The world is heating up. According to climate.gov, the earth’s temperature is roughly 2°F warmer now than it was in 1850. Even scarier, the 10 hottest years on record all occurred in the past decade, with 2023 being the warmest of the lot.
Some places have it worse than others, though. The hottest countries in the world are borderline inhospitable, with temperatures regularly exceeding uncomfortable levels and sometimes hitting deadly ones. Read on to discover 20 stupendously hot countries where scientists have recorded the most blistering temperatures on record.
1. Thailand
Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand boasts an average annual temperature of 80.7°F (27°C). While the capital, Bangkok, is its most popular city, you can book a trip anywhere in Thailand to enjoy great weather, incredible food, cultural sights, and stunning landscapes.
The heat and humidity will be your constant companions, though. In 2016 and 2023, temperatures in Thailand reached a record high of 112.3°F, or 44.6°C.
2. Tunisia
Located in North Africa, Tunisia has average summer temperatures of around 89 to 91°F (32 to 33°C). Its hottest date on record was July 7th, 1931, when temperatures soared to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, or 55 degrees Celsius! While the entire country gets crazy hot, it can be particularly baking in the desert regions.
3. The United States
This list of the hottest countries in the world draws from data about the average annual temperatures. Yet out of every location on this list, the US actually has the hottest single-day temperatures ever recorded. While it might not be the hottest country in the world, temperatures in Death Valley, California, hit a staggering 134°F (57°C) on July 10, 1931.
4. Burkina Faso
A landlocked country in western Africa, Burkina Faso features a sprawling plateau, with geography characterized mostly by a grassy northern savannah and sparse southern forests. The highest recorded temperature here is 117°F, or 47°C.
While that might not be the hottest on this list, Burkina Faso does have the distinction of having one of the hottest average daily temperatures: a sweltering 83°F (29°C).
5. Kuwait
Kuwait is located on the Arabian Peninsula, in the northwestern region of the Persian Gulf. Like Thailand, 2016 was an especially hot year for the country.
On July 21st of that year, temperatures in the town of Mitribah reached 129°F, or 54°C. It’s another hot country getting warmer every year. Temperatures exceeding 122°F (50°C) are said to be increasingly common.
6. Iran
Iran is uniquely positioned where Central Asia, South Asia, and Middle Eastern Arab states meet. While its mountainous areas get cold in the winter, it tends to have a mild climate all year.
However, its summers can be blisteringly hot. For example, on June 29th, 2017, the Iranian town of Ahwaz reached a record high of 129°F, or 54°C.
7. Israel
Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Israel is another of the hottest countries on Earth in summer. On June 21, 1942, the city of Tirat Zvi hit a record high of 129°F (54°C).
While summer temperatures here tend to hover around 80°F, it can get much hotter in certain areas, including the cities of Massada and Eila.
8. Mali (The Hottest Country in the World?)
Some sources claim Mali is the hottest country in the world. Another landlocked location in western Africa, it borders Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Most of Mali’s northern region is covered by the Sahara Desert, so it’s unsurprisingly warm up there! According to worlddata.info, the record temperature in Mali is 121.6°F (49.8°C), which happened in April 2021.
9. Djibouti
Djibouti is situated on the northern side of the Horn of Africa. It comprises mostly vast deserts and is located roughly 817 miles north of the equator, so it’s easy to see how it could become one of the hottest countries in the world! Average summer temperatures hover around 97°F (36°C). However, the hottest day recorded here reached 117°F, or 47°C.
10. Iraq
Iraq is an Arab country that’s located at roughly the same latitude as the southern US. Its summer temperatures can be scorching. On July 22, 2016, the city of Basra reached 129°F (54°C).
The country as a whole isn’t nearly as hot, though. If you travel into Iraq’s northern mountains, for example, the temperatures can be much milder (even in the summer), as well as rainier.
11. Pakistan
Located in South Asia, Pakistan shares its borders with India, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. On May 28, 2017, the city of Turbat hit a record 129°F, or 54°C.
