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).

Some of Earth's biggest non-polar deserts

Rank | Name | Type | Image | Area
(km2) | Area
(sq mi) | Location[note 1] | Nation(s)

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1 | Antarctic Desert | Polar ice and tundra |  | 14,200,000,000,000,000 14,200,000[1] | 05,482,651 5,482,651 | Antarctica | N/A
2 | Arctic Desert | Polar ice and tundra |  | 13,900,000 13,900,000[1] | 05,366,820 5,366,820 | 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 |  | 09,200,000 9,200,000[1] | 03,552,140 3,552,140 | 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 |  | 02,330,000 2,330,000[2] | 00,899,618 899,618 | Middle East | Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Yemen
5 | Great Australian Desert | Subtropical |  | 01,371,000 1,371,000[3] | 00,529,346 529,346 | Australasia | Australia
6 | Gobi Desert | Cold winter |  | 01,295,000 1,295,000[1] | 00,500,002 500,002 | Eastern Asia | China and Mongolia
7 | Kalahari Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,900,000 900,000[4] | 00,347,492 347,492 | Southern Africa | Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa
8 | Patagonian Desert | Oceanic |  | 00,673,000 673,000[1] | 00,259,847 259,847 | South America | Argentina and Chile
9 | Syrian Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,500,000 500,000[5] | 00,193,051 193,051 | Western Asia | Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Syria
10 | Great Basin Desert | Cold winter |  | 00,492,098 492,098[5] | 00,190,000 190,000 | Northern America | United States (Nevada, Utah, California and Idaho)
11 | Chihuahuan Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,453,248 453,248[5] | 00,175,000 175,000 | Central America
Northern America | Mexico and the United States
12 | Karakum Desert | Cold winter |  | 00,350,000 350,000[5] | 00,135,136 135,136 | Central Asia | Turkmenistan
– | Great Victoria Desert[note 2] | Subtropical |  | 00,348,750 348,750[1] | 00,134,653 134,653 | Australasia | Australia
13 | Taklamakan Desert | Cold winter |  | 00,270,000 337,000 | 00,104,248 130,191 | Eastern Asia | China
14 | Colorado Plateau | Cold winter |  | 00,337,000 336,700[5] | 00,130,116 130,116 | Northern America | United States
15 | Sonoran Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,310,000 310,000[5] | 00,119,692 119,692 | Central America
Northern America | Mexico and the United States
16 | Kyzylkum Desert | Cold winter |  | 00,300,000 300,000[5] | 00,115,831 115,831 | Central Asia | Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
17 | Ogaden Desert | Tropical |  | 00,256,000 256,000 | 00,098,842 98,842 | Eastern Africa | Ethiopia, Somalia, and Somaliland
18 | Thar Desert | Subtropical |  | 238,254[6] | 00,077,220 77,220 | Southern Asia | India and Pakistan
19  | Puntland Desert | Tropical |  | 00,200,000 200,000 | 00,077,220 77,220 | Eastern Africa | Somalia
20 | Ustyurt Plateau | Cold winter |  | 00,200,000 200,000 | 00,077,220 77,220 | Central Asia | Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
21 | Guban Desert | Tropical |  | 00,175,000 175,000 | 00,067,568 67,568 | Eastern Africa | Somalia/Somaliland
22 | Namib Desert | Cool coastal |  | 00,160,000 160,000 | 00,061,776 61,776 | Middle Africa
Southern Africa | Angola, Namibia, and South Africa
23 | Margo Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,150,000 150,000 | 00,057,915 57,915 | Southern Asia | Afghanistan
24 | Registan Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,146,000 146,000 | 00,056,371 56,371 | Southern Asia | Afghanistan
25 | Atacama Desert | Mild coastal |  | 00,140,000 140,000[5] | 00,054,054 54,054 | South America | Chile and Peru
26 | Danakil Desert | Tropical |  | 00,137,000 137,000 | 00,052,896 52,896 | Eastern Africa | Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia
27 | Mojave Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,124,000 124,000[7][8] | 00,047,877 47,877 | Northern America | United States
28 | Chalbi Desert | Tropical |  | 00,100,000 100,000 | 00,038,610 38,610 | Eastern Africa | Kenya
29 | Columbia Basin | Cold winter |  | 00,083,139 83,139[5] | 00,032,100 32,100 | Northern America | Canada and the United States
30 | Kavir Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,077,000 77,000[9] | 00,029,730 29,730 | Western Asia | Iran
31 | Ferlo Desert | Tropical bordering on Subtropical |  | 00,070,000 70,000 | 00,027,027 27,027 | Western Africa | Senegal
32 | Ladakh Desert[10] | Cold winter |  | 00,059,146 59,146 | 00,022,836 22,836 | Southern Asia | India
33 | Lut Desert | Subtropical |  | 00,052,000 52,000[9] | 00,020,077 20,077 | Western Asia | Iran

