List of deserts by area

This is a list of the largest deserts in the world by area. It includes all deserts above 50,000 km2 (19,300 sq mi).

Rank Name Type Map Area
(km2)		 Area
(sq mi)		 Location[note 1] Nation(s)
1 Antarctic Desert Polar ice and tundra 14,200,000[1] 5,500,000 Antarctica N/A
2 Arctic Desert Polar ice and tundra 13,900,000[1] 5,400,000 Eastern Europe
Northern America
Northern Asia
Northern Europe		 United States (Alaska), Canada (Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories), Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway (Svalbard and Jan Mayen), Russia (Siberia), and Sweden
3 Saharan Desert Subtropical 9,200,000[1] 3,600,000 Eastern Africa
Middle Africa
Northern Africa
Western Africa		 Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara
4 Arabian Desert Subtropical 2,330,000[1] 900,000 Middle East Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Yemen
5 Great Australian Desert Subtropical 1,371,000[2] 529,000 Australasia Australia
6 Gobi Desert Cold winter 1,295,000[1] 500,000 Eastern Asia China and Mongolia
7 Kalahari Desert Subtropical 900,000[1] 350,000 Southern Africa Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa
8 Patagonian Desert Cold winter 673,000[1] 260,000 South America Argentina and Chile
9 Syrian Desert Subtropical 500,000[1] 193,100 Western Asia Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria
10 Great Basin Desert Cold winter 492,000[3] 190,000 Northern America United States (Nevada, Utah, California and Idaho)
11 Chihuahuan Desert Subtropical 450,000[4] 175,000 Central America
Northern America		 Mexico and the United States
12 Karakum Desert Cold winter 350,000[1] 140,000 Central Asia Turkmenistan
– Great Victoria Desert[note 2] Subtropical 348,750[1] 134,650 Australasia Australia
13 Colorado Plateau Cold winter 340,000[4] 130,000 Northern America United States
14 Sonoran Desert Subtropical 310,000[4] 120,000 Central America
Northern America		 Mexico and the United States
15 Kyzylkum Desert Cold winter 300,000[4] 115,000 Central Asia Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
16 Taklamakan Desert Cold winter 270,000[4] 105,000 Eastern Asia China
– Great Sandy Desert[note 2] Subtropical 267,250[2] 103,190 Australasia Australia
17 Ogaden Desert Tropical 200,000[5] 77,000 Eastern Africa Ethiopia, Somalia, and Somaliland
18 Thar Desert Subtropical 200,000[6] 77,000 Southern Asia India and Pakistan
19 Ustyurt Plateau Cold winter 200,000[7] 77,000 Central Asia Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
– Tanami Desert[note 2] Subtropical 184,500[2] 71,200 Australasia Australia
– Simpson Desert[note 2] Subtropical 176,500[2] 68,100 Australasia Australia
– Gibson Desert[note 2] Subtropical 156,000[2] 60,000 Australasia Australia
20 Margo Desert Subtropical 150,000[3] 58,000 Southern Asia Afghanistan
21 Registan Desert Subtropical 146,000[3] 56,000 Southern Asia Afghanistan
22 Atacama Desert Mild coastal 140,000[4] 54,000 South America Chile and Peru
23 Danakil Desert Tropical 136,956[8] 52,879 Eastern Africa Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia
24 Mojave Desert Subtropical 124,000[3] 48,000 Northern America United States
– Little Sandy Desert[note 2] Subtropical 115,000[2] 43,100 Australasia Australia
25 Chalbi Desert Tropical 98,000[5] 38,000 Eastern Africa Kenya
26 Columbia Basin Cold winter 83,100[3] 32,100 Northern America Canada and the United States
27 Namib Desert Cool coastal 81,000[3] 31,000 Middle Africa
Southern Africa		 Angola, Namibia, and South Africa
– Strzelecki Desert[note 2] Subtropical 80,250[2] 30,980 Australasia Australia
28 Dasht-e Kavir Subtropical 77,000[3] 30,000 Western Asia Iran
29 Ferlo Desert Tropical bordering on Subtropical 70,000 27,000 Western Africa Senegal
30 Ladakh Desert Cold winter 59,146[3] 22,836 Southern Asia Disputed (India/Pakistan)
31 Dasht-e Lut Subtropical 52,000[3] 20,000 Western Asia Iran

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As per the United Nations geoscheme.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g A part of the Great Australian Desert.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Top ten largest (non-polar) deserts". Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Areas of Australian and territory deserts by Geoscience Australia
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hot and cold deserts of the world". Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Largest Desert in the World". Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  5. ^ a b The Deserts of Africa
  6. ^ "Thar Desert | Map, Climate, Vegetation, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Ustyurt Plateau | Central Asia, Aral Sea, Desert". Encyclopedia Britannica. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  8. ^ The Nine Deserts In Africa
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