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EPSG Library · Global and web

EPSG:4979 — WGS 84

Source: EPSG Dataset via PROJ 9.5.1 · Updated

Summary

EPSG:4979 (WGS 84) is a geographic 3D coordinate reference system on the World Geodetic System 1984 ensemble datum with coordinates in degrees. Area of use: World. The datum is an ensemble with about 2.0 m accuracy, so precise work should name a specific realization.

  • Type: geographic 3D
  • Datum: World Geodetic System 1984 ensemble
  • Units: degree
  • Axes: Lat, Lon, h

Definition

EPSG:4979 as published in the EPSG Dataset (PROJ 9.5.1).
PropertyValue
EPSG codeEPSG:4979
NameWGS 84
TypeGeographic 3d CRS
DatumWorld Geodetic System 1984 ensemble (ensemble, accuracy ≈ 2.0 m)
EllipsoidWGS 84 (a = 6,378,137.000 m, 1/f = 298.257224)
Prime meridianGreenwich
AxesGeodetic latitude (Lat, north, degree); Geodetic longitude (Lon, east, degree); Ellipsoidal height (h, up, metre)
ScopeGeodesy. Navigation and positioning using GPS satellite system.
Bounding box-180° to 180° longitude, -90° to 90° latitude

Area of use

World.

Example coordinates

A WGS 84 point at longitude 0.0°, latitude 0.0° (inside the area of use) has these coordinates in EPSG:4979:

Computed with PROJ using the EPSG default operation: axis order change (2D) + Null geographic offset from WGS 84 (geog2D) to WGS 84 (geog3D) + axis order change (2D).
AxisValueUnit
Longitude0.000000°
Latitude0.000000°

Open this conversion in the coordinate converter

Definitions and downloads

PROJ string

+proj=longlat +datum=WGS84 +no_defs +type=crs

A PROJ string cannot carry every EPSG detail (axis order, datum ensemble, transformations). Prefer WKT2 or the EPSG code itself.

Proj4js definition used by the converter

+proj=longlat +datum=WGS84 +no_defs

No datum shift is needed: this CRS is on WGS 84 or a datum Proj4js treats as equivalent at the metre level.

WKT2:2019
GEOGCRS["WGS 84", ENSEMBLE["World Geodetic System 1984 ensemble", MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (Transit)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G730)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G873)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G1150)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G1674)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G1762)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G2139)"], MEMBER["World Geodetic System 1984 (G2296)"], ELLIPSOID["WGS 84",6378137,298.257223563, LENGTHUNIT["metre",1]], ENSEMBLEACCURACY[2.0]], PRIMEM["Greenwich",0, ANGLEUNIT["degree",0.0174532925199433]], CS[ellipsoidal,3], AXIS["geodetic latitude (Lat)",north, ORDER[1], ANGLEUNIT["degree",0.0174532925199433]], AXIS["geodetic longitude (Lon)",east, ORDER[2], ANGLEUNIT["degree",0.0174532925199433]], AXIS["ellipsoidal height (h)",up, ORDER[3], LENGTHUNIT["metre",1]], USAGE[ SCOPE["Geodesy. Navigation and positioning using GPS satellite system."], AREA["World."], BBOX[-90,-180,90,180]], ID["EPSG",4979]]

Downloads

FAQ

What is EPSG:4979?

EPSG:4979 (WGS 84) is a geographic 3D coordinate reference system on the World Geodetic System 1984 ensemble datum with coordinates in degrees. Area of use: World. The datum is an ensemble with about 2.0 m accuracy, so precise work should name a specific realization.

Where can EPSG:4979 be used?

Its area of use is: World.

What is the axis order of EPSG:4979?

By the EPSG definition: Geodetic latitude, Geodetic longitude, Ellipsoidal height. Many GIS formats such as GeoJSON and KML store longitude first instead.

Coordinate systems

Articles

Tools

References

  1. IOGP. EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset, epsg.org/crs_4979.
  2. PROJ 9.5.1 / pyproj 3.7.2, used to compute every value on this page.

Cite this page

GeoCAD Bridge. “EPSG:4979 — WGS 84.” GeoCAD Bridge EPSG Library, updated 2026-10-05. https://www.geocadbridge.com/epsg/4979/