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Curious? Click through this gallery to see which countries rank among the wettest and the driest on the planet.
The African country of Libya is the second-driest nation, and has an average rainfall of 2.2 inches (56 mm). It has the largest proven oil reserves on the entire African continent, and is also home to one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean, named Leptis Magna (pictured).
Saudi Arabia’s history is laden with the mixture of oil and religion, both of which have brought the country to the forefront of globalization. But due to its location in the Arabian Desert, the nation sees only 2.3 inches (59 mm) of precipitation every year.
Another country found in the Arabian Desert, Qatar is renowned for its oil reserves and the Pearl Island, which is the third-largest artificial island in the world (pictured). The country is among the driest on Earth and receives only 2.9 inches (74 mm) of annual rainfall.
This list also sees the UAE, another country from the Middle East, with an average precipitation of 3 inches (78 mm). The nation’s most-populous city, Dubai, was practically unlivable a mere 20 years ago, but it is now thriving and boasts the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.
Despite the fact that Bahrain’s hostile desert environment only receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rainfall, the region has been occupied since 3000 BCE, making it one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
This is not only the largest country in Africa, but also the home of a national park with prehistoric rock art dating back to 6000 BCE. Algeria’s position in the Sahara Desert makes it an incredibly dry nation, with an average annual rainfall of 3.5 inches (89 mm).
Mauritania is another country located in the Sahara Desert, and it is well known for a prominent geological formation called the Eye of the Sahara (pictured) that is 25 mi (40 km) in diameter. The country also has a national park known for its diverse bird population, all of which live in a country that receives only 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain yearly.
The Middle Eastern country of Jordan hugs the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on Earth. The dramatic desert landscape receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rainfall, and is also home to Petra, an ancient city carved into rock and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
One of the world’s tallest communications towers is located in Kuwait, known as Liberation Tower. The country has a high-income economy thanks to its oil reserves, and sees about 4.8 inches (121 mm) of precipitation annually.
Nestled on the Arabian Peninsula is the country of Oman, which is known for its religious history and world-famous mosques. Alongside many other countries in the region, it ranks as one of the driest nations on the planet, with an average rainfall of 4.9 inches (125 mm).
The West African country of Niger hosts one of the world's largest protected areas, the Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves. It is a landlocked country in the middle of the Sahara Desert, and receives only 5.9 inches (151 mm) of precipitation every year.
Located in Central Asia, Turkmenistan has had a tumultuous history with religion, colonialism, and human rights. The country experiences 6.3 inches (161 mm) of rainfall annually, and is home to the Gates of Hell, a gas crater that has been burning since the 1980s.
Arriving on this list as one of the driest countries is Yemen, another nation from the Arabian Desert. Included in Yemen’s borders is the island of Socotra, which is known for its alien-like vegetation found nowhere else on Earth. Yemen only receives 6.6 inches (167 mm) of rain every year.
Uzbekistan borders Turkmenistan in Central Asia and sees a mere 8.1 inches (206 mm) of annual precipitation. Uzbekistan was once a primary hub for the Silk Road, and is now known for its well-preserved Islamic architecture.
Now that we’ve seen the driest countries on the planet, it’s time to take a look at the wettest, starting with the West African country of Liberia. Due to its proximity to the equator, the nation receives an average annual rainfall of 94.1 inches (2,391 mm).
Singapore is an equatorial island nation that is known for its cleanliness and its prestigious architecture. Among its famous buildings, the country is home to supertree structures in Gardens by the Bay. Annual rainfall in the nation amounts to about 98.3 inches (2,497 mm).
Known for its beautiful beaches, Sierra Leone is nestled alongside Liberia on the western coast of Africa. The country receives 99.4 inches (2,526 mm) of precipitation every year, which supplies water to many of its rainforests.
Arriving on this list from the Pacific Ocean is the country of Fiji, where the annual rainfall amounts to 102 inches (2,592 mm). Interestingly, Fiji is comprised of more than 330 islands, which is only 10% of its total area. The rest of the nation’s territory is water.
Nestled on the southern coast of the Asian continent is the country of Bangladesh, which receives 105 inches (2,666 mm) of rainfall every year. Alongside India, the nation is home to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Out of all the countries on this list, Indonesia is the only one that is also home to some of the largest forests in the world. The country is made up of more than 17,000 islands–including Bali–and is home the famous Komodo dragon. Indonesia is the 10th-wettest country in the world, with an average rainfall of 106.4 inches (2,702 mm).
Brunei is located in Southeast Asia alongside Indonesia. The nation boasts the largest residential palace in the world, which is where the Sultan lives, and receives annual precipitation amounting to 107.2 inches (2,722 mm).
Malaysia is another country on this list that is located in the same area as Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei. It sees 113.2 inches (2,875 mm) of yearly rainfall, and is home to the world’s largest flower, known as the Rafflesia.
The island nation of Samoa–located in the Pacific Ocean–is renowned for the tattooing that embodies its people’s culture and spirituality. Samoans have a deep connection to their islands, which are supplied with around 113.4 inches (2,880 mm) of rainfall annually.
Moving over to Central America, the nation of Costa Rica sees an average rainfall of 115.2 inches (2,926 mm). Despite the country’s small size, it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
The country of Panama is known for the Panama Canal, an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The country has more bird species than the United States and Canada combined, and sees approximately 115.3 inches (2,928 mm) of precipitation every year.
The Solomon Islands are another nation hailing from the Pacific Ocean, where the average rainfall amounts to 119.2 inches (3,028 mm).
The country of Papua New Guinea, which shares a border with Indonesia, is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 800 languages spoken there. Much like other countries in the area, Papua New Guinea is one of the wettest in the world, with an average rainfall of 123.7 inches (3,142 mm).
The African country of São Tomé and Príncipe is an island nation that sits almost on the equator. It is the second-smallest African country, but is the second wettest in the world with 126 inches (3,200 mm) of precipitation received yearly.
Arriving in first place as the wettest country in the world is Colombia, with an average annual rainfall of 127.6 inches (3,240 mm).
Sources: (World Bank) (Britannica) (WorldAtlas) (National Geographic)
See also: The enchanted forests that look like they're straight out of a fairy tale
The wettest and driest countries in the world
Could you live in any of these places?
TRAVEL Rain
Our planet is a vast tapestry of contradiction, with some places on Earth entirely inhospitable, while other places thrive with life. Well, one thing always remains true: all of existence relies on water to survive. That said, some countries receive more of it than others. Every year, nations measure how much rainfall they receive, and the numbers tell an intriguing story of struggle and sustenance.
Curious? Click through this gallery to see which countries rank among the wettest and the driest on the planet.