Mapped: The World’s Wettest and Driest Countries
Exploring Global Rainfall Extremes
The world’s climate varies dramatically, from lush rainforests to barren deserts. Some nations experience heavy, year-round rainfall, while others receive barely a drop.
- This ranking of the wettest and driest countries is based on average annual precipitation data from the World Bank.
- As expected, the wettest nations are near the equator and oceans, while the driest countries are found in arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East.
Here’s a closer look at the countries that receive the most and least rainfall worldwide.
Top 10 Wettest Countries
Colombia tops the list as the wettest country, receiving an average of 3,240 mm of rain annually.
- Its Tutunendo district is among the world’s rainiest places, with nearly 12,000 mm (463 inches) of rainfall per year.
- The tropical climate and humid air masses near the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans contribute to its extreme precipitation levels.
The following countries also experience heavy rainfall throughout the year:
| Rank | Country | Average Annual Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 3,240 |
| 2 | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome & Principe | 3,200 |
| 3 | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 3,142 |
| 4 | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 3,028 |
| 5 | 🇵🇦 Panama | 2,928 |
| 6 | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 2,926 |
| 7 | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 2,880 |
| 8 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 2,875 |
| 9 | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 2,722 |
| 10 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 2,702 |
- Sao Tome & Principe, an island nation off Africa’s western coast, closely follows Colombia, receiving 3,200 mm of rain annually.
- Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Panama also see more than 3,000 mm of rainfall per year.
Notably, all 10 of the wettest countries are tropical nations located near the equator and oceanic weather systems, which fuel continuous heavy rainfall.
Top 10 Driest Countries
At the other extreme, Egypt ranks as the world’s driest country, receiving just 18 mm of rain annually.
- Compared to Colombia, Egypt gets 180 times less rainfall, highlighting the stark contrast between these two extremes.
- The hot desert climate of North Africa contributes to minimal precipitation, as high temperatures cause moisture to evaporate before it can form clouds.
The rest of the driest nations also fall within North Africa and the Middle East, regions dominated by desert landscapes and arid conditions:
| Rank | Country | Average Annual Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 18 |
| 2 | 🇱🇾 Libya | 56 |
| 3 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 59 |
| 4 | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 74 |
| 5 | 🇦🇪 UAE | 78 |
| 6 | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 83 |
| 7 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 89 |
| 8 | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 92 |
| 9 | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 111 |
| 10 | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 121 |
- Libya and Saudi Arabia, ranking second and third, receive less than 60 mm of rain per year, reinforcing their desert environments.
- Countries like Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain also experience minimal rainfall, with hot, dry conditions dominating the region.
This list exclusively features countries from North Africa and the Middle East, regions known for their vast deserts, extreme heat, and persistent droughts.
Understanding the Global Rainfall Divide
The stark difference between the wettest and driest nations is largely influenced by geography, climate patterns, and oceanic proximity.
- Wet countries are near the equator, where rising warm air leads to high humidity and frequent rainfall.
- Dry nations are located in desert regions, where high temperatures and limited cloud formation prevent precipitation.
Whether experiencing torrential downpours or arid droughts, these global rainfall extremes shape ecosystems, agriculture, and daily life in each country.
