Precipitation anomalies in Iceland
Iceland: Precipitation anomalies was -34.55 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-34.55 millimeters
Change on year
up 64.4%
World rank
104th
of 192 countries
All-time high
357.63 millimeters
in 1953
All-time low
-455.68 millimeters
in 1965
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Iceland, 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, precipitation anomalies in Iceland stood at -34.55 millimeters.
That represents a change of up 64.4% on the previous year and down 120.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Iceland peaked at 357.63 millimeters in 1953 and was at its lowest, -455.68 millimeters, in 1965.
That places Iceland 104th 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -223.85 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -277.8 millimeters | +24.1% |
| 1942 | -137.99 millimeters | -50.3% |
| 1943 | -61.22 millimeters | -55.6% |
| 1944 | -170.49 millimeters | +178.5% |
| 1945 | -191.65 millimeters | +12.4% |
| 1946 | -59.2 millimeters | -69.1% |
| 1947 | -129.45 millimeters | +118.7% |
| 1948 | -129.6 millimeters | +0.1% |
| 1949 | -129.81 millimeters | +0.2% |
| 1950 | -41.41 millimeters | -68.1% |
| 1951 | -120.53 millimeters | +191.1% |
| 1952 | -235.88 millimeters | +95.7% |
| 1953 | 357.63 millimeters | -251.6% |
| 1954 | -99.7 millimeters | -127.9% |
| 1955 | -224.9 millimeters | +125.6% |
| 1956 | 108.39 millimeters | -148.2% |
| 1957 | -124.19 millimeters | -214.6% |
| 1958 | -240.9 millimeters | +94.0% |
| 1959 | 176.89 millimeters | -173.4% |
| 1960 | -247.94 millimeters | -240.2% |
| 1961 | -11.36 millimeters | -95.4% |
| 1962 | -195.43 millimeters | +1620.0% |
| 1963 | -178.43 millimeters | -8.7% |
| 1964 | -174.31 millimeters | -2.3% |
| 1965 | -455.68 millimeters | +161.4% |
| 1966 | -262.01 millimeters | -42.5% |
| 1967 | -113.56 millimeters | -56.7% |
| 1968 | -170.49 millimeters | +50.1% |
| 1969 | -98.9 millimeters | -42.0% |
| 1970 | -172.34 millimeters | +74.3% |
| 1971 | -20.51 millimeters | -88.1% |
| 1972 | 221.96 millimeters | -1182.1% |
| 1973 | -22.36 millimeters | -110.1% |
| 1974 | 140.95 millimeters | -730.3% |
| 1975 | -57.04 millimeters | -140.5% |
| 1976 | 44.57 millimeters | -178.1% |
| 1977 | -237.15 millimeters | -632.0% |
| 1978 | -180.82 millimeters | -23.8% |
| 1979 | -188.98 millimeters | +4.5% |
| 1980 | -205.82 millimeters | +8.9% |
| 1981 | -154.88 millimeters | -24.8% |
| 1982 | -15.08 millimeters | -90.3% |
| 1983 | 40.81 millimeters | -370.7% |
| 1984 | -43.28 millimeters | -206.1% |
| 1985 | -323.12 millimeters | +646.5% |
| 1986 | -48.78 millimeters | -84.9% |
| 1987 | -142.55 millimeters | +192.3% |
| 1988 | -161.72 millimeters | +13.4% |
| 1989 | 98.55 millimeters | -160.9% |
| 1990 | -28.52 millimeters | -128.9% |
| 1991 | 158.56 millimeters | -656.0% |
| 1992 | 200.25 millimeters | +26.3% |
| 1993 | -14.98 millimeters | -107.5% |
| 1994 | -23.89 millimeters | +59.6% |
| 1995 | -164.14 millimeters | +586.9% |
| 1996 | -169.54 millimeters | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 22.94 millimeters | -113.5% |
| 1998 | -56.06 millimeters | -344.4% |
| 1999 | -98.56 millimeters | +75.8% |
| 2000 | -160.35 millimeters | +62.7% |
| 2001 | -92.51 millimeters | -42.3% |
| 2002 | 72.23 millimeters | -178.1% |
| 2003 | 56.08 millimeters | -22.4% |
| 2004 | 72.76 millimeters | +29.7% |
| 2005 | -120.66 millimeters | -265.8% |
| 2006 | 84.95 millimeters | -170.4% |
| 2007 | 105.02 millimeters | +23.6% |
| 2008 | -91.63 millimeters | -187.2% |
| 2009 | -13.21 millimeters | -85.6% |
| 2010 | -320.17 millimeters | +2323.5% |
| 2011 | 70.94 millimeters | -122.2% |
| 2012 | -18.5 millimeters | -126.1% |
| 2013 | -5.97 millimeters | -67.7% |
| 2014 | 129.69 millimeters | -2271.1% |
| 2015 | 166.81 millimeters | +28.6% |
| 2016 | -71.73 millimeters | -143.0% |
| 2017 | 45.1 millimeters | -162.9% |
| 2018 | 186.56 millimeters | +313.7% |
| 2019 | -84.01 millimeters | -145.0% |
| 2020 | 134.06 millimeters | -259.6% |
| 2021 | -105.78 millimeters | -178.9% |
| 2022 | 102.16 millimeters | -196.6% |
| 2023 | -121.47 millimeters | -218.9% |
| 2024 | -97.01 millimeters | -20.1% |
| 2025 | -34.55 millimeters | -64.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's -34.55 millimeters is below the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters, 1.9× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Iceland's -34.55 millimeters is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -67.1 millimeters, 51% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Iceland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | -2323.5% | -13.21 millimeters | -320.17 millimeters |
| 2014 | +2271.1% | -5.97 millimeters | 129.69 millimeters |
| 1962 | -1620.0% | -11.36 millimeters | -195.43 millimeters |
| 1972 | +1182.1% | -20.51 millimeters | 221.96 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -151.11 millimeters | -277.8 millimeters | -59.2 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -44.46 millimeters | -240.9 millimeters | 357.63 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -190.81 millimeters | -455.68 millimeters | -11.36 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | -47.17 millimeters | -237.15 millimeters | 221.96 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | -95.59 millimeters | -323.12 millimeters | 98.55 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -17.4 millimeters | -169.54 millimeters | 200.25 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -8.73 millimeters | -160.35 millimeters | 105.02 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.87 millimeters | -320.17 millimeters | 186.56 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | -20.43 millimeters | -121.47 millimeters | 134.06 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 101 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands -25.01 millimeters compare
- 102 Kuwait -27.42 millimeters compare
- 103 United Arab Emirates -27.47 millimeters compare
- 105 Luxembourg -35.95 millimeters compare
- 106 Yemen -43.77 millimeters compare
- 107 Trinidad and Tobago -45.98 millimeters compare
More climate change data for Iceland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 16.80 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 462.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 110.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 352.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 12.58 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 92.86 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 92.86 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.3504 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 92.72 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Iceland?
- Precipitation anomalies in Iceland was -34.55 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 357.63 millimeters in 1953.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -455.68 millimeters in 1965.
- How does Iceland rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Iceland ranks 104th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 120.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.