From the frozen landscapes of Antarctica to the scorching deserts of Africa to the often drought-stricken regions of North America, areas that get little to no rainfall tend to have harsh environments.
To identify the driest places on Earth, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed average annual rainfall recorded by weather stations around the world and compiled by the Global Historical Climatology Network, a program of the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
We calculated the average annual rainfall from precipitation in the years 1997 through 2018. Weather stations that did not have at least five years of data available between 1997 and 2018 were not considered.
While many such hostile regions of the planet are barren of all life, many have been inhabited for millennia.
Most of these places are in Algeria, Egypt, and other countries along the southern coast of the Mediterranean. Six of the 50 driest places on Earth receive an average of less than 1 inch of rain each year.
Click here to see the driest places on Earth.
Source: Bertramz / Wikimedia Commons
50. Tidjikja, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (16 years of data): 1.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2010, 4.6 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 2.3 inches
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
49. Béni Abbès, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 1.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2009, 4.1 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.4 inches
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Source: gionnixxx / Getty Images
48. Indio, CA, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (10 years of data): 1.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2004, 2.9 inches
> Driest month on average: December, 0.3 inches
Source: sasacvetkovic33 / Getty Images
47. Pay Menar, Afghanistan
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 1.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2016, 1.7 inches
> Driest month on average: December, 0.8 inches
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Source: Em and Ernie / Flickr
46. Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 1.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2013, 3.3 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.4 inches
Source: kenlund / Flickr
45. Fallon, NV, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (6 years of data): 1.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 4.5 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 1.2 inches
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
44. Wake Island, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (11 years of data): 1.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 6.2 inches
> Driest month on average: May, 0.6 inches
Source: 罗布泊 / Wikimedia Commons
43. Ruoqiang, China
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 2.2 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 0.4 inches
Source: frangarcia / Flickr
42. Tinduf, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 3.2 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 1.5 inches
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Source: Adro_Hatxerre / Getty Images
41. Atar, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (9 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2008, 2.1 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 1.3 inches
Source: salem / Getty Images
40. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2015, 2.2 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.4 inches
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Source: sergejf / Flickr
39. Copiapó, Chile
> Annual average precipitation (10 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2004, 3.0 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 0.5 inches
Source: Gruban / Patrick Gruban from Munich, Germany / Wikimedia Commons
38. Illizi, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2000, 2.4 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.2 inches
Source: esa_events / Flickr
37. Concordia Station, Antarctica
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2018, 2.5 inches
> Driest month on average: April, 0.1 inches
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Source: Leonid Andronov / Getty Images
36. Ouargla, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.9 inches
> Driest year in database: 2000, 1.5 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.3 inches
Source: dr322 / Getty Images
35. Masirah Island, Oman
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.8 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 4.6 inches
> Driest month on average: November, 0.2 inches
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Source: gorsh13 / Getty Images
34. Aqaba, Israel
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2018, 1.7 inches
> Driest month on average: February, 0.2 inches
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Source: Christopher Crouzet / Wikimedia Commons
33. Chiclayo, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (20 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2008, 2.1 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.4 inches
Source: Jgremillot / Wikimedia Commons
32. Bir Moghrein, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 2.2 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 2.1 inches
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Source: Oussama MOKRANE / Getty Images
31. In Amenas, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2005, 3.0 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.2 inches
Source: ThCh / Getty Images
30. Dakhla, Western Sahara (Morocco)
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2005, 2.3 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 0.4 inches
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Source: Yasmine Issa / Getty Images
29. Helwan, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 1998, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: February, 0.2 inches
Source: habib kaki / Wikimedia Commons
