Determining the sunniest city on Earth is tricky, as there are multiple ways to define "sunniest." Some cities may have the most hours of sunshine annually, while others may have the highest amount of solar irradiance.
Sunniest by Hours of Sunshine
According to the World Meteorological Organization, Yuma, Arizona, in the United States, is often considered the sunniest city in the world, with an average of 4,015 hours of sunshine annually. This means that Yuma experiences sunshine for more than 10 hours a day on average.
Sunniest by Solar Irradiance
However, other cities may have higher levels of solar irradiance, which is a measure of the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface. Albuquerque, New Mexico, for example, receives an average of 2,900 kilowatt-hours per square meter of solar irradiance annually, which is higher than Yuma.
Other Contenders
Here are some other cities that are often considered among the sunniest in the world:
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Santa Barbara, California
- Cairo, Egypt
- Sydney, Australia
Ultimately, the "sunniest" city depends on how you define "sunniest." Regardless of the metric used, these cities are all known for their abundance of sunshine and warm climates.
