Top 10 Hottest Places on Earth

While many seek warm, sunny climates, there are places on Earth where heat reaches truly extreme and dangerous levels. These locations push the boundaries of human endurance, where life adapts to incredibly high temperatures, and the landscape is dominated by scorching sand and rock. These places are crucial for scientific research, particularly for understanding Earth's climate systems and the limits of life in extreme environments. For more extreme geographical features, explore our lists of the coldest places on Earth and largest deserts.

This list explores the ten hottest places on Earth based on the highest officially recorded air temperatures. We'll journey from the heart of the Sahara to the depths of Death Valley to discover where the mercury rises the highest.

(Note: This list focuses exclusively on air temperature records measured 1.5m above ground in shaded conditions, providing a consistent and comparable ranking of the world's hottest locations.)

Methodology

This ranking is based on the highest officially recorded temperatures at various locations worldwide. The criteria for inclusion are:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Officially verified temperature records from meteorological organizations
• Both inhabited and uninhabited locations with reliable measurements
• Air temperature records (measured 1.5m above ground in shaded conditions)
• Surface temperature records (noted separately when significantly different)
• Ground-level measurements and satellite-derived temperatures (clearly distinguished)

Data Sources:

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) records
• National meteorological services (NOAA, Met Office)
• Scientific research station data
• Peer-reviewed climate studies and publications
• Satellite temperature measurements (NASA, ESA)

Important Distinctions:

• Air vs. Surface Temperature: Air temperature is measured in standard conditions and is more relevant for human experience, while surface temperature can be much higher
• Official vs. Unofficial Records: Only officially verified records are used, though some disputed records are noted for context
• Historical vs. Recent Records: Many extreme heat records are from earlier decades, reflecting both natural climate variability and improved measurement techniques

Temperature Verification: All temperature records have been verified through multiple sources and represent the highest officially recorded temperatures at each location. Records are ranked by the absolute highest air temperature recorded, with air temperatures taking precedence over surface temperatures for ranking purposes.

Ranking Criteria:

• Primary ranking: Maximum air temperature (measured 1.5m above ground in shaded conditions)
• Consistent measurement: Only air temperature records are included for fair comparison
• Official verification: All records must be officially verified by meteorological organizations

List of Hottest Places on Earth

1. Death Valley, California, USA

Record High: 56.7°C (134.1°F)

Death Valley is the undisputed champion of extreme heat, holding the world record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth. The record was set at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913, and has stood for over a century. Even in recent years, Death Valley continues to demonstrate its thermal extremes—in summer 2024, temperatures reached 54.4°C (129.9°F), reaffirming its status as one of the most consistently scorching locations on Earth. Death Valley's unique geography—a below-sea-level basin surrounded by mountains—creates a natural heat trap that amplifies temperatures to extreme levels. The valley's extreme aridity and clear skies allow for maximum solar heating, while the surrounding mountains prevent cool air from entering the valley, creating the most thermally intense conditions naturally occurring on our planet.

2. Kebili, Tunisia

Record High: 55.0°C (131.0°F)

Kebili, an oasis town in southern Tunisia, recorded this extreme temperature on July 7, 1931. While this record has been questioned by some meteorologists due to measurement techniques of the era, Kebili remains one of the hottest places in Africa. The town is located in the Sahara Desert and experiences a hot desert climate year-round, with scorching conditions that create some of the most thermally challenging environments on the continent.

3. Mitribah, Kuwait

Record High: 53.9°C (129.0°F)

Mitribah, a remote area in northwestern Kuwait, recorded this temperature record on July 21, 2016. This measurement tied the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Asia and highlighted the extreme heat conditions that can occur in the Arabian Peninsula. Kuwait continues to experience extreme temperatures—in July 2024, temperatures reached 54.0°C (129.2°F) in the region, demonstrating the ongoing thermal intensity of this area. The area's desert location and lack of vegetation contribute to the intense heat, creating thermal extremes that represent some of the harshest climatic conditions on Earth.

4. Tirat Zvi, Israel

Record High: 53.9°C (129.0°F)

Tirat Zvi, a kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley, holds the temperature record for the highest reading ever recorded in Israel and one of the highest in the Middle East. The record was set on June 21, 1942, during a period of extreme heat that affected much of the Middle East. The valley's below-sea-level elevation and surrounding mountains create a natural heat trap that amplifies summer temperatures, resulting in blazing conditions that challenge human endurance.