Another city, Jacobabad, recently made headlines for similarly hot temperatures that can reach 126°F (52°C) in summer. Combined with the area’s humidity, it often gets hotter than the human body is able to withstand.
12. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is an island in the west/central Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Australia and Hawaii. It consists of nine coral islands and five reef islands. One of the smallest hot countries in the world, Tuvalu’s average summer temperatures are around 82°F, or 28°C. The hottest it’s ever been there is around 106°F, which is around 41°C.
13. The United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the southeastern region of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the countries of Oman and Saudi Arabia. Like Pakistan, the hottest temperature ever recorded there is 126°F (52°C).
Locals and visitors alike flock to modern cities like Dubai, partly because its buildings have air-conditioning that lets them escape the heat.
14. Kiribati
Kiribati is a tiny island in the central Pacific Ocean. It consists of 33 individual islands, although only 20 are inhabited. The climate is hot and humid year-round, as the sun is positioned almost directly above the region.
Kiribati’s hottest day hit 113°F, or 45°C. Thankfully, the average annual daytime temperature is much milder, usually staying around 88°F (31°C).
15. Senegal
Located in western Africa, Senegal is south of Mauritania, west of Mail, and north of Guinea. Many factors contribute to its blistering temperatures, including a savannah landscape and a northern region in the semi-arid Sahel region. Plus, it’s close to the equator.
The record temperature is 123°F, or 50°C. While temperatures like that make Senegal one of the world’s hottest countries, most summer days in the country’s interior top out around 93°F (34°C).
16. The Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands is one of the warmest and most remote countries on Earth. Located in the central Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and Australia, it’s a paradisiacal archipelago comprised of 24 coral atolls and over 1,150 individual islands and islets. The hottest day here reached 101°F, or 38°C. Average temperatures stay between 80 and 93°F (27-34°C).
17. Qatar
A small Arab nation in Southwest Asia, Qatar is part of the Middle East. It sits on the Arabian Peninsula, off the coast of the Persian Gulf. Temperatures fluctuate a lot throughout the year, with mild winters and boiling summers.
Depending on when you go, it could be as low as 50°F (10°C) or as high as 113°F (45°C). On May 25, 2021, the settlement of Abu Samra reached its highest-ever numbers, hitting 118°F, or 48°C.
18. Benin
Benin is a West African country that lies perpendicular to the Coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Its capital city, Cotonou, is known as a nightlife hotspot, with many different bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to check out! Expect the heat, though.
Benin’s climate remains fairly mild most of the time, hovering around 81°F (28°C). But when it’s hot, it’s hot! The warmest day on record occurred in the country’s W National Park region, where it reached 113°F (45°C).
19. Mauritania
Located on the Atlantic coast of Africa, Mauritania is at the crossroads of the Maghreb region and sub-Saharan Africa. For most of the year, temperatures are bearable, hovering around 81°F (28°C).
However, Mauritania is surrounded by a vast desert, which can create significant climate fluctuations. Nouakchott, its capital and largest city, once hit 115°F, or 46°C!
20. Palau
Palau is recognized as the westernmost archipelago of the Caroline Islands in Oceania. It consists of six primary island groups that sit roughly 500 miles from the equator.
While tourists love Palau for its tropical beauty, be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. In summer, temperatures can be 95°F (35°C). However, the average humidity exceeds 80%, so it can feel even hotter.
Want to Visit the Hottest Countries in the World?
While these are some of the hottest countries in the world, you don’t necessarily need to remove them from your bucket list. Often, the trick is knowing which parts of the country experience the balmiest temperatures and the specific times of the year to avoid.
Many hot countries, such as Iran, also get really cold, particularly in mountainous regions or areas farthest from the equator. In other words, as long as you do some homework beforehand, you should be able to explore these places without overheating! For more blue skies and sunshine, you might like this list of the cheapest islands in the world.
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