Precipitation anomalies in Lesotho
Lesotho: Precipitation anomalies was 284.94 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
284.94 millimeters
Change on year
up 212.2%
World rank
16th
of 192 countries
All-time high
440.11 millimeters
in 1988
All-time low
-480.07 millimeters
in 1954
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Lesotho, 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 Lesotho stood at 284.94 millimeters.
The figure is up 212.2% on the previous year and up 197.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Lesotho peaked at 440.11 millimeters in 1988 and was at its lowest, -480.07 millimeters, in 1954.
That places Lesotho 16th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -71.23 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -301.49 millimeters | +323.2% |
| 1942 | 157.38 millimeters | -152.2% |
| 1943 | 77.13 millimeters | -51.0% |
| 1944 | 142.84 millimeters | +85.2% |
| 1945 | -19.05 millimeters | -113.3% |
| 1946 | 5.68 millimeters | -129.8% |
| 1947 | -31.89 millimeters | -661.4% |
| 1948 | 17.66 millimeters | -155.4% |
| 1949 | -444.65 millimeters | -2617.6% |
| 1950 | 201.67 millimeters | -145.4% |
| 1951 | -88.56 millimeters | -143.9% |
| 1952 | -40.84 millimeters | -53.9% |
| 1953 | -30.63 millimeters | -25.0% |
| 1954 | -480.07 millimeters | +1467.3% |
| 1955 | -132.53 millimeters | -72.4% |
| 1956 | 186.35 millimeters | -240.6% |
| 1957 | 178.08 millimeters | -4.4% |
| 1958 | 151.19 millimeters | -15.1% |
| 1959 | 154.48 millimeters | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 253.6 millimeters | +64.2% |
| 1961 | 148.78 millimeters | -41.3% |
| 1962 | 19.92 millimeters | -86.6% |
| 1963 | 247.66 millimeters | +1143.5% |
| 1964 | 60.42 millimeters | -75.6% |
| 1965 | -267.29 millimeters | -542.4% |
| 1966 | -65.89 millimeters | -75.3% |
| 1967 | 101.7 millimeters | -254.3% |
| 1968 | -69.98 millimeters | -168.8% |
| 1969 | -85.99 millimeters | +22.9% |
| 1970 | 28.93 millimeters | -133.6% |
| 1971 | 129.86 millimeters | +348.9% |
| 1972 | 34.69 millimeters | -73.3% |
| 1973 | 36.2 millimeters | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 224.63 millimeters | +520.5% |
| 1975 | 143.75 millimeters | -36.0% |
| 1976 | 246.04 millimeters | +71.2% |
| 1977 | 126.01 millimeters | -48.8% |
| 1978 | 64.4 millimeters | -48.9% |
| 1979 | 50.31 millimeters | -21.9% |
| 1980 | -183.48 millimeters | -464.7% |
| 1981 | -34.92 millimeters | -81.0% |
| 1982 | -100.98 millimeters | +189.1% |
| 1983 | -14.3 millimeters | -85.8% |
| 1984 | -120.11 millimeters | +740.0% |
| 1985 | 94.21 millimeters | -178.4% |
| 1986 | 189.84 millimeters | +101.5% |
| 1987 | 399.4 millimeters | +110.4% |
| 1988 | 440.11 millimeters | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 275.2 millimeters | -37.5% |
| 1990 | -48.3 millimeters | -117.6% |
| 1991 | 236.69 millimeters | -590.0% |
| 1992 | -299.84 millimeters | -226.7% |
| 1993 | 130.57 millimeters | -143.5% |
| 1994 | -92.75 millimeters | -171.0% |
| 1995 | 49.27 millimeters | -153.1% |
| 1996 | 275.41 millimeters | +459.0% |
| 1997 | 142.16 millimeters | -48.4% |
| 1998 | 68.84 millimeters | -51.6% |
| 1999 | -55.22 millimeters | -180.2% |
| 2000 | 218.73 millimeters | -496.1% |
| 2001 | 178.04 millimeters | -18.6% |
| 2002 | 97 millimeters | -45.5% |
| 2003 | -112.73 millimeters | -216.2% |
| 2004 | 69.06 millimeters | -161.3% |
| 2005 | 8.45 millimeters | -87.8% |
| 2006 | 255.96 millimeters | +2927.5% |
| 2007 | -130.12 millimeters | -150.8% |
| 2008 | -99.56 millimeters | -23.5% |
| 2009 | -57.42 millimeters | -42.3% |
| 2010 | 39.22 millimeters | -168.3% |
| 2011 | 23.97 millimeters | -38.9% |
| 2012 | -30.23 millimeters | -226.1% |
| 2013 | -172.59 millimeters | +470.8% |
| 2014 | -29.34 millimeters | -83.0% |
| 2015 | -293.28 millimeters | +899.5% |
| 2016 | -23.61 millimeters | -91.9% |
| 2017 | -117.4 millimeters | +397.2% |
| 2018 | -158.31 millimeters | +34.9% |
| 2019 | -256.47 millimeters | +62.0% |
| 2020 | 135.52 millimeters | -152.8% |
| 2021 | 183.1 millimeters | +35.1% |
| 2022 | 271.27 millimeters | +48.2% |
| 2023 | 90.29 millimeters | -66.7% |
| 2024 | -254 millimeters | -381.3% |
| 2025 | 284.94 millimeters | -212.2% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 284.94 millimeters is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -16.79 millimeters. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 284.94 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 Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +2927.5% | 8.45 millimeters | 255.96 millimeters |
| 1949 | -2617.6% | 17.66 millimeters | -444.65 millimeters |
| 1954 | -1467.3% | -30.63 millimeters | -480.07 millimeters |
| 1963 | +1143.5% | 19.92 millimeters | 247.66 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -46.76 millimeters | -444.65 millimeters | 157.38 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.91 millimeters | -480.07 millimeters | 201.67 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 34.29 millimeters | -267.29 millimeters | 253.6 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 108.48 millimeters | 28.93 millimeters | 246.04 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.5 millimeters | -183.48 millimeters | 440.11 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.68 millimeters | -299.84 millimeters | 275.41 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.74 millimeters | -130.12 millimeters | 255.96 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | -101.81 millimeters | -293.28 millimeters | 39.22 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 118.52 millimeters | -254 millimeters | 284.94 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Lesotho?
- Precipitation anomalies in Lesotho was 284.94 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 440.11 millimeters in 1988.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -480.07 millimeters in 1954.
- How does Lesotho rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Lesotho ranks 16th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 197.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.