5. Basra, Iraq

Record High: 53.9°C (129.0°F)

Basra, located in southern Iraq near the Persian Gulf, is one of the world's hottest cities and experiences extreme heat throughout the summer months. The city's location in a low-lying area combined with high humidity creates oppressive conditions that make it one of the most thermally challenging inhabited places on Earth. Basra's extreme temperatures are exacerbated by its proximity to the desert and the heat-trapping effects of urban development, creating a heat island effect that intensifies the already blazing conditions.

6. Wadi Halfa, Sudan

Record High: 53.0°C (127.4°F)

Wadi Halfa, located on the shores of Lake Nasser in northern Sudan, experiences some of the most extreme heat in Africa. The city sits in an arid desert climate with minimal rainfall and consistently high temperatures throughout the summer months. The scorching conditions are exacerbated by the surrounding desert landscape and the city's low elevation, creating a natural heat trap that intensifies the already blazing temperatures.

7. Ahvaz, Iran

Record High: 53.7°C (128.7°F)

Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran, recorded this temperature record on June 29, 2017. The city experiences extremely hot summers with high humidity, making the heat feel even more oppressive. Ahvaz is located in a low-lying area that traps hot air and experiences frequent dust storms, creating thermal extremes that combine blazing temperatures with challenging atmospheric conditions.

8. Turbat, Pakistan

Record High: 53.7°C (128.7°F)

Turbat, located in southwestern Pakistan near the Iranian border, recorded this extreme temperature on May 28, 2017. The city experiences a hot desert climate with very little rainfall and consistently scorching temperatures from April through September. The extreme heat is part of a broader pattern of rising temperatures in South Asia, with thermal extremes becoming increasingly common in the region's arid landscapes.

9. Jacobabad, Pakistan

Record High: 52.8°C (127.0°F)

Jacobabad, located in the Sindh province of Pakistan, is renowned for its extreme heat and is often cited as one of the hottest cities in the world. The city experiences scorching temperatures that can last for months, with the combination of high temperatures and humidity creating dangerous heat index values. Jacobabad's location in the Thar Desert region and its arid climate contribute to the intense heat conditions, making it one of the most thermally extreme inhabited locations on the planet.

10. Aswan, Egypt

Record High: 51.0°C (123.8°F)

Aswan, located on the banks of the Nile River in southern Egypt, recorded this extreme temperature on July 4, 1918. The city experiences a hot desert climate with very little rainfall and consistently scorching temperatures throughout the summer months. Aswan's location in the Nubian Desert and its low elevation contribute to the intense heat conditions, making it one of the most thermally extreme urban areas in the region.

Summary of the Top 10 Hottest Places

Conclusion

The world's hottest places represent the extreme limits of Earth's climate system and human habitation. These locations, from the scorching deserts of Africa and Asia to the record-breaking heat of Death Valley, demonstrate both the incredible diversity of our planet's climates and the harsh realities of extreme heat.

The dominance of desert regions in the rankings reflects the unique conditions that create extreme heat: low latitude, clear skies, minimal vegetation, and geographic features that trap hot air. These locations are not just meteorological curiosities but crucial laboratories for understanding climate science, atmospheric dynamics, and the limits of life in extreme environments.

The concentration of extreme heat records in the Middle East, North Africa, and southwestern United States highlights the role of subtropical high-pressure zones in creating consistently hot conditions. These regions experience the combination of intense solar radiation, dry air, and geographic features that amplify heat to dangerous levels. Recent data from 2024-2025 continues to show extreme temperatures in these regions, with places like Death Valley and Kuwait experiencing temperatures above 54°C, confirming the ongoing thermal extremes in these climatically challenging areas.

The scientific importance of these locations cannot be overstated. Research conducted in these extreme environments helps scientists understand atmospheric circulation patterns, heat transfer mechanisms, and the impacts of climate change on temperature extremes. The data collected from these locations is essential for climate modeling and predicting future temperature trends.

As climate change continues to affect global weather patterns, these extreme locations become even more important for monitoring environmental changes. The data collected from these hot spots helps scientists track the impacts of global warming on temperature extremes and heat wave frequency worldwide.

These hottest places on Earth remind us of both the incredible power of our planet's climate system and the remarkable human capacity to adapt and survive in even the most challenging environments. They stand as testaments to scientific curiosity, human resilience, and our ongoing quest to understand the complex systems that govern our planet's climate. For more fascinating geographical discoveries, check out our comprehensive guides to the largest countries by area and most populous cities around the world.