Precipitation anomalies in Botswana
Botswana: Precipitation anomalies was 240.02 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
240.02 millimeters
Change on year
up 231.5%
World rank
21st
of 192 countries
All-time high
273.09 millimeters
in 1958
All-time low
-305.56 millimeters
in 1954
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Botswana, 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 Botswana is 240.02 millimeters, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 231.5% on the previous year and up 231.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Botswana peaked at 273.09 millimeters in 1958 and was at its lowest, -305.56 millimeters, in 1954.
That places Botswana 21st out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in Botswana, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -41.04 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -62.31 millimeters | +51.8% |
| 1942 | 60.5 millimeters | -197.1% |
| 1943 | 54.41 millimeters | -10.1% |
| 1944 | 66.24 millimeters | +21.7% |
| 1945 | -9.92 millimeters | -115.0% |
| 1946 | -64.96 millimeters | +555.0% |
| 1947 | 41.13 millimeters | -163.3% |
| 1948 | 133 millimeters | +223.4% |
| 1949 | -199.33 millimeters | -249.9% |
| 1950 | 132.2 millimeters | -166.3% |
| 1951 | 102.91 millimeters | -22.2% |
| 1952 | 30.84 millimeters | -70.0% |
| 1953 | 132.06 millimeters | +328.2% |
| 1954 | -305.56 millimeters | -331.4% |
| 1955 | 201.1 millimeters | -165.8% |
| 1956 | -126.38 millimeters | -162.8% |
| 1957 | 165.02 millimeters | -230.6% |
| 1958 | 273.09 millimeters | +65.5% |
| 1959 | -142.69 millimeters | -152.2% |
| 1960 | -53.65 millimeters | -62.4% |
| 1961 | 60 millimeters | -211.8% |
| 1962 | 125.57 millimeters | +109.3% |
| 1963 | 33.63 millimeters | -73.2% |
| 1964 | -128.97 millimeters | -483.5% |
| 1965 | -236.09 millimeters | +83.1% |
| 1966 | 106.71 millimeters | -145.2% |
| 1967 | 90.48 millimeters | -15.2% |
| 1968 | -45.63 millimeters | -150.4% |
| 1969 | 14.82 millimeters | -132.5% |
| 1970 | -62.25 millimeters | -520.0% |
| 1971 | -40.24 millimeters | -35.4% |
| 1972 | 38.34 millimeters | -195.3% |
| 1973 | -10.1 millimeters | -126.3% |
| 1974 | 133.62 millimeters | -1423.0% |
| 1975 | 7.76 millimeters | -94.2% |
| 1976 | 46.69 millimeters | +501.5% |
| 1977 | 143.7 millimeters | +207.8% |
| 1978 | 78.82 millimeters | -45.1% |
| 1979 | -88.07 millimeters | -211.7% |
| 1980 | -73.8 millimeters | -16.2% |
| 1981 | 54.8 millimeters | -174.3% |
| 1982 | -14.82 millimeters | -127.1% |
| 1983 | -37.63 millimeters | +153.8% |
| 1984 | -131.85 millimeters | +250.4% |
| 1985 | -59.2 millimeters | -55.1% |
| 1986 | -3.89 millimeters | -93.4% |
| 1987 | -89.57 millimeters | +2201.3% |
| 1988 | 125.02 millimeters | -239.6% |
| 1989 | 32.75 millimeters | -73.8% |
| 1990 | -58.12 millimeters | -277.5% |
| 1991 | 99.49 millimeters | -271.2% |
| 1992 | -189.08 millimeters | -290.0% |
| 1993 | 14.53 millimeters | -107.7% |
| 1994 | -87.81 millimeters | -704.5% |
| 1995 | -28.19 millimeters | -67.9% |
| 1996 | 47.35 millimeters | -268.0% |
| 1997 | 35.58 millimeters | -24.8% |
| 1998 | -28.76 millimeters | -180.8% |
| 1999 | -40.47 millimeters | +40.7% |
| 2000 | 241.36 millimeters | -696.4% |
| 2001 | 118.04 millimeters | -51.1% |
| 2002 | -155.02 millimeters | -231.3% |
| 2003 | -143.34 millimeters | -7.5% |
| 2004 | 21.21 millimeters | -114.8% |
| 2005 | -48.8 millimeters | -330.0% |
| 2006 | 178.87 millimeters | -466.6% |
| 2007 | -151.22 millimeters | -184.5% |
| 2008 | -5.67 millimeters | -96.3% |
| 2009 | 66.51 millimeters | -1273.1% |
| 2010 | 79.33 millimeters | +19.3% |
| 2011 | 85.43 millimeters | +7.7% |
| 2012 | -69.04 millimeters | -180.8% |
| 2013 | -50.81 millimeters | -26.4% |
| 2014 | 163.67 millimeters | -422.1% |
| 2015 | -182.2 millimeters | -211.3% |
| 2016 | -24.78 millimeters | -86.4% |
| 2017 | 185.05 millimeters | -846.7% |
| 2018 | -50.47 millimeters | -127.3% |
| 2019 | -134.31 millimeters | +166.1% |
| 2020 | 53.55 millimeters | -139.9% |
| 2021 | 166.56 millimeters | +211.0% |
| 2022 | 21.95 millimeters | -86.8% |
| 2023 | -116.79 millimeters | -632.0% |
| 2024 | -182.51 millimeters | +56.3% |
| 2025 | 240.02 millimeters | -231.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 240.02 millimeters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -15.85 millimeters. (50 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 240.02 millimeters is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -73.9 millimeters. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Botswana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | -2201.3% | -3.89 millimeters | -89.57 millimeters |
| 1974 | +1423.0% | -10.1 millimeters | 133.62 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -2.22 millimeters | -199.33 millimeters | 133 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 46.26 millimeters | -305.56 millimeters | 273.09 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -3.31 millimeters | -236.09 millimeters | 125.57 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 24.83 millimeters | -88.07 millimeters | 143.7 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | -19.82 millimeters | -131.85 millimeters | 125.02 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -23.55 millimeters | -189.08 millimeters | 99.49 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.19 millimeters | -155.02 millimeters | 241.36 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1875 millimeters | -182.2 millimeters | 185.05 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.46 millimeters | -182.51 millimeters | 240.02 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More climate change data for Botswana
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 17.55 million kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,640 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,846 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 137.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 14.07 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0531 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Botswana?
- Precipitation anomalies in Botswana was 240.02 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 273.09 millimeters in 1958.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was -305.56 millimeters in 1954.
- How does Botswana rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Botswana ranks 21st out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 231.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana 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.