QCOSTARICA – The Earth is a diverse mix of contrasting environments, with some regions being extremely harsh while others are abundant with life. However, one constant is that all living things depend on water for survival.
Despite this, there are disparities in the amount of rainfall different countries receive. Nations track precipitation levels each year, revealing a compelling narrative of challenges and sustenance.
Where are the World’s Wettest and Driest Countries?
From tropical rainforest nations to the sandy deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, the world’s wettest and driest countries are a study in contrasts.
Ranked: Top 10 Wettest Countries
Colombia tops the list of nations with the highest average precipitation at 3,240 millimeters (128 inches) in a year. Its Tutunendo district is one of the world’s wettest places, averaging nearly 12,000 mm (463 inches) of rain annually.
| Rank | Country | Average Annual Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 3,240 |
| 2 | 🇸🇹 Sao Tome & Principe | 3,200 |
| 3 | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 3,142 |
| 4 | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 3,028 |
| 5 | 🇵🇦 Panama | 2,928 |
| 6 | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 2,926 |
| 7 | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 2,880 |
| 8 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 2,875 |
| 9 | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 2,722 |
| 10 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 2,702 |
Note: Figures are rounded.

Ranked: Top 10 Driest Countries
On the other end of the scale, Egypt records the lowest average annual rainfall across all countries, at 18 mm (0.7 inches). For comparison, Colombia receives nearly 180 times the amount of rain Egypt does.
| Rank | Country | Average Annual Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 18 |
| 2 | 🇱🇾 Libya | 56 |
| 3 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 59 |
| 4 | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 74 |
| 5 | 🇦🇪 UAE | 78 |
| 6 | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 83 |
| 7 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 89 |
| 8 | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 92 |
| 9 | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 111 |
| 10 | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 121 |
Note: Figures are rounded.
In fact, countries from North Africa and the Middle East make up the entirety of this list of the driest countries in the world.
This is a list of countries by average annual precipitation.

