Global Environment | November 3, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Across some of the most arid parts of our planet, rainfall is almost an afterthought. In 2025, a new list of the world’s driest countries highlights how geography, climate and human adaptation converge in regions where water remains an extreme rarity.
According to meteorological data compiled, the ten nations with the lowest average annual precipitation span the Sahara and Arabian deserts, along with sections of the Middle East. These nations face chronic water scarcity and rely heavily on desalination, fossil-groundwater extraction, or limited seasonal rainfall. The clear ranking is as follows:
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Egypt — 18 mm
Much of Egypt’s inland territory lies in the Sahara, with the Nile as the only major water artery supporting life. -
Libya — 56 mm
Almost entirely desert, Libya’s rainfall is confined to highland areas like Jebel Akhdar, while the rest remains bone-dry. -
Saudi Arabia — 59 mm
Among the planet’s largest oil producers, Saudi Arabia has expansive arid plateaus where rainfall is minimal and evaporation rates are intense. -
Qatar — 74 mm
Flat, desert terrain and minimal elevation make Qatar one of the driest countries on Earth; the state depends heavily on desalination for water supply. -
United Arab Emirates (UAE) — 78 mm
Rain falls mostly in winter; cloud-seeding and artificial interventions attempt to bolster supply, though scarcity remains the norm. -
Bahrain — 83 mm
This island nation has extremely limited freshwater; most needs are met through desalination and imports. -
Algeria — 89 mm
The Sahara dominates Algeria’s landmass; though the northern Mediterranean coast receives some rain, the vast interior remains arid. -
Mauritania — 92 mm
Positioned on the fringe of the Sahara, Mauritania experiences short rainy seasons followed by extended droughts across its arid expanse. -
Jordan — 111 mm
While its highlands get modest seasonal rain, the eastern desert zones are nearly rainless, and water scarcity continues to challenge the region. -
Kuwait — 121 mm
With harsh desert climate and only occasional winter rain, Kuwait features a landscape of limited groundwater and high evaporation.
These rankings illustrate how rainfall alone fails to adequately supply water in these countries. High evaporation, poor soil moisture retention, lack of major rivers, and geographical factors such as distance from moisture-bearing ocean systems all play a role. In regions like the Arabian Peninsula and the Sahara, infrastructure and technology are key to meeting human and economic demands.
For many of these nations, adaptation strategies are critical. Desalination plants, water-import agreements, aquifer management, cloud-seeding and strict water-conservation policies are part of everyday life. Despite the harsh conditions, economies are built on oil, gas, tourism and wealthy urban centres — all of which require reliable water supply lines.
As global climate patterns shift and populations grow, the urgency of water management in these driest countries becomes a strategic concern not just for them, but for the world. With heightened demand for resources and increasing stress on freshwater systems, innovation in water supply and efficiency could define the resilience of entire nations.