From the frozen landscapes of Antarctica to the scorching deserts of Africa to the often drought-stricken regions of North America, areas that get little to no rainfall tend to have harsh environments.
To identify the driest places on Earth, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed average annual rainfall recorded by weather stations around the world and compiled by the Global Historical Climatology Network, a program of the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
We calculated the average annual rainfall from precipitation in the years 1997 through 2018. Weather stations that did not have at least five years of data available between 1997 and 2018 were not considered.
While many such hostile regions of the planet are barren of all life, many have been inhabited for millennia.
Most of these places are in Algeria, Egypt, and other countries along the southern coast of the Mediterranean. Six of the 50 driest places on Earth receive an average of less than 1 inch of rain each year.
Click here to see the driest places on Earth.
50. Tidjikja, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (16 years of data): 1.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2010, 4.6 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 2.3 inches
[in-text-ad]
49. Béni Abbès, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 1.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2009, 4.1 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.4 inches
48. Indio, CA, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (10 years of data): 1.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2004, 2.9 inches
> Driest month on average: December, 0.3 inches
47. Pay Menar, Afghanistan
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 1.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2016, 1.7 inches
> Driest month on average: December, 0.8 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
46. Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 1.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2013, 3.3 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.4 inches
45. Fallon, NV, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (6 years of data): 1.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 4.5 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 1.2 inches
[in-text-ad]
44. Wake Island, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (11 years of data): 1.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 6.2 inches
> Driest month on average: May, 0.6 inches
43. Ruoqiang, China
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 2.2 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 0.4 inches
42. Tinduf, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 3.2 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 1.5 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
41. Atar, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2008, 2.1 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 1.3 inches
40. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2015, 2.2 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.4 inches
[in-text-ad]
39. Copiapó, Chile
> Annual average precipitation (10 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2004, 3.0 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 0.5 inches
24/7 Wall St.
38. Illizi, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2000, 2.4 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.2 inches
37. Concordia Station, Antarctica
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2018, 2.5 inches
> Driest month on average: April, 0.1 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
36. Ouargla, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2000, 1.5 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.3 inches
35. Masirah Island, Oman
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.8 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 4.6 inches
> Driest month on average: November, 0.2 inches
[in-text-ad]
34. Aqaba, Israel
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2018, 1.7 inches
> Driest month on average: February, 0.2 inches
33. Chiclayo, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (20 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2008, 2.1 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.4 inches
32. Bir Moghrein, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 2.2 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 2.1 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
31. In Amenas, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2005, 3.0 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.2 inches
30. Dakhla, Western Sahara (Morocco)
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2005, 2.3 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 0.4 inches
[in-text-ad]
29. Helwan, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 1998, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: February, 0.2 inches
24/7 Wall St.
28. Hassi Fehal, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 1.4 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.2 inches
27. Merowe, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.6 inches
> Driest year in database: 2007, 3.1 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.4 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
26. Adrar, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 2.1 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 0.1 inches
25. Palmeira, Cape Verde
> Annual average precipitation (11 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2016, 4.6 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 2.0 inches
[in-text-ad]
24. Thumrait, Oman
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2018, 3.6 inches
> Driest month on average: May, 0.2 inches
24/7 Wall St.
23. Djanet, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2005, 2.4 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 0.1 inches
22. Azekkour, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2008, 1.4 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.2 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
21. Waddan, Libya
> Annual average precipitation (17 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2013, 1.6 inches
> Driest month on average: April, 0.2 inches
20. Nouadhibou, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 2010, 3.7 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.4 inches
[in-text-ad]
19. Ain Salah, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.1 inches
18. Trujillo, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (20 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 1.2 inches
> Driest month on average: February, 0.2 inches
17. Nawabshah, Pakistan
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 1.6 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.7 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Bilma, Niger
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 2004, 1.2 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.2 inches
15. Abu Hamad, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 2007, 1.5 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.2 inches
[in-text-ad]
14. Talara, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 0.8 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.6 inches
13. Dongola, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 2014, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: July, 0.2 inches
12. SabhÄ, Libya
> Annual average precipitation (18 years of data): 0.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2013, 0.7 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.1 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
11. La Chimba, Chile
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2017, 2.0 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.1 inches
10. Arica, Chile
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2017, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.1 inches
[in-text-ad]
9. Nok Kundi, Pakistan
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 0.3 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.2 inches
8. Aswan, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2014, 0.7 inches
> Driest month on average: March, <0.0 inches
7. Kharga Oasis, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (7 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 0.2 inches
> Driest month on average: January, <0.0 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Siwa Oasis, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (6 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 2001, 0.1 inches
> Driest month on average: February, <0.0 inches
5. Wadi Halfa, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 2010, 0.2 inches
> Driest month on average: August, <0.0 inches
[in-text-ad]
4. Pisco, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (19 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 2011, 0.1 inches
> Driest month on average: January, <0.0 inches
3. Kaktovik, AK, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1998, <0.0 inches
> Driest month on average: June, <0.0 inches
2. Chimbote, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, <0.0 inches
> Driest month on average: October, <0.0 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Al Jawf, Libya
> Annual average precipitation (12 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 0.1 inches
> Driest month on average: October, <0.0 inches
It’s Your Money, Your Future—Own It (sponsor)
Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.
Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!
Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.
You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.