Precipitation anomalies in China
China: Precipitation anomalies was 11.19 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
11.19 millimeters
Change on year
down 74.4%
World rank
70th
of 192 countries
All-time high
188.54 millimeters
in 1946
All-time low
-122.43 millimeters
in 2011
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in China, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
China recorded 11.19 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
That represents a change of down 74.4% on the previous year and up 194.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in China peaked at 188.54 millimeters in 1946 and was at its lowest, -122.43 millimeters, in 2011.
That places China 70th 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 China, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -39.56 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -29.58 millimeters | -25.2% |
| 1942 | -35.93 millimeters | +21.5% |
| 1943 | 26.51 millimeters | -173.8% |
| 1944 | -61.02 millimeters | -330.1% |
| 1945 | -79.54 millimeters | +30.3% |
| 1946 | 188.54 millimeters | -337.0% |
| 1947 | 44.62 millimeters | -76.3% |
| 1948 | 57.43 millimeters | +28.7% |
| 1949 | 80.87 millimeters | +40.8% |
| 1950 | 95.39 millimeters | +18.0% |
| 1951 | 151.65 millimeters | +59.0% |
| 1952 | 151.02 millimeters | -0.4% |
| 1953 | 77.61 millimeters | -48.6% |
| 1954 | 155.27 millimeters | +100.1% |
| 1955 | 45.47 millimeters | -70.7% |
| 1956 | 11.78 millimeters | -74.1% |
| 1957 | 8.6 millimeters | -27.0% |
| 1958 | 22.51 millimeters | +161.8% |
| 1959 | 4.55 millimeters | -79.8% |
| 1960 | 24.45 millimeters | +437.8% |
| 1961 | 110.44 millimeters | +351.6% |
| 1962 | 35.34 millimeters | -68.0% |
| 1963 | 40.61 millimeters | +14.9% |
| 1964 | 125.29 millimeters | +208.5% |
| 1965 | 44.02 millimeters | -64.9% |
| 1966 | 27.56 millimeters | -37.4% |
| 1967 | 49.59 millimeters | +79.9% |
| 1968 | 33.35 millimeters | -32.7% |
| 1969 | 22.88 millimeters | -31.4% |
| 1970 | 18.81 millimeters | -17.8% |
| 1971 | 27.93 millimeters | +48.5% |
| 1972 | 39.96 millimeters | +43.0% |
| 1973 | 91.79 millimeters | +129.7% |
| 1974 | 22.08 millimeters | -75.9% |
| 1975 | 61.56 millimeters | +178.9% |
| 1976 | 21.81 millimeters | -64.6% |
| 1977 | 24 millimeters | +10.1% |
| 1978 | -22.64 millimeters | -194.3% |
| 1979 | -1.72 millimeters | -92.4% |
| 1980 | 22.45 millimeters | -1403.5% |
| 1981 | 51.22 millimeters | +128.1% |
| 1982 | 38.52 millimeters | -24.8% |
| 1983 | 96.1 millimeters | +149.5% |
| 1984 | 31.57 millimeters | -67.1% |
| 1985 | 61.42 millimeters | +94.6% |
| 1986 | -9.26 millimeters | -115.1% |
| 1987 | 64.03 millimeters | -791.7% |
| 1988 | 17.08 millimeters | -73.3% |
| 1989 | 25.68 millimeters | +50.4% |
| 1990 | 88.94 millimeters | +246.3% |
| 1991 | 37.68 millimeters | -57.6% |
| 1992 | 25.97 millimeters | -31.1% |
| 1993 | 77.71 millimeters | +199.2% |
| 1994 | 70.41 millimeters | -9.4% |
| 1995 | 38.45 millimeters | -45.4% |
| 1996 | 54.38 millimeters | +41.4% |
| 1997 | 21.99 millimeters | -59.6% |
| 1998 | 132.76 millimeters | +503.7% |
| 1999 | 32.04 millimeters | -75.9% |
| 2000 | 36.95 millimeters | +15.3% |
| 2001 | -13.01 millimeters | -135.2% |
| 2002 | 36.84 millimeters | -383.2% |
| 2003 | 2.66 millimeters | -92.8% |
| 2004 | -48.72 millimeters | -1929.7% |
| 2005 | -12.65 millimeters | -74.0% |
| 2006 | -72.76 millimeters | +475.1% |
| 2007 | -65.19 millimeters | -10.4% |
| 2008 | -29.3 millimeters | -55.1% |
| 2009 | -93.6 millimeters | +219.4% |
| 2010 | 20.8 millimeters | -122.2% |
| 2011 | -122.43 millimeters | -688.7% |
| 2012 | 11.12 millimeters | -109.1% |
| 2013 | -40.2 millimeters | -461.5% |
| 2014 | -47.95 millimeters | +19.3% |
| 2015 | -11.83 millimeters | -75.3% |
| 2016 | 47.07 millimeters | -498.0% |
| 2017 | -37.54 millimeters | -179.7% |
| 2018 | -17.5 millimeters | -53.4% |
| 2019 | -46.98 millimeters | +168.4% |
| 2020 | 12.81 millimeters | -127.3% |
| 2021 | 5.26 millimeters | -59.0% |
| 2022 | -50.16 millimeters | -1054.0% |
| 2023 | -57.43 millimeters | +14.5% |
| 2024 | 43.67 millimeters | -176.0% |
| 2025 | 11.19 millimeters | -74.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 11.19 millimeters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -15.85 millimeters. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 11.19 millimeters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 153 millimeters, 7% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | -1929.7% | 2.66 millimeters | -48.72 millimeters |
| 1980 | +1403.5% | -1.72 millimeters | 22.45 millimeters |
| 2022 | -1054.0% | 5.26 millimeters | -50.16 millimeters |
| 1987 | +791.7% | -9.26 millimeters | 64.03 millimeters |
| 2011 | -688.7% | 20.8 millimeters | -122.43 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 15.23 millimeters | -79.54 millimeters | 188.54 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 72.38 millimeters | 4.55 millimeters | 155.27 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 51.35 millimeters | 22.88 millimeters | 125.29 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.36 millimeters | -22.64 millimeters | 91.79 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 39.88 millimeters | -9.26 millimeters | 96.1 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 58.03 millimeters | 21.99 millimeters | 132.76 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -25.88 millimeters | -93.6 millimeters | 36.95 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | -24.54 millimeters | -122.43 millimeters | 47.07 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | -5.78 millimeters | -57.43 millimeters | 43.67 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in China?
- Precipitation anomalies in China was 11.19 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 188.54 millimeters in 1946.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -122.43 millimeters in 2011.
- How does China rank for precipitation anomalies?
- China ranks 70th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 194.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.