30 Hottest Countries in the World

Minal Zaheer
9 min read

In this article, we will take a look at the 30 hottest countries in the world. If you would like to skip our discussion on climate-related developments across the globe, you can go to the 5 Hottest Countries in the World.

The Earth experiences distinct seasons primarily due to its axial tilt as it rotates around the Sun. This tilt causes varying sunlight exposure across different regions, leading to temperature changes and the emergence of four seasons. Summer occurs when one hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, resulting in direct sunlight and longer days. The summer solstice, typically around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, is the longest day of the year. The Earth's surface temperature distribution is influenced by latitude, with equatorial regions experiencing consistent warmth, mid-latitude regions having moderate temperatures with distinct seasons, and polar regions facing freezing temperatures.

However, in recent decades, summers have been quite challenging in warm countries due to the onset of human-driven climate change. With uncontrolled carbon dioxide emissions, the greenhouse effect continues to trap more heat in the atmosphere, leading to hotter temperatures each year. According to Global Climate Highlights, 2023 replaced 2016 as the hottest year on record since 1850. It was 1.18°C warmer than the 20th-century average and 1.35°C above the pre-industrial average temperature. This alarming trend brings the Earth closer to the 1.5°C warming threshold that scientists have been warning us about for years. According to NOAA Climate.gov, the rate of warming in the last few decades has been much faster than the average rate since the 20th century began. Since the pre-industrial era (1850-1900), there has been an increase of about 2°F (1°C) in the global average surface temperature. While this may seem small, the cumulative effect represents a significant rise in overall heat. This surplus heat has far-reaching consequences, contributing to more extreme temperatures worldwide, reduced snow and sea ice, intensified rainfall, and shifts in ecosystems for plants and animals.

Historical Temperature Records

In 2023, the impact of rising temperatures became pronounced as heatwaves swept through various parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and China. Countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, China, Spain, Algeria, and Somalia faced severe heatwaves, leading to alarming levels of mortality. A report by the French media company Le Monde shared that over 5000 people lost their lives in France due to heatwaves during the summer of 2023. Furthermore, wildfires damaged extensive areas in Greece and Canada, consuming millions of acres of land. Burkina Faso stands as the hottest country in Africa, while Qatar is known to be the hottest country in Asia. Meanwhile, Malta remains the hottest country in Europe, closely followed by Cyprus. In recent years, many countries have witnessed record-breaking temperatures, some even surpassing 50°C. According to Al Jazeera, the highest recorded temperature in Asia was documented in Iran at 54°C (129°F) in 2017. The highest temperature recorded in Europe was 48.8°C (119.8°F) in Sicily in 2021. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's highest recorded temperature was 40.2°C (104.4°F) in 2022. Antarctica's Seymour Island recorded a maximum of 20.7°C (69.3°F) in 2020.

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