| Équateur | |
| Native Name: | Province de l'Équateur (French) |
| Type: | Province |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Mbandaka |
| 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[1] |
| Population Total: | 1,856,000 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 est. |
| Population Rank: | 22nd |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Equatorian |
| Timezone: | WAT |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Registration Plate Type: | License Plate Code |
| Registration Plate: | 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.[2] 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.[3]
The province of Équateur created in 1917 was much larger than today. Over time it went through a number of border and name changes. Under Article 2 of the 2006 Constitution it was to assume its current boundaries,[4] but administratively they were not finalized until 2015.
The province consists of eight administrative subdivisions, one of which is the provincial capital, Mbandaka; and seven of which are territories:[5] [6]