Annual precipitation in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Annual precipitation was 939.53 millimeters in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
939.53 millimeters
Change on year
up 122.8%
World rank
101st
of 192 countries
All-time high
1,273 millimeters
in 1948
All-time low
296.42 millimeters
in 1965
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Annual precipitation in Zimbabwe, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, annual precipitation in Zimbabwe stood at 939.53 millimeters.
The figure is up 122.8% on the previous year and up 73.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual precipitation in Zimbabwe peaked at 1,273 millimeters in 1948 and was at its lowest, 296.42 millimeters, in 1965.
That places Zimbabwe 101st out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 86 years of available data.
Annual precipitation in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 629.2 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | 550.15 millimeters | -12.6% |
| 1942 | 747.54 millimeters | +35.9% |
| 1943 | 826.09 millimeters | +10.5% |
| 1944 | 840.06 millimeters | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 741.87 millimeters | -11.7% |
| 1946 | 1,090 millimeters | +47.0% |
| 1947 | 909.2 millimeters | -16.6% |
| 1948 | 1,273 millimeters | +40.0% |
| 1949 | 886.31 millimeters | -30.4% |
| 1950 | 712.29 millimeters | -19.6% |
| 1951 | 438.97 millimeters | -38.4% |
| 1952 | 854.12 millimeters | +94.6% |
| 1953 | 1,017 millimeters | +19.0% |
| 1954 | 444.48 millimeters | -56.3% |
| 1955 | 1,078 millimeters | +142.5% |
| 1956 | 884.07 millimeters | -18.0% |
| 1957 | 821.95 millimeters | -7.0% |
| 1958 | 1,260 millimeters | +53.3% |
| 1959 | 636.05 millimeters | -49.5% |
| 1960 | 521.39 millimeters | -18.0% |
| 1961 | 660.16 millimeters | +26.6% |
| 1962 | 932.74 millimeters | +41.3% |
| 1963 | 701.57 millimeters | -24.8% |
| 1964 | 583.56 millimeters | -16.8% |
| 1965 | 296.42 millimeters | -49.2% |
| 1966 | 686.81 millimeters | +131.7% |
| 1967 | 578.16 millimeters | -15.8% |
| 1968 | 617.18 millimeters | +6.7% |
| 1969 | 915.38 millimeters | +48.3% |
| 1970 | 498.88 millimeters | -45.5% |
| 1971 | 606.35 millimeters | +21.5% |
| 1972 | 706.83 millimeters | +16.6% |
| 1973 | 709.02 millimeters | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 877.77 millimeters | +23.8% |
| 1975 | 728.05 millimeters | -17.1% |
| 1976 | 800.54 millimeters | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 956.13 millimeters | +19.4% |
| 1978 | 1,015 millimeters | +6.1% |
| 1979 | 601.42 millimeters | -40.7% |
| 1980 | 691.06 millimeters | +14.9% |
| 1981 | 859.41 millimeters | +24.4% |
| 1982 | 533.16 millimeters | -38.0% |
| 1983 | 562.43 millimeters | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 683.14 millimeters | +21.5% |
| 1985 | 825.5 millimeters | +20.8% |
| 1986 | 774.72 millimeters | -6.2% |
| 1987 | 517.02 millimeters | -33.3% |
| 1988 | 745.28 millimeters | +44.1% |
| 1989 | 747.34 millimeters | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 645.43 millimeters | -13.6% |
| 1991 | 600.01 millimeters | -7.0% |
| 1992 | 529.45 millimeters | -11.8% |
| 1993 | 742.43 millimeters | +40.2% |
| 1994 | 514.76 millimeters | -30.7% |
| 1995 | 547.15 millimeters | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 880.69 millimeters | +61.0% |
| 1997 | 873.71 millimeters | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 782.94 millimeters | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 767.08 millimeters | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 1,070 millimeters | +39.5% |
| 2001 | 916.67 millimeters | -14.3% |
| 2002 | 425.44 millimeters | -53.6% |
| 2003 | 736.01 millimeters | +73.0% |
| 2004 | 798.77 millimeters | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 593.34 millimeters | -25.7% |
| 2006 | 762.18 millimeters | +28.5% |
| 2007 | 869.63 millimeters | +14.1% |
| 2008 | 737.57 millimeters | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 721.93 millimeters | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 800.96 millimeters | +10.9% |
| 2011 | 708.96 millimeters | -11.5% |
| 2012 | 604.32 millimeters | -14.8% |
| 2013 | 791.49 millimeters | +31.0% |
| 2014 | 883.91 millimeters | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 542.06 millimeters | -38.7% |
| 2016 | 713.6 millimeters | +31.6% |
| 2017 | 975.7 millimeters | +36.7% |
| 2018 | 692.7 millimeters | -29.0% |
| 2019 | 608.31 millimeters | -12.2% |
| 2020 | 814.14 millimeters | +33.8% |
| 2021 | 788.98 millimeters | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 774.35 millimeters | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 776.85 millimeters | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 421.73 millimeters | -45.7% |
| 2025 | 939.53 millimeters | +122.8% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 939.53 millimeters is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,013 millimeters, 93% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 939.53 millimeters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 970.56 millimeters, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 849.38 millimeters | 550.15 millimeters | 1,273 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 814.66 millimeters | 438.97 millimeters | 1,260 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 649.34 millimeters | 296.42 millimeters | 932.74 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 749.99 millimeters | 498.88 millimeters | 1,015 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 693.91 millimeters | 517.02 millimeters | 859.41 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 688.36 millimeters | 514.76 millimeters | 880.69 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 763.13 millimeters | 425.44 millimeters | 1,070 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 732.2 millimeters | 542.06 millimeters | 975.7 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 752.6 millimeters | 421.73 millimeters | 939.53 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More climate change data for Zimbabwe
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 178.46 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,716 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,805 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 11,912 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 21.9 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 425.42 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,483 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,345 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 137.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 5.08 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual precipitation in Zimbabwe?
- Annual precipitation in Zimbabwe was 939.53 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual precipitation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 1,273 millimeters in 1948.
- What is the lowest annual precipitation recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 296.42 millimeters in 1965.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for annual precipitation?
- Zimbabwe ranks 101st out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual precipitation rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual precipitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total annual precipitation—rain and snow—calculated as the sum of daily averages, reported as the depth of water falling to Earth's surface, excluding fog and dew.