Special Report

Rainiest Places on Earth

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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.

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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

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sara_winter / Getty Images

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

RAVINDRAN JOHN SMITH / Getty Images

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

r18 INO (PACHIMO) / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Zack Knowles / Wikimedia Commons

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

Cn0ra / Getty Images

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

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Marco Ramerini / Getty Images

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

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

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

Mario Krpan / Getty Images

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

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JJS-Pepite / Getty Images

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

Deeporaj / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Khaosaming / Wikimedia Commons

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

Amandasoriedem / Wikimedia Commons

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

The-Vagabond / Getty Images

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

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jameslsy / Getty Images

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

Steven Chown / Wikimedia Commons

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

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izusek / Getty Images

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

Johnny Warrior / Getty Images

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

r0ckx / Flickr

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

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Hendra Su / Getty Images

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

Sanikristal / Getty Images

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

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SamSpicer / Getty Images

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

Kgrr / Wikimedia Commons

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

Diy13 / Getty Images

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

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ajijchan / Getty Images

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

sorincolac / Getty Images

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

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StreetFlash / Getty Images

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

melenama / Flickr

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

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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

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Ronald Philip Benjamin / Getty Images

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

wanderluster / Getty Images

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

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Adrian-Morris / Getty Images

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

Photo_Ley / Getty Images

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

Daibo Taku / Wikimedia Commons

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

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NASA / Wikimedia Commons

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

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

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

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filipefrazao / Getty Images

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

LWilk / Getty Images

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

Norimoto / Getty Images

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

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Mastamak / Getty Images

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

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

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

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maxontravel / Getty Images

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

Laszlo Mates / Getty Images

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

GoodOlga / Getty Images

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

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CarlosE Duarte / Wikimedia Commons

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

tehvon / Getty Images

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

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Courtesy of Google Maps 2014

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

DanLinPhotography / Getty Images

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

Courtesy of Pixabay

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

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Danielrao / Getty Images

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

 

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