Global Desert Biome Distribution: Every Continent Except Europe

Deserts cover ~33% of Earth's land surface. They exist on every continent except Europe (which has semi-arid zones but no true deserts).

Major Desert Regions by Continent

Africa

• Sahara (9.2M km²) — world's largest hot desert
• Namib (coastal fog desert), Kalahari (semi-arid savanna)

Asia

• Arabian Desert (2.3M km²), Gobi (1.3M), Taklamakan, Karakum, Kyzylkum, Dasht-e Kavir/Lut (Iran)
• Thar (India/Pakistan)
• Asia has the most total desert area

Australia

• Great Victoria, Great Sandy, Gibson, Simpson, Tanami — 18% of continent

North America

• Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin (cold desert)

South America

• Atacama (world's driest), Patagonian, Monte, Sechura

Antarctica

• McMurdo Dry Valleys — polar desert (largest desert by some definitions: 14M km²)

Defining Desert

Precipitation <250 mm/yr (arid) or 250–500 mm (semi-arid). Not defined by heat—cold deserts exist (Gobi, Great Basin, Antarctica).

Europe's rain shadow (e.g., Almería, Spain) reaches semi-arid (200–300 mm) but not true desert threshold.