Top 20 Hottest Countries in the World

When you think of the hottest countries in the world, you might think of the Sahara desert region or the Middle East right away. However, did you know the tiny island nation of Tuvalu is one of the hottest countries in the world and is nowhere near there?

Map of the Hottest Countries in the World:

Let’s go through the hottest countries on the planet, starting with the hottest. The temperatures we give aren’t summer highs. Rather, these temperatures are year-long averages that use both winter and summer temperatures to provide us with a yearly average temperature.

1. Mali

With an average temperature of 83.89 °F (28.83 °C), Mali is the world’s highest temperature country. Located on the border between the Sahara desert and the Sahel region, Mali gets a significant amount of sun. The country also gets minimal rain, making drought a significant issue and Mali one of the poorest countries in Africa.

2. Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, which borders Mali, is the second-hottest country on earth. With an average yearly temperature of 83.68 °F (28.71 °C), Burkina Faso gets a lot of heat! You’ll find Burkina Faso in the western part of Africa, with the majority in the Sahel but a small part in the Sahara desert.

3. Senegal

Burkina Faso isn’t the only hot country that borders Mali! Senegal has an average yearly temperature of 83.57 °F (28.65 °C). Senegal consists of both coastal and interior lands. The interior grounds are consistently hotter than the coastal region.

4. Tuvalu

Tuvalu is the first non-African country to break onto the list of the hottest countries in the world. With an average yearly temperature of 83.21 °F (28.45 °C), Tuvalu is a scorching hot island compared to many others in the Pacific Ocean.

5. Djibouti

Djibouti is a country in the eastern part of Africa with an average yearly temperature of 83.08 °F (28.38 °C). With a significant coastline on the Red Sea, you may expect milder temperatures. Seeing how high these temperatures are, that’s not the case in Djibouti!

6. Mauritania

Mauritania is a country almost entirely engulfed by the Sahara desert. Located in West Africa, Mauritania has an average yearly temperature of 83.01 °F (28.34 °C). With its location in the Sahara, that temperature isn’t surprising. 

7. Bahrain

Bahrain is the first Middle Eastern country to grace the list of the hottest countries in the world. With an average yearly temperature of 82.81 °F (28.23 °C), Bahrain is the hottest country in the Middle East! 

8. Palau

Palau is another small island nation located in the pacific ocean. With an average yearly temperature of 82.47 °F (28.04 °C), Palau has beaten most other island nations in terms of high temperatures. 

9. Qatar

Qatar is another Gulf state that has ridiculously high temperatures. The average yearly temperature in Qatar is 82.44 °F (28.02 °C). Qatar has even reached temperatures upwards of 122 °F (50 °C)!

10. Gambia

Gambia is a jungle nation located along the Gambia river in West Africa. With an average temperature of 82.35 °F (27.97 °C), Gambia is the 10th hottest country globally. 

11. Benin

Benin, located in West Africa, has an average temperature of 81.59 °F (27.55 °C). Benin is named after a peculiar body of water south of the country called the Bight of Benin. Considering how hot it is in Benin, lots of people are probably swimming!

12. Ghana 

Ghana, another nation in West Africa, is the 12th hottest country globally. Since it’s so close to other hot countries, like Benin, Niger, and Togo, it’s no surprise Ghana is one of the hottest countries on the planet. Ghana has an average yearly temperature of 80.96 °F (27.20 °C).

13. Togo

Ghana’s smaller next-door neighbor Togo has an average yearly temperature of 80.87 °F (27.15 °C). The whole West Africa region is warm due to the hot air masses that come from the Sahara and settle in the area.

14. Niger 

Niger is a nation with two distinct climate zones—a sizable arid desert zone in the north and a Sahel region in the south. Niger has an average temperature of 80.87 °F (27.15 °C). Funnily enough, it has the same average temperature as Togo.

15. Somalia 

Somalia is the 15th hottest country globally, with an average yearly temperature of 80.69 °F (27.05 °C). It shouldn’t be surprising that Somalia is on the list, considering how much of the country is covered in desert. 

16. UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a small gulf nation bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman. With its desert geography and small spaces, it’s no surprise the average temperature, which is 80.60 °F (27 °C), is so high.

17. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a large island nation that lies just off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean. With abundant sun, this island has an average yearly temperature of 80.51 °F (26.95 °C). Sri Lanka has miles of coastline that are perfect for swimming during sweltering highs.

18. Sudan

Sudan is the 18th hottest country globally, with an average yearly temperature of 80.42 °F (26.90 °C). Sudan is a large country with many different climate zones, ranging from the Sahara desert in the north to the tropical region in the southwest.

19. Nigeria

Nigeria, located in West Africa, is the most populated country on this list. In fact, Nigeria is one of the most populated countries globally, with a population of over 200 million. It must be hard to stay cool with that many people when Nigeria has an average yearly temperature of 80.24 °F (26.80 °C).

20. Cambodia

Cambodia is the 20th hottest country in the world and the first on this list from Southeast Asia. Bordering Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, Cambodia is a small nation defined by its tropical jungle climate. Cambodia has an average yearly temperature of 80.24 °F (26.80 °C)

Wrapping Up

So, those are the 20 hottest countries in the world. Africa is the continent with the highest number of hot countries, while the West Africa region has the highest concentration of hot countries in the world. 

Seeing all these high temperatures makes me happy to reside in the USA, with a mild average temperature of 47.39 °F!

Also read: Coldest Countries in the World