Precipitation anomalies in New Zealand
New Zealand: Precipitation anomalies was 94.83 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
94.83 millimeters
Change on year
up 308.8%
World rank
43rd
of 192 countries
All-time high
218.31 millimeters
in 1995
All-time low
-272.61 millimeters
in 1947
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in New Zealand, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 94.83 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
That represents a change of up 308.8% on the previous year and up 197.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in New Zealand peaked at 218.31 millimeters in 1995 and was at its lowest, -272.61 millimeters, in 1947.
That places New Zealand 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -225.96 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -268.03 millimeters | +18.6% |
| 1942 | -21.6 millimeters | -91.9% |
| 1943 | -70.45 millimeters | +226.1% |
| 1944 | -200.79 millimeters | +185.0% |
| 1945 | 208.22 millimeters | -203.7% |
| 1946 | -133.08 millimeters | -163.9% |
| 1947 | -272.61 millimeters | +104.8% |
| 1948 | -49.35 millimeters | -81.9% |
| 1949 | 106.3 millimeters | -315.4% |
| 1950 | -212.95 millimeters | -300.3% |
| 1951 | -173.75 millimeters | -18.4% |
| 1952 | -84.68 millimeters | -51.3% |
| 1953 | 35.08 millimeters | -141.4% |
| 1954 | -48.67 millimeters | -238.8% |
| 1955 | 123.42 millimeters | -353.6% |
| 1956 | 203.11 millimeters | +64.6% |
| 1957 | 54.72 millimeters | -73.1% |
| 1958 | 72.2 millimeters | +31.9% |
| 1959 | -152.88 millimeters | -311.7% |
| 1960 | 21.92 millimeters | -114.3% |
| 1961 | -182.29 millimeters | -931.7% |
| 1962 | 82.03 millimeters | -145.0% |
| 1963 | -193.35 millimeters | -335.7% |
| 1964 | 92.54 millimeters | -147.9% |
| 1965 | -30.13 millimeters | -132.6% |
| 1966 | -47.43 millimeters | +57.4% |
| 1967 | 51.87 millimeters | -209.4% |
| 1968 | 155.67 millimeters | +200.1% |
| 1969 | -151.62 millimeters | -197.4% |
| 1970 | -12 millimeters | -92.1% |
| 1971 | -78.38 millimeters | +553.4% |
| 1972 | 7.57 millimeters | -109.7% |
| 1973 | -92.41 millimeters | -1321.1% |
| 1974 | -56.52 millimeters | -38.8% |
| 1975 | 179.71 millimeters | -418.0% |
| 1976 | -46.04 millimeters | -125.6% |
| 1977 | -64.95 millimeters | +41.1% |
| 1978 | -66.04 millimeters | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 201.77 millimeters | -405.5% |
| 1980 | 165.69 millimeters | -17.9% |
| 1981 | -16.23 millimeters | -109.8% |
| 1982 | -34.8 millimeters | +114.4% |
| 1983 | 129.05 millimeters | -470.9% |
| 1984 | 41.18 millimeters | -68.1% |
| 1985 | -57.49 millimeters | -239.6% |
| 1986 | 45.96 millimeters | -179.9% |
| 1987 | 59.19 millimeters | +28.8% |
| 1988 | 188.97 millimeters | +219.3% |
| 1989 | 21.23 millimeters | -88.8% |
| 1990 | -0.2217 millimeters | -101.0% |
| 1991 | 2.79 millimeters | -1357.1% |
| 1992 | -54.72 millimeters | -2063.4% |
| 1993 | -102.29 millimeters | +87.0% |
| 1994 | 64.8 millimeters | -163.3% |
| 1995 | 218.31 millimeters | +236.9% |
| 1996 | 86.67 millimeters | -60.3% |
| 1997 | -50.34 millimeters | -158.1% |
| 1998 | 142.84 millimeters | -383.7% |
| 1999 | -102.74 millimeters | -171.9% |
| 2000 | 14.6 millimeters | -114.2% |
| 2001 | -88.95 millimeters | -709.2% |
| 2002 | -3.77 millimeters | -95.8% |
| 2003 | -93.98 millimeters | +2389.4% |
| 2004 | 193.5 millimeters | -305.9% |
| 2005 | -216.27 millimeters | -211.8% |
| 2006 | 72.97 millimeters | -133.7% |
| 2007 | -171.35 millimeters | -334.8% |
| 2008 | -49.61 millimeters | -71.0% |
| 2009 | -69.51 millimeters | +40.1% |
| 2010 | 95.98 millimeters | -238.1% |
| 2011 | 63.97 millimeters | -33.3% |
| 2012 | -19.05 millimeters | -129.8% |
| 2013 | -10.87 millimeters | -42.9% |
| 2014 | -28.57 millimeters | +162.9% |
| 2015 | -97.74 millimeters | +242.1% |
| 2016 | 114.7 millimeters | -217.4% |
| 2017 | 5.82 millimeters | -94.9% |
| 2018 | 169.99 millimeters | +2822.3% |
| 2019 | 46.85 millimeters | -72.4% |
| 2020 | -134.04 millimeters | -386.1% |
| 2021 | 110.35 millimeters | -182.3% |
| 2022 | 162.13 millimeters | +46.9% |
| 2023 | 72.29 millimeters | -55.4% |
| 2024 | -45.42 millimeters | -162.8% |
| 2025 | 94.83 millimeters | -308.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 94.83 millimeters is above the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters. (65 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 94.83 millimeters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 153 millimeters, 62% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +2822.3% | 5.82 millimeters | 169.99 millimeters |
| 2003 | -2389.4% | -3.77 millimeters | -93.98 millimeters |
| 1992 | -2063.4% | 2.79 millimeters | -54.72 millimeters |
| 1991 | +1357.1% | -0.2217 millimeters | 2.79 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -92.74 millimeters | -272.61 millimeters | 208.22 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -18.44 millimeters | -212.95 millimeters | 203.11 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -20.08 millimeters | -193.35 millimeters | 155.67 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.73 millimeters | -92.41 millimeters | 201.77 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.27 millimeters | -57.49 millimeters | 188.97 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.51 millimeters | -102.74 millimeters | 218.31 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -41.24 millimeters | -216.27 millimeters | 193.5 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.11 millimeters | -97.74 millimeters | 169.99 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.36 millimeters | -134.04 millimeters | 162.13 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in New Zealand?
- Precipitation anomalies in New Zealand was 94.83 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 218.31 millimeters in 1995.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -272.61 millimeters in 1947.
- How does New Zealand rank for precipitation anomalies?
- New Zealand ranks 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 197.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.