Google Maps uses the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) as its coordinate reference system as of 2025. WGS84 is a three-dimensional coordinate reference frame used globally for navigation, mapping, and geospatial analysis, including in GPS devices and Google Maps. It provides accurate latitude and longitude coordinates based on an ellipsoid model of the Earth and a consistent datum standard [1] [4].
Google Maps applies a Mercator projection (specifically EPSG:3857 or Web Mercator) to WGS84 coordinates to display them on a flat map. This projection maps latitude and longitude from WGS84 into projected coordinates suitable for map tiles and screen display. Although the projection uses a slightly simplified sphere for calculation, Google Maps coordinates remain fundamentally tied to WGS84 geographic coordinates [1] [2] [4] [6].
If you have WGS84 coordinates (latitude and longitude), they can be directly used in Google Maps without datum conversion because Google Maps uses WGS84 as its base datum. Conversion between coordinate formats (like from degrees-minutes-seconds to decimal degrees) may be necessary to input or program coordinates correctly into Google Maps APIs or tools, but the underlying datum is consistent [1] [3] [4].
In summary:
- Google Maps coordinates in 2025 are based on WGS84.
- Latitude and longitude are provided in decimal degrees referencing the WGS84 ellipsoid.
- Google Maps uses the Mercator projection (EPSG:3857) for rendering map tiles, which corresponds to WGS84 coordinates projected to meters on a flat plane.
- No conversion from WGS84 is required to plot locations on Google Maps, other than format adjustments.
This remains accurate for 2025 as WGS84 is the current international geodetic standard used globally in GPS and mapping including Google Maps [1] [4].