## See also

[edit]

* Desert
* Desertification
* List of deserts by continent
* Polar desert
* Tundra
* United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ As per the United Nations geoscheme.
2. ^ A part of the Great Australian Desert.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "Top ten largest (non-polar) deserts". Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
2. ^ "Arabian Desert". Archived from the original on 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
3. ^ Areas of Australian and territory deserts by Geoscience Australia
4. ^ Bass, Karen (2009-02-01). "Nature's Great Events:The Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert" (PDF). press.uchicago.edu. University of Chicago Press. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Largest Desert in the World". Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
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. ^ "Mapping Perennial Vegetation Cover in the Mojave Desert" (PDF). pubs.usgs.gov. USGS Western Geographic Science Center. 2011-06-01. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
8. ^ "Recoverability and Vulnerability of Desert Ecosystems". mojave.usgs.gov. USGS. 2006-03-03. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
9. ^ a b Wright, John W., ed. (2006). The New York Times Almanac (2007 ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books. p. 456. ISBN 0-14-303820-6.
10. ^ "The Cold Desert – Ladakh". 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2021-10-17.

* v
* t
* e

World deserts

* Desert
* Desertification
* Polar desert
* List of deserts
* List of deserts by area
* Desert exploration

Africa|

* Algerian
* Bayuda
* Black Desert
* Blue
* Chalbi
* Danakil
* Djurab
* Eastern
* Ferlo
* Farafra (White)
* Kalahari
* Libyan
* Moçâmedes
* Namib
* Nubian
* Nyiri
* Plaine des Sables
* Richtersveld
* Sahara
* Tanezrouft
* Ténéré
* Western

Asia|

| Arabian Peninsula|

* Ad-Dahna
* Nefud
* Arabian
* El-Bariyah
* Naqab
* Ramlat al-Sab'atayn
* Rub' al Khali
* Syrian
* Wahiba Sands

|

Central Asia|

* Aral Karakum
* Aralkum
* Barsuki
* Betpak-Dala
* Dasht-e Naomid
* Karakum
* Kyzylkum
* Moiynkum
* Ryn
* Saryesik-Atyrau
* Sarykum
* Taukum
* Ustyurt

East Asia|

* Badain Jaran
* Gobi
* Gurbantünggüt
* Hami
* Lop
* Kumtag
* Ordos
* Kubuqi
* Mu Us
* Qaidam
* Taklamakan
* Tengger

South Asia|

* Cholistan
* Indus Valley
* Katpana
* Kharan
* Thal
* Thar

Iranian plateau|

* Kavir
* Khash
* Leili
* Lut
* Margo
* Naomid
* Polond
* Registan

Southeast Asia|

* La Paz

Europe|

* Bardenas Reales
* Cabo de Gata
* Monegros
* Oleshky
* Tabernas
* Deliblato

North America|

* Alvord
* Amargosa
* Baja California
* Black Rock
* Carcross
* Carson
* Channeled scablands
* Chihuahuan
* Colorado
* Escalante
* Forty Mile
* Gran Desierto de Altar
* Great Basin
* Great Salt Lake
* Great Sandy
* Jornada del Muerto
* Kaʻū
* Lechuguilla
* Mojave
* North American Arctic
* Owyhee
* Painted Desert
* Red Desert
* Sevier
* Smoke Creek
* Sonoran
* Tonopah Desert
* Tule (Arizona)
* Tule (Nevada)
* Yuha
* Yuma

Oceania|

| Australia|

* Gibson
* Great Sandy
* Great Victoria
* Little Sandy
* Nullarbor Plain
* Painted
* Pedirka
* Simpson
* Strzelecki
* Sturt Stony
* Tanami
* Tirari

|

New Zealand|

* Rangipo

South America|

* Atacama
* La Guajira
* Los Médanos de Coro
* Monte
* Patagonian
* Sechura
* Tatacoa

Polar regions|

| Antarctic|

* Antarctica
* Meyer Desert

|

Arctic|

* North American Arctic
* Greenland
* Russian Arctic

* Project
* Category
* Commons

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