TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Just days into summer, parts of the world have already experienced dangerously scorching temperatures. Beyond seasonal weather patterns, reports show that global temperatures have in fact continued to rise in recent years.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Weather & Climate Extremes Archive, Death Valley holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. In 1913, the California desert officially reached a blistering 56.7°C. Visual Capitalist attributed the extreme heat to the valley's below-sea-level elevation, dry desert climate, and surrounding mountain ranges, which trap hot air.
While the United States claims the top spot, the ranking is dominated by countries in the Middle East. Kuwait, Israel, Iraq, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates all recorded temperatures above 50°C, with the region's relentless sunshine, arid climate, and prolonged summer heat creating ideal conditions for extreme temperatures. Tunisia and Pakistan also appear in the top 10.
The years in which these records were set also span more than a century, from 1913 to 2023. Although the records are spread across several decades, the 2010s account for the largest share, with four of the world's 10 highest temperature records occurring during that period.
The most recent record came from Turpan, Xinjiang, China, where temperatures reached 52.2°C in 2023. During the same heatwave, the nearby Flaming Mountains recorded a surface temperature of around 80°C, according to The Independent.
Here’s a look at the 10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth.
The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth
- Death Valley, US – 56.7°C (1913)
- Kebii, Tunisia – 55°C (1931)
- Mitribah, Kuwait – 54°C (2016)
- Tirat Zvi, Israel – 54°C (1942)
- Basra, Iraq – 53.9°C (2016)
- Turbat, Pakistan – 53.7°C (2017)
- Ahvaz Airport, Iran – 53.7°C (2017)
- Turpan, China – 52.2°C (2023)
- Sweihan, UAE – 52.1°C (2002)
- San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico – 52°C (1966)
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