Hottest Countries in the World

Want to know which is the hottest country in the world? Here’s an updated list of the hottest countries in the world ranked by the highest temperature as well as the yearly average temperature.

How to measure the hottest country in the world

There are two main ways to measure which is the hottest country in the world. You can either rank them by using the warmest temperature ever recorded in each country, or you could rank the warmest countries in the world by the average yearly temperature. 

This article features both ways of measuring to give the most accurate information about the world’s hottest countries. 

United States

The USA is home to the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley, or more precisely in Furnace Creek Ranch where temperatures reached a world-record-breaking 56.7 °C (134 °F) on 10 July 1913. 

Even though more than 100 years have gone by since then, it remains the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, which makes the United States the hottest country in the world. 

Surprisingly, the Death Valley national park also sees some chilling temperatures during wintertime, and it’s truly a land of the extreme. 

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 56.7 °C (134 °F) 

Tunisia

The second hottest country in the world is Tunisia who observed a temperature of 55 °C (131 °F) on 7 July 1931 in the town called Kebil. Tunisia generally sees very hot summers with average temperatures around 32/33 °C (89/91 °F) and even higher in the desert areas. 

In wintertime, the temperatures are more pleasant around 16/18 °C (61/64 °F). 

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 55 °C (131 °F) 

Kuwait

Kuwait is one of the hottest countries in the world and holds the record of the third-highest temperature ever recorded. This is also one of the more recent warmth records where the town of Mitribah observed 54.0 °C (129.2 °F) on 21 July 2016. 

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 54.0 °C (129.2 °F)

Iran 

Iran is another country which typically gets really hot in the summer and more mild climate during wintertime, and even colder temperatures in mountain areas.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Iran was observed on 29 June 2017 at a record high of 54 °C (129 °F) in Ahwaz. 

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 54 °C (129 °F)

Israel

Israel is yet another country in the Middle East region that is ranked as one of the warmest countries in the world with a record high of 54.0 °C (129.2 °F) in Tirat Zvi on 21 June 1942.

The summer temperatures in Israel is usually somewhere in the high 80’s (27C) and 90’s (32C) where some areas in the country such as Massada and Eilat typically reaches higher temperatures of up to 110F (43C) or above.

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 54.0 °C (129.2 °F)

Iraq

On 22 July 2016, the hottest temperature in Iraq was recorded in the town of Basra at 53.9 °C (129.0 °F), which makes Iraq one of the hottest countries on Earth. The summers are typically very hot and winters usually see a milder climate. 

It also differs depending on which region you visit in Iraq, the mountains are colder in the wintertime with more rain. In the summer, the hottest temperatures will be in the northern part, which has a more desert-like climate, although the whole country sees high temperatures in the summer months. 

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 53.9 °C (129.0 °F)

Pakistan

Pakistan is another country which endures extremely hot temperatures in the summer months along with neighboring country India. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan was observed on 28 May 2017 in the town of Turbat. 

In the summertime, it can get so hot in the cities that the asphalt is starting to melt. 

On the other side of the scale, Pakistan is also where you can climb one of the highest mountains in the world. K2 has recorded some of the coldest temperatures on Earth at −62 °C (−80 °F).

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 53.7 °C (128.7 °F)

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is the only country that ranks both in the top as the hottest country in the world, and the warmest countries in the world by average temperature year-round.

This has led people to choose Dubai as their winter vacation destination in recent years. The well-developed society with skyscrapers and air condition units in every building, it’s easy to survive the hottest months as well. 

The hottest temperature ever recorded: 52.1 °C (125.8 °F)

World’s hottest countries by average yearly temperature

This list is based on numbers from the World Bank and their annual temperature data for each country. It’s the latest updated data available and with that information, I’ve ranked the hottest countries in the world by their average yearly temperature. 

The following are the 15 warmest countries in the world ranked by average temperature. It differs quite a lot from the hottest countries in the world of all times, and that is because of huge differences in temperatures between season, whereas the following all have a high-temperature year-round. 

Rank	Country	Average temperature (Celsius)
1	Mali	28,30
2	Burkina Faso	28,18
3	Senegal	27,87
4	Mauritania	27,69
5	Djibouti	27,64
6	Benin	27,46
7	Ghana	27,25
8	Niger	27,24
9	Cambodia	26,94
10	South Sudan	26,93
11	Qatar	26,92
12	United Arab Emirates	26,83
13	Sudan	26,82
14	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	26,82
15	Togo	26,80

More about the hottest countries in the world

There are several ways to measure and determine which is the warmest country in the world, and it’s more of personal opinion whether you prefer to rank the hottest countries in the world by the average yearly temperature or the hottest temperature ever recorded. 

For me, I find it interesting to include both as it gives a more nuanced way of measurement. It also depends on what one is looking for, if you simply want to know which are the warmest countries in the world to go on vacation, it might be more suitable to look for average temperature. 

It’s quite fascinating how there can be such large differences depending on the season, and out of the hottest countries on Earth, only one ranks in the top for the warmest countries in the world by average temperature, and that’s the United Arab Emirates. 

It’s also important to note that some of these countries are some of the largest countries in the world, and thus have a wide range of temperatures and micro-climates that define certain areas of the country, rather than countrywide.

The U.S is perhaps the best example for this since it also ranks in the top 10 coldest countries in the world. Even in the particular area where the highest temperature has been recorded, it varies a lot between winter and summer. 

Which country has the highest temperature in the world?

The United States has the highest temperature in the world ever recorded, which was observed in Furnace Creek Rang in the Death Valley national park on 10 July 1913 with a record high 56.7 °C (134 °F). 

What is the highest temperature a human can survive?

Our cells actually start to die off at temperatures of 41°C (106°F) to 45°C (113°F) but it’s possible to survive higher temperatures.

For example, a healthy person could visit Death Valley on the hottest day of the year at temperatures of 55°C (131°F) without dying as long as the person properly stay hydrated throughout the day. 

Where is the hottest place on earth today?

Death Valley in the U.S is the hottest place on Earth today. 

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