Which continent has the largest desert?

The continent with the largest desert is Antarctica. This might come as a surprise since many people typically think of hot, sandy deserts when they consider deserts. However, deserts are defined by their low precipitation rather than their temperature.

Antarctica qualifies as a desert because it receives very little moisture—less than 250 mm (10 inches) per year—making it extremely dry. Its vast ice sheets and cold climate contribute to its classification as the largest desert on Earth, covering about 14 million square kilometers (5.5 million square miles).

In contrast, while Africa is home to the well-known Sahara Desert, which is the largest hot desert, it does not exceed the overall area of Antarctica's cold desert. Asia and Australia also have significant deserts such as the Arabian Desert and the Great Sandy Desert, respectively, but these are smaller in comparison to Antarctica's size. Thus, the classification of Antarctica as the largest desert is based on unequivocal criteria regarding precipitation and overall area, making it the correct answer.