This study reports area and population per aridity zone for the major regions and sub-regions of the world using low resolution data from the World Atlas on Desertification. Country level estimates are not given for Asia and Latin America because of relatively coarse resolution of the climate data used to generate these zones.

For purposes of comparison you will find information for report area and population per aridity zones for every country in Africa, with the exception of Madagascar and the samll island states for which there is no data available. The authors used a higher resolution data set compiled from a wide range of sources , which was produced using an advanced interpolation algorithm. Social, political, economic and cultural factors that starin the drylands beyond ecologically sustainable limits are often the main driving forces behind desertification.