To evaluate the distribution characteristics of water vapor content (WVC), cloud liquid water content (CLWC) and cloud ice water content (CIWC) in arid areas of central Asia from 1980 to 2019 were analyzed by using average data of ERA5 in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The results show that: On the spatial scale, the WVC in the arid area of central Asia is mainly between 2 and 26 kg center dot m(-2). The area of maximum water vapor content is distributed in southwestern Kazakhstan and southwestern Tajikistan, with a maximum value of 26 kg center dot m(-2). The minimum areas are distributed in eastern Tajikistan, central Kyrgyzstan, central Tajikistan, and western Xinjiang, China, with the lowest WVC of 2 kg center dot m(-2). The maximum of CLWC areas were mainly distributed in northwest Kazakhstan, with a maximum value of 0.08 kg center dot m(-2), while the minimum areas were distributed in Tajikistan, eastern Kyrgyzstan, and northwest China, with a minimum value of 0.02 kg center dot m(-2). The maximum areas of CIWC were distributed in the north of Tajikistan and the west of Kyrgyzstan, possessing a maximum value of 0.06 kg center dot m(-2). The minimum area is distributed in the western part of Central Asia with a minimum value of 0.01 kg center dot m(-2). From 1980 to 2019, the WVC generally increased, while the annual average CIWC and CLWC appeared a downward trend.