Precipitation anomalies in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Precipitation anomalies was -76.39 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-76.39 millimeters
Change on year
down 117.1%
World rank
125th
of 192 countries
All-time high
1,519 millimeters
in 2010
All-time low
-979.85 millimeters
in 1959
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Costa Rica, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded -76.39 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 117.1% on the previous year and up 83.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Costa Rica peaked at 1,519 millimeters in 2010 and was at its lowest, -979.85 millimeters, in 1959.
That places Costa Rica 125th 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 Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -625.93 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -509.25 millimeters | -18.6% |
| 1942 | 629.89 millimeters | -223.7% |
| 1943 | 231.65 millimeters | -63.2% |
| 1944 | 818.7 millimeters | +253.4% |
| 1945 | 267.92 millimeters | -67.3% |
| 1946 | -158.2 millimeters | -159.0% |
| 1947 | -215.88 millimeters | +36.5% |
| 1948 | 795.94 millimeters | -468.7% |
| 1949 | 392.59 millimeters | -50.7% |
| 1950 | 645.88 millimeters | +64.5% |
| 1951 | 3.65 millimeters | -99.4% |
| 1952 | -93.8 millimeters | -2668.1% |
| 1953 | 13.63 millimeters | -114.5% |
| 1954 | 190.58 millimeters | +1298.3% |
| 1955 | 774.39 millimeters | +306.3% |
| 1956 | 632.28 millimeters | -18.4% |
| 1957 | -522.13 millimeters | -182.6% |
| 1958 | 253.14 millimeters | -148.5% |
| 1959 | -979.85 millimeters | -487.1% |
| 1960 | -454.78 millimeters | -53.6% |
| 1961 | -801.3 millimeters | +76.2% |
| 1962 | -8.09 millimeters | -99.0% |
| 1963 | -195.16 millimeters | +2312.9% |
| 1964 | -483.38 millimeters | +147.7% |
| 1965 | -258.16 millimeters | -46.6% |
| 1966 | 94.95 millimeters | -136.8% |
| 1967 | -136.05 millimeters | -243.3% |
| 1968 | 27.06 millimeters | -119.9% |
| 1969 | 610.74 millimeters | +2156.6% |
| 1970 | 1,113 millimeters | +82.3% |
| 1971 | 393.2 millimeters | -64.7% |
| 1972 | 28.16 millimeters | -92.8% |
| 1973 | 770.88 millimeters | +2637.2% |
| 1974 | 185.19 millimeters | -76.0% |
| 1975 | 730.43 millimeters | +294.4% |
| 1976 | -230.48 millimeters | -131.6% |
| 1977 | -434.09 millimeters | +88.3% |
| 1978 | 144.83 millimeters | -133.4% |
| 1979 | 279.72 millimeters | +93.1% |
| 1980 | -77.06 millimeters | -127.5% |
| 1981 | 403.09 millimeters | -623.1% |
| 1982 | -447.93 millimeters | -211.1% |
| 1983 | -641.36 millimeters | +43.2% |
| 1984 | -401.34 millimeters | -37.4% |
| 1985 | -463.36 millimeters | +15.5% |
| 1986 | -328.87 millimeters | -29.0% |
| 1987 | -273.43 millimeters | -16.9% |
| 1988 | 122.53 millimeters | -144.8% |
| 1989 | -483.5 millimeters | -494.6% |
| 1990 | -236.33 millimeters | -51.1% |
| 1991 | -630.47 millimeters | +166.8% |
| 1992 | -688.63 millimeters | +9.2% |
| 1993 | -87.63 millimeters | -87.3% |
| 1994 | -702.99 millimeters | +702.2% |
| 1995 | 575.34 millimeters | -181.8% |
| 1996 | 381.24 millimeters | -33.7% |
| 1997 | -723.61 millimeters | -289.8% |
| 1998 | -3.25 millimeters | -99.6% |
| 1999 | 537.1 millimeters | -16628.5% |
| 2000 | -6.08 millimeters | -101.1% |
| 2001 | -33.48 millimeters | +450.7% |
| 2002 | -216.86 millimeters | +547.8% |
| 2003 | 118.53 millimeters | -154.7% |
| 2004 | 280.76 millimeters | +136.9% |
| 2005 | 65.9 millimeters | -76.5% |
| 2006 | -281.04 millimeters | -526.5% |
| 2007 | 421.99 millimeters | -250.2% |
| 2008 | 634.08 millimeters | +50.3% |
| 2009 | -23.55 millimeters | -103.7% |
| 2010 | 1,519 millimeters | -6549.3% |
| 2011 | 308.95 millimeters | -79.7% |
| 2012 | -310.59 millimeters | -200.5% |
| 2013 | -220.07 millimeters | -29.1% |
| 2014 | -131.44 millimeters | -40.3% |
| 2015 | -465.39 millimeters | +254.1% |
| 2016 | 38.86 millimeters | -108.4% |
| 2017 | 159.81 millimeters | +311.2% |
| 2018 | -297.66 millimeters | -286.3% |
| 2019 | -478.66 millimeters | +60.8% |
| 2020 | 260.13 millimeters | -154.3% |
| 2021 | -143.13 millimeters | -155.0% |
| 2022 | 331.41 millimeters | -331.5% |
| 2023 | -479.07 millimeters | -244.6% |
| 2024 | 446.45 millimeters | -193.2% |
| 2025 | -76.39 millimeters | -117.1% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's -76.39 millimeters is below the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters, 4.1× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's -76.39 millimeters is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -23.46 millimeters, 3.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +16628.5% | -3.25 millimeters | 537.1 millimeters |
| 2010 | +6549.3% | -23.55 millimeters | 1,519 millimeters |
| 1952 | -2668.1% | 3.65 millimeters | -93.8 millimeters |
| 1973 | +2637.2% | 28.16 millimeters | 770.88 millimeters |
| 1963 | -2312.9% | -8.09 millimeters | -195.16 millimeters |
| 1969 | +2156.6% | 27.06 millimeters | 610.74 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 162.74 millimeters | -625.93 millimeters | 818.7 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 91.78 millimeters | -979.85 millimeters | 774.39 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -160.42 millimeters | -801.3 millimeters | 610.74 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 298.13 millimeters | -434.09 millimeters | 1,113 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | -259.12 millimeters | -641.36 millimeters | 403.09 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -157.92 millimeters | -723.61 millimeters | 575.34 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 96.03 millimeters | -281.04 millimeters | 634.08 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.25 millimeters | -478.66 millimeters | 1,519 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.57 millimeters | -479.07 millimeters | 446.45 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More climate change data for Costa Rica
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 108.28 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,751 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 942.79 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,808 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 688.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 623.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 65.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.35 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Costa Rica?
- Precipitation anomalies in Costa Rica was -76.39 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 1,519 millimeters in 2010.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -979.85 millimeters in 1959.
- How does Costa Rica rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Costa Rica ranks 125th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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.