

| official_name =

| type = Province

| image_skyline = Basankusu Cathedral 2018.jpg

| image_caption = Basankusu Cathedral

| image_flag =

| image_seal =

| image_map = Democratic Republic of the Congo (26 provinces) - Équateur.svg

| mapsize =

| coordinates =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|DR Congo}}

| established_title = Established

| established_date = {{start date|2015}}

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = Mbandaka

| seat1_type =

| seat1 =

| blank_name_sec1 = Official language

| blank_info_sec1 = French

| blank1_name_sec1 = National language

| blank1_info_sec1 = Lingala

| area_total_km2 = 103902

| area_rank = 11th

| leader_title = Governor

| leader_name = Bobo Boloko{{cite news |last1=Wello |first1=Prince |title=Équateur : le séjour prolongé du gouverneur Bobo Boloko à Kinshasa inquiète |url=https://www.mediacongo.net/article-actualite-141110_equateur_le_sejour_prolonge_du_gouverneur_bobo_boloko_a_kinshasa_inquiete.html |access-date=2 September 2024 |work=mediacongo.net |date=26 August 2024 |language=fr}}

| population_total = 1,856,000

| population_as_of = 2020 est.

| population_rank = 22nd

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym = Equatorian

| demographics_type1 = Ethnic groups

| demographics1_title1 = Native

| timezone = WAT

| utc_offset = +1

| website =

| demographics1_info1 = AnaMongo, Pygmies, Ngombe, Bangi, BaLoi

| registration_plate_type = License Plate Code

| registration_plate = {{flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} CGO / 03

| named_for = The Equator

}}

Équateur is one of the 21 newest provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo created by the 2015 repartitioning. The provinces of Équateur, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshuapa are the result of the division of the former Équateur province.{{cite news |title=Découpage territorial : procédures d'installation de nouvelles provinces |url=https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2015/07/13/decoupage-territorial-procedures-dinstallation-de-nouvelles-provinces |access-date=5 June 2020 |work=Radio Okapi |date=13 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719082607/http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2015/07/13/decoupage-territorial-procedures-dinstallation-de-nouvelles-provinces/ |archive-date=19 July 2015 |url-status=live |language=fr}} The current province was formed from the Équateur district and the independently administered city of Mbandaka which retained its status as a provincial capital.

The 2020 population was estimated to be 1,856,000.{{Cite web |title=Congo (Dem. Rep.): Provinces, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/drcongo/cities/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}