What is the largest desert in the world?

The largest desert in the world is Antarctica. While many people typically think of deserts as hot, sandy places, a desert is technically defined by the amount of precipitation it receives, not by temperature or landscape. Antarctica is classified as a cold desert because it receives very little precipitation—averaging only about 2 inches (50 mm) per year, mostly as snow. Antarctica covers an area of about 14 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles), making it the biggest desert on Earth by far. Despite its icy environment, it fits the desert definition perfectly due to its extreme dryness. The continent is also the coldest, windiest, and highest on average, with temperatures often dropping below -80°C (-112°F) in the interior. So, while the Sahara is the largest hot desert and the most famous one, Antarctica holds the title for the largest desert overall, highlighting how diverse deserts can be across the planet.