Deserts of the world

area

name (location) sq mi sq km

Africa

Sahara (northern Africa) 3,320,000 8,600,000

Libyan (Libyan Desert) (Libya, Egypt, and The Sudan) ... ...

Kalahari (southwestern Africa) 360,000 930,000

Namib (southwestern Africa) 52,000 135,000

America, North

Great Basin (southwestern U.S.) 190,000 492,000

Chihuahuan (northern Mexico) 175,000 450,000

Sonoran (Sonoran Desert) (southwestern U.S. and Baja California) 120,000 310,000

Colorado (Colorado Desert) (California, U.S., and northern Mexico) ... ...

Yuma (Yuma Desert) (Arizona, U.S., and Sonora, Mexico) ... ...

Mojave (Mojave Desert) (southwestern U.S.) 25,000 65,000

America, South

Patagonian (Patagonia) (southern Argentina) 260,000 673,000

Atacama (Atacama Desert) (northern Chile) 54,000 140,000

Asia

Arabia (Arabian Desert) (southwestern Asia) 900,000 2,330,000

Rub'al-Khali (Rubʿ al-Khali) (southern Arabian Peninsula) 250,000 650,000

Gobi (Mongolia and northeastern China) 500,000 1,300,000

Kyzylkum (Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan) 115,000 300,000

Takla Makan (Takla Makan Desert) (northern China) 105,000 270,000

Karakum (Karakum Desert) (Turkmenistan) 135,000 350,000

Kavir (Kavīr Desert) (central Iran) 100,000 260,000

Syrian (Syrian Desert) (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq) 100,000 260,000

Thar (Thar Desert) (India and Pakistan) 77,000 200,000

Lut (Lūt Desert) (eastern Iran) 20,000 52,000

Negev (Israel) 4,700 12,300

Australia

Great Victoria (Great Victoria Desert) (Western and South Australia) 250,000 647,000

Great Sandy (Great Sandy Desert) (northern Western Australia) 150,000 400,000

Gibson (Gibson Desert) (Western Australia) ... ...

Simpson (Simpson Desert) (Northern Territory) 56,000 145,000