What is the largest desert in the world?

The Sahara Desert is recognized as the largest hot desert in the world, covering an area of approximately 9.2 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles) across North Africa. Its vast expanse stretches across several countries, including Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Mauritania, making it a significant geographical feature of the continent.

While the Arabian, Gobi, and Kalahari deserts are substantial in size and each has unique characteristics, they do not surpass the Sahara in terms of overall area. The Arabian Desert, for instance, is extensive but covers about 2.33 million square kilometers (900,000 square miles), while the Gobi Desert spans around 1.3 million square kilometers (500,000 square miles). The Kalahari Desert, despite its ecological importance and size of about 900,000 square kilometers (350,000 square miles), is also much smaller than the Sahara. Thus, the Sahara holds the title of the largest desert in the world, distinguishing it from these other notable deserts.