28. Hassi Fehal, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (8 years of data): 0.7 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 1.4 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.2 inches
Source: Konstantin_Novakovic / Getty Images
27. Merowe, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.6 inches
> Driest year in database: 2007, 3.1 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.4 inches
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Source: Siempreverde22 / Getty Images
26. Adrar, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 2.1 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 0.1 inches
Source: chriss73 / Getty Images
25. Palmeira, Cape Verde
> Annual average precipitation (11 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2016, 4.6 inches
> Driest month on average: September, 2.0 inches
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Source: Brian Harrington Spier from Shanghai, China [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
24. Thumrait, Oman
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2018, 3.6 inches
> Driest month on average: May, 0.2 inches
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Source: Hamdanmourad / Wikimedia Commons
23. Djanet, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2005, 2.4 inches
> Driest month on average: June, 0.1 inches
Source: habib kaki / Wikimedia Commons
22. Azekkour, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2008, 1.4 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.2 inches
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Source: Chapultepec at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
21. Waddan, Libya
> Annual average precipitation (17 years of data): 0.5 inches
> Driest year in database: 2013, 1.6 inches
> Driest month on average: April, 0.2 inches
Source: officek_ki / Getty Images
20. Nouadhibou, Mauritania
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 2010, 3.7 inches
> Driest month on average: October, 0.4 inches
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Source: habibkaki / Flickr
19. Ain Salah, Algeria
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.1 inches
Source: DC_Colombia / Getty Images
18. Trujillo, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (20 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 1.2 inches
> Driest month on average: February, 0.2 inches
Source: Abbas Rind / Wikimedia Commons
17. Nawabshah, Pakistan
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.4 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 1.6 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.7 inches
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Source: purecreatives / Getty Images
16. Bilma, Niger
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 2004, 1.2 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.2 inches
Source: David Haberlah at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
15. Abu Hamad, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 2007, 1.5 inches
> Driest month on average: August, 0.2 inches
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Source: Maurice Chédel / Wikimedia Commons
14. Talara, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 0.8 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.6 inches
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Source: dewalick / Flickr
13. Dongola, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.3 inches
> Driest year in database: 2014, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: July, 0.2 inches
Source: abdussalam nattah / Flickr
12. SabhÄ, Libya
> Annual average precipitation (18 years of data): 0.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2013, 0.7 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.1 inches
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Source: EL GUILLE! / Flickr
11. La Chimba, Chile
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.2 inches
> Driest year in database: 2017, 2.0 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.1 inches
Source: stevegeer / Getty Images
10. Arica, Chile
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2017, 1.3 inches
> Driest month on average: March, 0.1 inches
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Source: Eesha Tariq / Wikimedia Commions
9. Nok Kundi, Pakistan
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2003, 0.3 inches
> Driest month on average: January, 0.2 inches
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Source: WitR / Getty Images
8. Aswan, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 2014, 0.7 inches
> Driest month on average: March, <0.0 inches
Source: HomoCosmicos / Getty Images
7. Kharga Oasis, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (7 years of data): 0.1 inches
> Driest year in database: 1999, 0.2 inches
> Driest month on average: January, <0.0 inches
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Source: NickolayV / Getty Images
6. Siwa Oasis, Egypt
> Annual average precipitation (6 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 2001, 0.1 inches
> Driest month on average: February, <0.0 inches
Source: heckepics / Getty Images
5. Wadi Halfa, Sudan
> Annual average precipitation (22 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 2010, 0.2 inches
> Driest month on average: August, <0.0 inches
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Source: StarbucksFreak / Wikimedia Commons
4. Pisco, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (19 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 2011, 0.1 inches
> Driest month on average: January, <0.0 inches
Source: DMartinez-Photo / Getty Images
3. Kaktovik, AK, United States Of America
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1998, <0.0 inches
> Driest month on average: June, <0.0 inches
Source: pagedooley / Flickr
2. Chimbote, Peru
> Annual average precipitation (5 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, <0.0 inches
> Driest month on average: October, <0.0 inches
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Source: NASA / Wikimedia Commons
1. Al Jawf, Libya
> Annual average precipitation (12 years of data): <0.0 inches
> Driest year in database: 1997, 0.1 inches
> Driest month on average: October, <0.0 inches
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