Largest deserts in the world — the full ranked list
The complete ranking of largest deserts in the world, in order, with what the ranking counts and how firm the figures behind it are. Free reference, no sign-up — and the guessing game that plays the same list.
By area, and the first two surprise people: a desert is defined by how little falls from the sky, not by heat, so Antarctica and the Arctic are the two biggest on Earth.
Ranked from published, countable figures.
100 entries, in order.
- Antarctic
- Arctic
- Sahara
- Arabian
- Gobi
- Kalahari
- Patagonian
- Syrian
- Great Basin
- Chihuahuan
- Great Victoria
- Great Sandy
- Karakum
- Colorado Plateau
- Sonoran
- Kyzylkum
- Taklamakan
- Thar
- Gibson
- Simpson
- Atacama
- Namib
- Dasht-e Kavir
- Dasht-e Lut
- Mojave
- Danakil
- Ordos
- Registan
- Nubian
- Ferlo
- Rub' al Khali
- An Nafud
- Ad-Dahna
- Wahiba Sands
- Negev
- Judaean Desert
- Sinai
- Cholistan
- Kharan
- Katpana
- Rann of Kutch
- Lop Desert
- Badain Jaran
- Tengger
- Alashan
- Qaidam
- Ustyurt
- Muyunkum
- Betpak-Dala
- Saryesik-Atyrau
- Ryn Desert
- Aralkum
- Sechura
- Monte Desert
- La Guajira
- Tatacoa
- Painted Desert
- Black Rock Desert
- Alvord Desert
- Yuma Desert
- Owyhee Desert
- Red Desert
- Escalante Desert
- Tabernas
- Bledow Desert
- Accona
- Oleshky Sands
- Chalbi
- Guban
- Grand Bara
- Tenere
- Bayuda
- Atbai
- Karoo
- Richtersveld
- Sturt Stony Desert
- Tirari
- Strzelecki
- Tanami
- Little Sandy Desert
- Pedirka
- Nullarbor Plain
- Rangipo
- Vizcaino
- Altar Desert
- Thal Desert
- Margo Desert
- Sistan Basin
- Great Salt Lake Desert
- Smoke Creek Desert
- Carson Desert
- Amargosa Desert
- Death Valley
- White Desert
- Wadi Rum
- Ramlat al-Sabatayn
- Jiddat al-Harasis
- Bardenas Reales
- Deliblato Sands
- Piscinas Dunes
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