Precipitation anomalies in Japan
Japan: Precipitation anomalies was -124.37 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-124.37 millimeters
Change on year
down 165.9%
World rank
150th
of 192 countries
All-time high
579.86 millimeters
in 1972
All-time low
-618.59 millimeters
in 1943
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Japan, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
Japan recorded -124.37 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 165.9% on the previous year and down 225.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Japan peaked at 579.86 millimeters in 1972 and was at its lowest, -618.59 millimeters, in 1943.
That places Japan 150th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in Japan, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -455.25 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -228.35 millimeters | -49.8% |
| 1942 | -615.81 millimeters | +169.7% |
| 1943 | -618.59 millimeters | +0.5% |
| 1944 | -453.67 millimeters | -26.7% |
| 1945 | 189.91 millimeters | -141.9% |
| 1946 | -417.69 millimeters | -319.9% |
| 1947 | -267.93 millimeters | -35.9% |
| 1948 | -267.94 millimeters | +0.0% |
| 1949 | -171.18 millimeters | -36.1% |
| 1950 | -245.57 millimeters | +43.5% |
| 1951 | -251.13 millimeters | +2.3% |
| 1952 | -122.53 millimeters | -51.2% |
| 1953 | 93.36 millimeters | -176.2% |
| 1954 | -57.98 millimeters | -162.1% |
| 1955 | -23.25 millimeters | -59.9% |
| 1956 | 46.22 millimeters | -298.8% |
| 1957 | 56.62 millimeters | +22.5% |
| 1958 | -0.3534 millimeters | -100.6% |
| 1959 | 117.81 millimeters | -33436.7% |
| 1960 | -134.12 millimeters | -213.8% |
| 1961 | 13.76 millimeters | -110.3% |
| 1962 | -61.71 millimeters | -548.4% |
| 1963 | -1.91 millimeters | -96.9% |
| 1964 | 37.86 millimeters | -2081.1% |
| 1965 | 22.73 millimeters | -40.0% |
| 1966 | 216.43 millimeters | +852.3% |
| 1967 | -67.93 millimeters | -131.4% |
| 1968 | 16.93 millimeters | -124.9% |
| 1969 | 22.37 millimeters | +32.1% |
| 1970 | 0.0091 millimeters | -100.0% |
| 1971 | 157.31 millimeters | +1733962.1% |
| 1972 | 579.86 millimeters | +268.6% |
| 1973 | -93.24 millimeters | -116.1% |
| 1974 | 119.98 millimeters | -228.7% |
| 1975 | 247.87 millimeters | +106.6% |
| 1976 | 273.55 millimeters | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 41.45 millimeters | -84.8% |
| 1978 | -192.17 millimeters | -563.6% |
| 1979 | 261.57 millimeters | -236.1% |
| 1980 | 271.93 millimeters | +4.0% |
| 1981 | -37.98 millimeters | -114.0% |
| 1982 | 30.41 millimeters | -180.1% |
| 1983 | 25.06 millimeters | -17.6% |
| 1984 | -390.8 millimeters | -1659.3% |
| 1985 | 24.17 millimeters | -106.2% |
| 1986 | -224.52 millimeters | -1028.8% |
| 1987 | -129.89 millimeters | -42.1% |
| 1988 | -49.42 millimeters | -62.0% |
| 1989 | 48.43 millimeters | -198.0% |
| 1990 | 52.89 millimeters | +9.2% |
| 1991 | 138.69 millimeters | +162.3% |
| 1992 | -113.02 millimeters | -181.5% |
| 1993 | 270.62 millimeters | -339.4% |
| 1994 | -388.89 millimeters | -243.7% |
| 1995 | -104.17 millimeters | -73.2% |
| 1996 | -172.33 millimeters | +65.4% |
| 1997 | -47.67 millimeters | -72.3% |
| 1998 | 253.21 millimeters | -631.2% |
| 1999 | -4.87 millimeters | -101.9% |
| 2000 | -11.44 millimeters | +135.0% |
| 2001 | -97.8 millimeters | +755.2% |
| 2002 | -111.39 millimeters | +13.9% |
| 2003 | 51.42 millimeters | -146.2% |
| 2004 | 177.3 millimeters | +244.8% |
| 2005 | -277.11 millimeters | -256.3% |
| 2006 | 37.93 millimeters | -113.7% |
| 2007 | -229.13 millimeters | -704.1% |
| 2008 | -219.48 millimeters | -4.2% |
| 2009 | -10.81 millimeters | -95.1% |
| 2010 | 164.99 millimeters | -1626.6% |
| 2011 | 108.65 millimeters | -34.1% |
| 2012 | 32.9 millimeters | -69.7% |
| 2013 | 3.93 millimeters | -88.1% |
| 2014 | 33.48 millimeters | +752.5% |
| 2015 | 99.09 millimeters | +196.0% |
| 2016 | 159.79 millimeters | +61.2% |
| 2017 | -6.41 millimeters | -104.0% |
| 2018 | 130.8 millimeters | -2139.3% |
| 2019 | -25.11 millimeters | -119.2% |
| 2020 | 156.82 millimeters | -724.5% |
| 2021 | 199.75 millimeters | +27.4% |
| 2022 | -57.62 millimeters | -128.8% |
| 2023 | -42.81 millimeters | -25.7% |
| 2024 | 188.84 millimeters | -541.2% |
| 2025 | -124.37 millimeters | -165.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's -124.37 millimeters is below the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters, 6.7× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Japan's -124.37 millimeters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 153 millimeters. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +1733962.1% | 0.0091 millimeters | 157.31 millimeters |
| 1959 | +33436.7% | -0.3534 millimeters | 117.81 millimeters |
| 2018 | +2139.3% | -6.41 millimeters | 130.8 millimeters |
| 1964 | +2081.1% | -1.91 millimeters | 37.86 millimeters |
| 1984 | -1659.3% | 25.06 millimeters | -390.8 millimeters |
| 2010 | +1626.6% | -10.81 millimeters | 164.99 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -330.65 millimeters | -618.59 millimeters | 189.91 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -38.68 millimeters | -251.13 millimeters | 117.81 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.44 millimeters | -134.12 millimeters | 216.43 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 139.62 millimeters | -192.17 millimeters | 579.86 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | -43.26 millimeters | -390.8 millimeters | 271.93 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -11.55 millimeters | -388.89 millimeters | 270.62 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -69.05 millimeters | -277.11 millimeters | 177.3 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.21 millimeters | -25.11 millimeters | 164.99 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.43 millimeters | -124.37 millimeters | 199.75 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More climate change data for Japan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 337.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Japan?
- Precipitation anomalies in Japan was -124.37 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 579.86 millimeters in 1972.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -618.59 millimeters in 1943.
- How does Japan rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Japan ranks 150th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 225.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.