Scorching Earth: 20 Countries with Record-Breaking Temperatures
An increasing number of countries are recording temperatures above 50°C, especially in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius were once associated almost exclusively with uninhabited desert corners. Now, that figure is being recorded in a growing number of nations.
Recent data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shows the United States still holds the record for the highest officially measured air temperature, at 56.7°C. However, the number of countries with records above 50°C is growing, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Even so, extreme heat is not evenly distributed. Of the 20 highest verified national records as of June 2026, most still originate from desert regions with very dry climates and high sun exposure.
The all-time record remains untouched more than a century later. On 10 July 1913, the air temperature in Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, reached 56.7°C. To this day, that figure remains the highest air temperature recognised by the WMO, although its measurement validity has been debated by some researchers. Death Valley’s unique geography—situated below sea level, surrounded by mountains, and possessing extremely dry air—causes heat to accumulate and persist longer than in many other regions. What is striking is not just the location, but the age of the record. Amidst many national records being broken in recent years, the 1913 record remains untouched.
The Middle East is a clear hotspot. Nine of the 20 countries with the highest recorded temperatures are from the region, all having surpassed 50°C: Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Jordan. This area is characterised by high solar radiation, a dry desert climate, and long summers, making extreme temperatures more readily achievable. Notably, many of these records are relatively recent. Kuwait and Iraq set their national records in 2016, Iran in 2017, and Oman updated its record in 2021.
New records continue to emerge. China recorded its highest ever temperature of 52.2°C in Turpan, Xinjiang, in 2023. That same year, Morocco updated its record to 50.4°C in Agadir. Two years later, Türkiye followed with a temperature of 50.5°C in Silopi. While the majority of the highest temperature records remain concentrated in desert regions, the list is now changing more frequently than before. Death Valley’s position may remain unchallenged for now, but a growing number of countries have recorded their highest temperatures in history in recent years.