Earth is an ocean planet. Water in liquid or frozen form covers 75% of Earth’s surface and fills the sky with clouds. Atmospheric rivers known as jet streams meander and encircle the Earth, contributing to seasonal patterns of rainfall in places across the globe. In many parts of the United States, there is the familiar association of rain with springtime. In other parts of the world, there is always rain.
To identify the rainiest 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.
The most frequently occurring rainiest places on Earth are those in Malaysia and in other South Asian regions. Four places in the United States made our list.
Click here to see the rainiest places on earth.
50. Quillayute, WA, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 103.0 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1999, 131.6 inches
> Rainiest month on average: November, 15.9 inches
[in-text-ad]
49. Miyazaki, Japan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 104.3 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2015, 125.8 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 20.7 inches
24/7 Wall St.
48. Pengkalan Chepa, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 104.5 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2000, 144.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: November, 25.0 inches
47. Nankoku, Japan
> Annual average precipitation (16 years of data): 104.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1998, 172.6 inches
> Rainiest month on average: September, 18.7 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
46. Los Laureles, Colombia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 104.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2010, 148.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: October, 15.3 inches
45. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 106.4 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2005, 156.5 inches
> Rainiest month on average: October, 15.2 inches
[in-text-ad]
44. Nausori, Fiji
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 106.8 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1999, 140.3 inches
> Rainiest month on average: December, 14.4 inches
43. Kushimoto, Japan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 106.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1998, 138.5 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 14.9 inches
42. Urnäsch, Switzerland
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 107.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2017, 140.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: December, 11.9 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
41. Saint Georges, French Guiana (France)
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 108.0 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2000, 162.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: May, 23.4 inches
40. Silchar, India
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 109.1 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2010, 174.6 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 20.4 inches
[in-text-ad]
39. Wat Mai, Thailand
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 109.3 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2006, 153.9 inches
> Rainiest month on average: September, 19.8 inches
38. São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 110.4 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2002, 127.2 inches
> Rainiest month on average: May, 14.0 inches
37. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 110.6 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2006, 136.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: November, 14.5 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
36. Miri, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 111.8 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2018, 128.7 inches
> Rainiest month on average: December, 13.8 inches
35. Gough (island), South Africa
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 113.7 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1997, 140.8 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 13.0 inches
[in-text-ad]
34. Panaji, India
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 113.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2007, 145.3 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 36.3 inches
33. Baguio, Philippines
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 114.0 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2009, 241.6 inches
> Rainiest month on average: August, 36.7 inches
32. Legazpi City, Philippines
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 114.5 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2008, 168.5 inches
> Rainiest month on average: December, 24.4 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
31. Surigao, Philippines
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 114.6 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2017, 174.7 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 28.3 inches
30. Kuantan, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 115.1 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2003, 149.4 inches
> Rainiest month on average: December, 28.8 inches
[in-text-ad]
29. Amami, Japan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 116.8 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1998, 173.5 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 17.3 inches
28. Forks, WA, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (10 years of data): 117.2 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1997, 162.2 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 21.0 inches
27. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 118.2 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2008, 163.5 inches
> Rainiest month on average: September, 19.6 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
26. Kozhikode, India
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 118.3 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2007, 170.9 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 30.9 inches
25. Hilo, Hi, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 118.5 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2018, 172.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: November, 13.7 inches
[in-text-ad]
24. Leticia, Colombia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 119.4 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2014, 155.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 15.3 inches
24/7 Wall St.
23. Rotuma island, Fiji
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 120.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2006, 172.4 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 14.3 inches
22. Colonia, Federated States Of Micronesia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 123.1 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2011, 158.7 inches
> Rainiest month on average: August, 15.7 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
21. Majuro (island), Marshall Islands
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 124.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2018, 171.7 inches
> Rainiest month on average: October, 13.4 inches
20. Juneau, AK, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 125.1 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2005, 161.9 inches
> Rainiest month on average: September, 18.5 inches
[in-text-ad]
19. Sandakan, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 126.3 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2011, 212.5 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 18.3 inches
18. Limón, Costa Rica
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 126.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2004, 178.3 inches
> Rainiest month on average: December, 17.6 inches
17. Hachijō, Japan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 127.1 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1998, 181.4 inches
> Rainiest month on average: October, 16.9 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Nukuoro Atoll, Federated States Of Micronesia
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 128.0 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1999, 225.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: March, 16.2 inches
15. Pingelap Atoll, Federated States Of Micronesia
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 128.6 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1999, 220.3 inches
> Rainiest month on average: August, 17.1 inches
[in-text-ad]
14. Belém, Brazil
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 128.8 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2018, 150.8 inches
> Rainiest month on average: March, 19.5 inches
24/7 Wall St.
13. Kawthoung, Myanmar
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 131.8 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2013, 194.3 inches
> Rainiest month on average: July, 36.7 inches
12. Koror Island, Belau
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 133.5 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2011, 190.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: June, 16.2 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Innisfail, Australia
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 138.4 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 1999, 227.8 inches
> Rainiest month on average: March, 23.5 inches
10. Cayenne, French Guiana
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 139.8 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2006, 173.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: May, 23.4 inches
[in-text-ad]
9. Sibu, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 140.3 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2016, 192.8 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 19.0 inches
24/7 Wall St.
8. Fono Island, Federated States Of Micronesia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 140.5 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2002, 171.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: September, 14.9 inches
7. Sittwe, Myanmar
> Annual average precipitation (11 years of data): 145.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2004, 224.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: July, 52.5 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Villavicencio, Colombia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 147.6 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2010, 202.1 inches
> Rainiest month on average: May, 23.3 inches
5. Bintulu, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 153.2 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2008, 212.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 19.8 inches
[in-text-ad]
4. Taman Desa Wira, Malaysia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 166.2 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2003, 206.7 inches
> Rainiest month on average: January, 27.3 inches
3. Kolonia, Federated States Of Micronesia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 168.7 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2018, 209.0 inches
> Rainiest month on average: April, 17.5 inches
2. Bagadó, Colombia
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 258.9 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2000, 344.9 inches
> Rainiest month on average: August, 34.6 inches
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Cherrapunji, India
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 382.2 inches
> Rainiest year in database: 2010, 530.4 inches
> Rainiest month on average: July, 97.2 inches
Are You Still Paying With a Debit Card?
The average American spends $17,274 on debit cards a year, and it’s a HUGE mistake. First, debit cards don’t have the same fraud protections as credit cards. Once your money is gone, it’s gone. But more importantly you can actually get something back from this spending every time you swipe.
Issuers are handing out wild bonuses right now. With some you can earn up to 5% back on every purchase. That’s like getting a 5% discount on everything you buy!
Our top pick is kind of hard to imagine. Not only does it pay up to 5% back, it also includes a $200 cash back reward in the first six months, a 0% intro APR, and…. $0 annual fee. It’s quite literally free money for any one that uses a card regularly. Click here to learn more!
Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings to provide coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
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.