Absolute Location - AP® Geography Definition

What is absolute location?

In AP Human Geography, absolute location refers to the precise, fixed position of a place on the Earth's surface; this is typically expressed using coordinates of latitude and longitude.

In AP Human Geography, absolute location is an essential concept for understanding spatial relationships and geographic patterns.

For example, the absolute location of Paris, France, is approximately 48.8566° N latitude and 2.3522° E longitude.

Unlike relative location, which describes a place in relation to others, absolute location is universal and does not change. This concept is fundamental in mapping, navigation, and geographic information systems (GIS).

Absolute Location Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

Explore absolute location in more detail and master other key related terms and concepts such as relative direction, time-space compression, and map projections.

• AP Human Geography

Explore the AP Human Geography Revision Notes