Precipitation anomalies in South Africa
South Africa: Precipitation anomalies was 130.44 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
130.44 millimeters
Change on year
up 209.6%
World rank
33rd
of 192 countries
All-time high
220.36 millimeters
in 1974
All-time low
-224.36 millimeters
in 1954
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in South Africa, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 130.44 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
That represents a change of up 209.6% on the previous year and up 183.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in South Africa peaked at 220.36 millimeters in 1974 and was at its lowest, -224.36 millimeters, in 1954.
That places South Africa 33rd 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -58.71 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -107.39 millimeters | +82.9% |
| 1942 | 70.21 millimeters | -165.4% |
| 1943 | 78.12 millimeters | +11.3% |
| 1944 | 154.3 millimeters | +97.5% |
| 1945 | 12.88 millimeters | -91.7% |
| 1946 | -9.95 millimeters | -177.3% |
| 1947 | 20.01 millimeters | -301.1% |
| 1948 | 57.84 millimeters | +189.0% |
| 1949 | -163 millimeters | -381.8% |
| 1950 | 76.06 millimeters | -146.7% |
| 1951 | -30.65 millimeters | -140.3% |
| 1952 | 38.83 millimeters | -226.7% |
| 1953 | -79 millimeters | -303.4% |
| 1954 | -224.36 millimeters | +184.0% |
| 1955 | 6.08 millimeters | -102.7% |
| 1956 | 0.7298 millimeters | -88.0% |
| 1957 | 73.28 millimeters | +9941.5% |
| 1958 | 62.86 millimeters | -14.2% |
| 1959 | 11.53 millimeters | -81.7% |
| 1960 | 39.58 millimeters | +243.3% |
| 1961 | 73.23 millimeters | +85.0% |
| 1962 | 39.66 millimeters | -45.8% |
| 1963 | 106.91 millimeters | +169.6% |
| 1964 | -47.06 millimeters | -144.0% |
| 1965 | -138.27 millimeters | +193.8% |
| 1966 | -30.13 millimeters | -78.2% |
| 1967 | 74.85 millimeters | -348.5% |
| 1968 | -92 millimeters | -222.9% |
| 1969 | -39.24 millimeters | -57.4% |
| 1970 | -21.91 millimeters | -44.2% |
| 1971 | 66.3 millimeters | -402.6% |
| 1972 | 1.88 millimeters | -97.2% |
| 1973 | 77.3 millimeters | +4021.7% |
| 1974 | 220.36 millimeters | +185.1% |
| 1975 | 103.06 millimeters | -53.2% |
| 1976 | 190.79 millimeters | +85.1% |
| 1977 | 95.93 millimeters | -49.7% |
| 1978 | -19.06 millimeters | -119.9% |
| 1979 | -23.45 millimeters | +23.0% |
| 1980 | -53.46 millimeters | +128.0% |
| 1981 | 74.47 millimeters | -239.3% |
| 1982 | -55.94 millimeters | -175.1% |
| 1983 | -51.81 millimeters | -7.4% |
| 1984 | -58.15 millimeters | +12.2% |
| 1985 | 83.65 millimeters | -243.9% |
| 1986 | 30.38 millimeters | -63.7% |
| 1987 | 86.05 millimeters | +183.3% |
| 1988 | 193.92 millimeters | +125.4% |
| 1989 | 84.61 millimeters | -56.4% |
| 1990 | -34.92 millimeters | -141.3% |
| 1991 | 76.16 millimeters | -318.1% |
| 1992 | -144.42 millimeters | -289.6% |
| 1993 | -16.96 millimeters | -88.3% |
| 1994 | -94.13 millimeters | +455.0% |
| 1995 | 51.22 millimeters | -154.4% |
| 1996 | 136.92 millimeters | +167.3% |
| 1997 | 35.09 millimeters | -74.4% |
| 1998 | 28.55 millimeters | -18.6% |
| 1999 | 23.52 millimeters | -17.6% |
| 2000 | 205.88 millimeters | +775.5% |
| 2001 | 139.11 millimeters | -32.4% |
| 2002 | -26.3 millimeters | -118.9% |
| 2003 | -103.26 millimeters | +292.7% |
| 2004 | 25.42 millimeters | -124.6% |
| 2005 | -15.1 millimeters | -159.4% |
| 2006 | 164.42 millimeters | -1189.1% |
| 2007 | -67.93 millimeters | -141.3% |
| 2008 | -50.78 millimeters | -25.2% |
| 2009 | 20.47 millimeters | -140.3% |
| 2010 | 40.38 millimeters | +97.2% |
| 2011 | 98.28 millimeters | +143.4% |
| 2012 | 9.44 millimeters | -90.4% |
| 2013 | -51.11 millimeters | -641.6% |
| 2014 | 11.28 millimeters | -122.1% |
| 2015 | -156.1 millimeters | -1483.5% |
| 2016 | -69.92 millimeters | -55.2% |
| 2017 | -35.68 millimeters | -49.0% |
| 2018 | -110.4 millimeters | +209.4% |
| 2019 | -123.69 millimeters | +12.0% |
| 2020 | -0.3583 millimeters | -99.7% |
| 2021 | 105.55 millimeters | -29554.1% |
| 2022 | 133.73 millimeters | +26.7% |
| 2023 | -13.94 millimeters | -110.4% |
| 2024 | -118.99 millimeters | +753.3% |
| 2025 | 130.44 millimeters | -209.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 130.44 millimeters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -15.85 millimeters. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 130.44 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 South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +29554.1% | -0.3583 millimeters | 105.55 millimeters |
| 1957 | +9941.5% | 0.7298 millimeters | 73.28 millimeters |
| 1973 | +4021.7% | 1.88 millimeters | 77.3 millimeters |
| 2015 | -1483.5% | 11.28 millimeters | -156.1 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5.43 millimeters | -163 millimeters | 154.3 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -6.46 millimeters | -224.36 millimeters | 76.06 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.25 millimeters | -138.27 millimeters | 106.91 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 69.12 millimeters | -23.45 millimeters | 220.36 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 33.37 millimeters | -58.15 millimeters | 193.92 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.1 millimeters | -144.42 millimeters | 136.92 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.19 millimeters | -103.26 millimeters | 205.88 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | -38.75 millimeters | -156.1 millimeters | 98.28 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.4 millimeters | -118.99 millimeters | 133.73 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 717.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in South Africa?
- Precipitation anomalies in South Africa was 130.44 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 220.36 millimeters in 1974.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -224.36 millimeters in 1954.
- How does South Africa rank for precipitation anomalies?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 183.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.