Precipitation anomalies in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Precipitation anomalies was -12.52 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-12.52 millimeters
Change on year
down 505.8%
World rank
87th
of 192 countries
All-time high
49.18 millimeters
in 1972
All-time low
-45.1 millimeters
in 1941
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Saudi Arabia, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded -12.52 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 505.8% on the previous year and down 336.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Saudi Arabia peaked at 49.18 millimeters in 1972 and was at its lowest, -45.1 millimeters, in 1941.
Saudi Arabia ranks 87th of 192 countries on this measure, 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -7.39 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -45.1 millimeters | +510.1% |
| 1942 | 15.1 millimeters | -133.5% |
| 1943 | 30.25 millimeters | +100.3% |
| 1944 | 9.62 millimeters | -68.2% |
| 1945 | -22.28 millimeters | -331.7% |
| 1946 | -23.12 millimeters | +3.8% |
| 1947 | 40.49 millimeters | -275.1% |
| 1948 | 21.11 millimeters | -47.9% |
| 1949 | 47.4 millimeters | +124.6% |
| 1950 | 41.09 millimeters | -13.3% |
| 1951 | -3.82 millimeters | -109.3% |
| 1952 | 20.97 millimeters | -648.6% |
| 1953 | 27.04 millimeters | +28.9% |
| 1954 | -10.75 millimeters | -139.8% |
| 1955 | -6.04 millimeters | -43.9% |
| 1956 | -15.57 millimeters | +158.0% |
| 1957 | 11.36 millimeters | -172.9% |
| 1958 | -17.21 millimeters | -251.5% |
| 1959 | -3.78 millimeters | -78.0% |
| 1960 | -13.05 millimeters | +244.8% |
| 1961 | 15.72 millimeters | -220.4% |
| 1962 | -25.14 millimeters | -260.0% |
| 1963 | 27.36 millimeters | -208.8% |
| 1964 | 24.18 millimeters | -11.6% |
| 1965 | 22.85 millimeters | -5.5% |
| 1966 | -13.77 millimeters | -160.2% |
| 1967 | 18.97 millimeters | -237.8% |
| 1968 | 15.96 millimeters | -15.9% |
| 1969 | -2.61 millimeters | -116.4% |
| 1970 | -25 millimeters | +857.6% |
| 1971 | 1.15 millimeters | -104.6% |
| 1972 | 49.18 millimeters | +4179.9% |
| 1973 | -24.13 millimeters | -149.1% |
| 1974 | 24.68 millimeters | -202.3% |
| 1975 | 31.51 millimeters | +27.7% |
| 1976 | 1.34 millimeters | -95.8% |
| 1977 | 9.08 millimeters | +579.5% |
| 1978 | -19.77 millimeters | -317.8% |
| 1979 | -5.74 millimeters | -71.0% |
| 1980 | -16.31 millimeters | +184.1% |
| 1981 | -20.22 millimeters | +24.0% |
| 1982 | 40.31 millimeters | -299.4% |
| 1983 | 18.22 millimeters | -54.8% |
| 1984 | -7.49 millimeters | -141.1% |
| 1985 | 10.58 millimeters | -241.3% |
| 1986 | 17.44 millimeters | +64.8% |
| 1987 | -6.46 millimeters | -137.0% |
| 1988 | 0.2097 millimeters | -103.2% |
| 1989 | -2.29 millimeters | -1189.9% |
| 1990 | -24.48 millimeters | +971.2% |
| 1991 | -4.49 millimeters | -81.7% |
| 1992 | 26.98 millimeters | -700.7% |
| 1993 | 22.81 millimeters | -15.5% |
| 1994 | -13.17 millimeters | -157.7% |
| 1995 | 43.63 millimeters | -431.3% |
| 1996 | 24.38 millimeters | -44.1% |
| 1997 | 48.16 millimeters | +97.5% |
| 1998 | 7.73 millimeters | -84.0% |
| 1999 | -11.22 millimeters | -245.2% |
| 2000 | -13.19 millimeters | +17.5% |
| 2001 | -14.46 millimeters | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 2.71 millimeters | -118.7% |
| 2003 | -7.23 millimeters | -367.2% |
| 2004 | 5.25 millimeters | -172.5% |
| 2005 | 3.17 millimeters | -39.5% |
| 2006 | 6.97 millimeters | +119.6% |
| 2007 | -24.93 millimeters | -457.7% |
| 2008 | -13.28 millimeters | -46.7% |
| 2009 | -14.35 millimeters | +8.1% |
| 2010 | -23.96 millimeters | +66.9% |
| 2011 | -17.35 millimeters | -27.6% |
| 2012 | -25.4 millimeters | +46.4% |
| 2013 | 12.22 millimeters | -148.1% |
| 2014 | -16.66 millimeters | -236.3% |
| 2015 | -2.87 millimeters | -82.8% |
| 2016 | -0.4626 millimeters | -83.9% |
| 2017 | -16 millimeters | +3358.8% |
| 2018 | 25.32 millimeters | -258.2% |
| 2019 | 3.63 millimeters | -85.7% |
| 2020 | -13.93 millimeters | -483.8% |
| 2021 | -29.24 millimeters | +110.0% |
| 2022 | -12.62 millimeters | -56.9% |
| 2023 | 26.89 millimeters | -313.1% |
| 2024 | 3.08 millimeters | -88.5% |
| 2025 | -12.52 millimeters | -505.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's -12.52 millimeters is above the median for high income countries, which is -18.65 millimeters, 67% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's -12.52 millimeters is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -27.45 millimeters, 46% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +4179.9% | 1.15 millimeters | 49.18 millimeters |
| 2017 | -3358.8% | -0.4626 millimeters | -16 millimeters |
| 1989 | -1189.9% | 0.2097 millimeters | -2.29 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 6.61 millimeters | -45.1 millimeters | 47.4 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.33 millimeters | -17.21 millimeters | 41.09 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.05 millimeters | -25.14 millimeters | 27.36 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.23 millimeters | -25 millimeters | 49.18 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.4 millimeters | -20.22 millimeters | 40.31 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.03 millimeters | -24.48 millimeters | 48.16 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -6.94 millimeters | -24.93 millimeters | 6.97 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.15 millimeters | -25.4 millimeters | 25.32 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | -6.39 millimeters | -29.24 millimeters | 26.89 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More climate change data for Saudi Arabia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 134.54 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,043 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,830 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,213 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 79.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,002 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.78 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Saudi Arabia?
- Precipitation anomalies in Saudi Arabia was -12.52 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 49.18 millimeters in 1972.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -45.1 millimeters in 1941.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 87th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 336.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.