Precipitation anomalies in Australia
Australia: Precipitation anomalies was 0.3538 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.3538 millimeters
Change on year
down 99.6%
World rank
74th
of 192 countries
All-time high
259.1 millimeters
in 1974
All-time low
-211.9 millimeters
in 2019
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Australia, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for precipitation anomalies in Australia is 0.3538 millimeters, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 99.6% on the previous year and up 100.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Australia peaked at 259.1 millimeters in 1974 and was at its lowest, -211.9 millimeters, in 2019.
That places Australia 74th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in Australia, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -73.35 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -52.05 millimeters | -29.0% |
| 1942 | -9.11 millimeters | -82.5% |
| 1943 | -63.79 millimeters | +600.3% |
| 1944 | -17.31 millimeters | -72.9% |
| 1945 | -42.05 millimeters | +143.0% |
| 1946 | -135.27 millimeters | +221.7% |
| 1947 | -54.82 millimeters | -59.5% |
| 1948 | -57.81 millimeters | +5.5% |
| 1949 | 84.56 millimeters | -246.3% |
| 1950 | 105.17 millimeters | +24.4% |
| 1951 | -133.84 millimeters | -227.3% |
| 1952 | -103.06 millimeters | -23.0% |
| 1953 | -34.35 millimeters | -66.7% |
| 1954 | -85.49 millimeters | +148.9% |
| 1955 | 52.67 millimeters | -161.6% |
| 1956 | 110.87 millimeters | +110.5% |
| 1957 | -84.14 millimeters | -175.9% |
| 1958 | -120 millimeters | +42.6% |
| 1959 | -62.27 millimeters | -48.1% |
| 1960 | -23.89 millimeters | -61.6% |
| 1961 | -136.96 millimeters | +473.3% |
| 1962 | -16.81 millimeters | -87.7% |
| 1963 | 43.89 millimeters | -361.1% |
| 1964 | -25.27 millimeters | -157.6% |
| 1965 | -69.24 millimeters | +173.9% |
| 1966 | -80.98 millimeters | +17.0% |
| 1967 | -35.61 millimeters | -56.0% |
| 1968 | 57.62 millimeters | -261.8% |
| 1969 | -105.89 millimeters | -283.8% |
| 1970 | -145.11 millimeters | +37.0% |
| 1971 | -27.9 millimeters | -80.8% |
| 1972 | -103.21 millimeters | +269.9% |
| 1973 | 118.08 millimeters | -214.4% |
| 1974 | 259.1 millimeters | +119.4% |
| 1975 | 115.67 millimeters | -55.4% |
| 1976 | 44.62 millimeters | -61.4% |
| 1977 | -1.52 millimeters | -103.4% |
| 1978 | 50.15 millimeters | -3399.5% |
| 1979 | -10.65 millimeters | -121.2% |
| 1980 | -42.56 millimeters | +299.5% |
| 1981 | 70.29 millimeters | -265.1% |
| 1982 | -53.76 millimeters | -176.5% |
| 1983 | 50.94 millimeters | -194.8% |
| 1984 | 100.32 millimeters | +97.0% |
| 1985 | -41.93 millimeters | -141.8% |
| 1986 | -54 millimeters | +28.8% |
| 1987 | 14.89 millimeters | -127.6% |
| 1988 | 2.32 millimeters | -84.5% |
| 1989 | 3.18 millimeters | +37.4% |
| 1990 | -37.01 millimeters | -1262.8% |
| 1991 | 0.4152 millimeters | -101.1% |
| 1992 | -11.45 millimeters | -2857.5% |
| 1993 | 27.07 millimeters | -336.5% |
| 1994 | -129.72 millimeters | -579.2% |
| 1995 | 55 millimeters | -142.4% |
| 1996 | -16.99 millimeters | -130.9% |
| 1997 | 56.16 millimeters | -430.6% |
| 1998 | 84.24 millimeters | +50.0% |
| 1999 | 70.3 millimeters | -16.6% |
| 2000 | 202.12 millimeters | +187.5% |
| 2001 | 46.24 millimeters | -77.1% |
| 2002 | -158.07 millimeters | -441.8% |
| 2003 | -16.86 millimeters | -89.3% |
| 2004 | -7.02 millimeters | -58.4% |
| 2005 | -99.64 millimeters | +1320.2% |
| 2006 | -22.13 millimeters | -77.8% |
| 2007 | 15.76 millimeters | -171.2% |
| 2008 | -25.31 millimeters | -260.6% |
| 2009 | -37.11 millimeters | +46.6% |
| 2010 | 170.18 millimeters | -558.5% |
| 2011 | 198.51 millimeters | +16.6% |
| 2012 | -20.99 millimeters | -110.6% |
| 2013 | -62.6 millimeters | +198.2% |
| 2014 | -7.88 millimeters | -87.4% |
| 2015 | -42.13 millimeters | +434.9% |
| 2016 | 29.9 millimeters | -171.0% |
| 2017 | -12.39 millimeters | -141.4% |
| 2018 | -87.27 millimeters | +604.2% |
| 2019 | -211.9 millimeters | +142.8% |
| 2020 | 13.55 millimeters | -106.4% |
| 2021 | 21.46 millimeters | +58.4% |
| 2022 | 99.51 millimeters | +363.8% |
| 2023 | -19.49 millimeters | -119.6% |
| 2024 | 95.38 millimeters | -589.3% |
| 2025 | 0.3538 millimeters | -99.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.3538 millimeters is above the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters. (65 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.3538 millimeters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 153 millimeters, 0% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +3399.5% | -1.52 millimeters | 50.15 millimeters |
| 1992 | -2857.5% | 0.4152 millimeters | -11.45 millimeters |
| 2005 | -1320.2% | -7.02 millimeters | -99.64 millimeters |
| 1990 | -1262.8% | 3.18 millimeters | -37.01 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -42.1 millimeters | -135.27 millimeters | 84.56 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -35.44 millimeters | -133.84 millimeters | 110.87 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -39.31 millimeters | -136.96 millimeters | 57.62 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.92 millimeters | -145.11 millimeters | 259.1 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.97 millimeters | -54 millimeters | 100.32 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.8 millimeters | -129.72 millimeters | 84.24 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -10.2 millimeters | -158.07 millimeters | 202.12 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.66 millimeters | -211.9 millimeters | 198.51 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.13 millimeters | -19.49 millimeters | 99.51 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Australia?
- Precipitation anomalies in Australia was 0.3538 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 precipitation anomalies recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 259.1 millimeters in 1974.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -211.9 millimeters in 2019.
- How does Australia rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Australia ranks 74th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 Precipitation anomalies. 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
Difference in a specific year's total precipitation—rain and snow—from the 1991–2020 average, measured in millimeters, excluding fog and dew.