- The Sahara is the world’s most Instagrammable desert, with over 3.44 million posts relating to the African landmark, almost double those of any other desert.
- Chile’s Atacama Desert ranks second and is the only other desert with more than one million posts on Instagram.
- Six of the 10 most Instagrammable deserts are found in Africa and Asia, including the Sahara, Thar Desert, and Namib Desert.
The Sahara is the world’s most popular desert on Instagram, a new study has found.
The travel experts at Abu Dhabi Tours from Dubai analysed Instagram posts with hashtags related to 60 deserts worldwide. Each desert was ranked based on the total number of Instagram posts to reveal which location was most popular on the platform. Polar deserts like Antarctica were not included in the study.
Table: The world’s most Instagrammable deserts
| Rank | Desert | Post Count |
| 1 | Sahara Desert | 3,444,566 |
| 2 | Atacama Desert | 1,850,202 |
| 3 | Mojave Desert | 445,596 |
| 4 | Sonoran Desert | 358,650 |
| 5 | Karoo | 265,112 |
| 6 | Gobi Desert | 261,627 |
| 7 | Thar Desert | 196,199 |
| 8 | Negev | 156,589 |
| 9 | Namib | 128,897 |
| 10 | Bardenas Reales | 100,059 |
North Africa’s Sahara Desert is the most Instagrammable desert worldwide. The largest desert in the world, the Sahara, proves popular online, with 3,444,566 posts shared using hashtags relating to the African landmark. The desert proves almost twice as popular as its closest competitor in the study and is one of three African deserts to be named in the top 10 ranking.
The Atacama Desert ranks second among the most popular deserts, according to Instagram. While having over 1.5 million fewer posts than the top spot, Atacama has accumulated a vast 1,850,202 posts on the social media platform. Chile‘s dry nonpolar desert has over four times as many Instagram posts as any other desert except the Sahara.
Spanning California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, the Mojave Desert is the third-most popular desert on Instagram. With 445,596 posts, it is the most popular desert in North America, ranking above the Sonoran Desert with almost 100,000 additional posts.
The Sonoran Desert claims fourth spot with 358,650 posts. Covering parts of America and Mexico, the desert is renowned for cactus forests, mountains, and wildlife like coyotes, bobcats, and javelinas.
The Karoo in South Africa rounds out the top five most Instagrammable deserts in the world. Described as a semi-desert natural area, the Karoo makes up around one-third of the country’s total area. The region is popular among Instagram users, with posts of the unique landscape totalling 265,112.
The Gobi Desert ranks sixth overall and is the most Instagrammable desert in Asia. The first cold desert to feature on the ranking, the Gobi, can be found in China and Mongolia. In addition to being the sixth-largest desert in the world, the Gobi places sixth based on Instagram popularity with 261,627.
The Thar Desert takes seventh place with 196,199 Instagram posts. The second Asian desert to feature in the ranking, the Thar Desert has the highest population density of any desert globally (83 people per square kilometre).
The Negev secures its spot in eighth place with 156,589 posts, while the Namib in Africa falls in ninth with 128,897.
Europe’s only representation in the top 10 ranking is Bardenas Reales in the tenth position. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Spain, Bardenas Reales is the continent’s most popular desert region on Instagram, with 100,059 posts shared of the location.
Despite being the world’s fifth largest desert, the Arabian Desert just missed out on the top 10 ranking, coming in 11th place with 51,240 Instagram posts. Excursions to the Arabian Desert have proven popular among travellers visiting cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Doha.
Magdalena Petrusic, a Travel Expert from Abu Dhabi Tours from Dubai, commented on the study: “Deserts across the globe are some of the most picturesque natural landscapes to visit. While many people associate deserts with roaring heat, travellers often use them to unwind, escape the noise and bustle of cities, and appreciate sites of natural beauty.
“Africa and Asia are home to the most popular deserts on Instagram, with six of the top deserts found in these regions. For those visiting hot deserts, you are reminded to stay hydrated, stay in the shade, and conserve energy by limiting activities during the hottest time of the day in the early or midafternoon.”
