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 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 EuropeNorthern AmericaNorthern AsiaNorthern Europe United States (Alaska), Canada (Yukon, Nunut 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 AfricaMiddle AfricaNorthern AfricaWestern 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 Oceanic 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 AmericaNorthern 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 AmericaNorthern 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 Moje 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 AfricaSouthern Africa Angola, Namibia, and South Africa – Strzelecki Desert[note 2] Subtropical 80,250[2] 30,980 Australasia Australia 28 Dasht-e Kir 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[edit] Desert Desertification List of deserts by continent Polar desert Tundra United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Notes[edit] ^ As per the United Nations geoscheme. ^ a b c d e f g A part of the Great Australian Desert. References[edit] ^ 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. ^ a b c d e f g Areas of Australian and territory deserts by Geoscience Australia ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hot and cold deserts of the world". Retrieved 2022-03-03. ^ a b c d e f "Largest Desert in the World". Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2021-05-14. ^ a b The Deserts of Africa ^ "Thar Desert | Map, Climate, Vegetation, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2021. ^ "Ustyurt Plateau | Central Asia, Aral Sea, Desert". Encyclopedia Britannica. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025. ^ The Nine Deserts In Africa vteWorld 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 AsiaArabian Peninsula Ad-Dahna Nefud Arabian Judaean Negev 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 Kir 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 Moje North American Arctic Owyhee Painted Desert Red Desert Sevier Smoke Creek Sonoran Tonopah Desert Tule (Arizona) Tule (Nevada) Yuha Yuma OceaniaAustralia 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 regionsAntarctic Antarctica Meyer Desert Arctic North American Arctic Greenland Russian Arctic Project Category Commons