Precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Precipitation anomalies was 310.74 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
310.74 millimeters
Change on year
up 32.8%
World rank
13th
of 192 countries
All-time high
578.31 millimeters
in 2023
All-time low
-885.5 millimeters
in 1950
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka is 310.74 millimeters, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 32.8% on the previous year and down 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka peaked at 578.31 millimeters in 2023 and was at its lowest, -885.5 millimeters, in 1950.
That places Sri Lanka 13th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -22.66 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -185.31 millimeters | +717.8% |
| 1942 | 44.53 millimeters | -124.0% |
| 1943 | -146.25 millimeters | -428.4% |
| 1944 | 102.28 millimeters | -169.9% |
| 1945 | -231.65 millimeters | -326.5% |
| 1946 | -45.97 millimeters | -80.2% |
| 1947 | -93.72 millimeters | +103.9% |
| 1948 | 136.22 millimeters | -245.3% |
| 1949 | -618.98 millimeters | -554.4% |
| 1950 | -885.5 millimeters | +43.1% |
| 1951 | -282.68 millimeters | -68.1% |
| 1952 | -828.91 millimeters | +193.2% |
| 1953 | -591.83 millimeters | -28.6% |
| 1954 | 186.13 millimeters | -131.4% |
| 1955 | 210.69 millimeters | +13.2% |
| 1956 | -232.07 millimeters | -210.1% |
| 1957 | -39.82 millimeters | -82.8% |
| 1958 | -126.86 millimeters | +218.6% |
| 1959 | -282.18 millimeters | +122.4% |
| 1960 | -19.41 millimeters | -93.1% |
| 1961 | -217.8 millimeters | +1022.2% |
| 1962 | 83.28 millimeters | -138.2% |
| 1963 | 247.3 millimeters | +196.9% |
| 1964 | -10.81 millimeters | -104.4% |
| 1965 | 442.62 millimeters | -4195.9% |
| 1966 | 64.16 millimeters | -85.5% |
| 1967 | 190.13 millimeters | +196.4% |
| 1968 | -174.97 millimeters | -192.0% |
| 1969 | 87.38 millimeters | -149.9% |
| 1970 | -93.88 millimeters | -207.4% |
| 1971 | -81.7 millimeters | -13.0% |
| 1972 | -232.51 millimeters | +184.6% |
| 1973 | -212.2 millimeters | -8.7% |
| 1974 | -576.18 millimeters | +171.5% |
| 1975 | -95.98 millimeters | -83.3% |
| 1976 | -344.48 millimeters | +258.9% |
| 1977 | -19.65 millimeters | -94.3% |
| 1978 | 43.05 millimeters | -319.1% |
| 1979 | -103.75 millimeters | -341.0% |
| 1980 | -437.2 millimeters | +321.4% |
| 1981 | -343.68 millimeters | -21.4% |
| 1982 | -283.17 millimeters | -17.6% |
| 1983 | -498.56 millimeters | +76.1% |
| 1984 | 311.65 millimeters | -162.5% |
| 1985 | -77.21 millimeters | -124.8% |
| 1986 | -282.07 millimeters | +265.3% |
| 1987 | -136.43 millimeters | -51.6% |
| 1988 | -144.6 millimeters | +6.0% |
| 1989 | -246.87 millimeters | +70.7% |
| 1990 | -170.15 millimeters | -31.1% |
| 1991 | -307.64 millimeters | +80.8% |
| 1992 | -397.17 millimeters | +29.1% |
| 1993 | 6.68 millimeters | -101.7% |
| 1994 | 97.38 millimeters | +1357.7% |
| 1995 | -190.84 millimeters | -296.0% |
| 1996 | -133.48 millimeters | -30.1% |
| 1997 | 55.75 millimeters | -141.8% |
| 1998 | -222.67 millimeters | -499.4% |
| 1999 | -53.1 millimeters | -76.2% |
| 2000 | 8.19 millimeters | -115.4% |
| 2001 | -197.17 millimeters | -2507.5% |
| 2002 | -47.15 millimeters | -76.1% |
| 2003 | -140.49 millimeters | +198.0% |
| 2004 | -3.95 millimeters | -97.2% |
| 2005 | -132.3 millimeters | +3247.2% |
| 2006 | 147.99 millimeters | -211.9% |
| 2007 | -90.25 millimeters | -161.0% |
| 2008 | 316.69 millimeters | -450.9% |
| 2009 | -47.46 millimeters | -115.0% |
| 2010 | 436.99 millimeters | -1020.7% |
| 2011 | 544.36 millimeters | +24.6% |
| 2012 | -33.25 millimeters | -106.1% |
| 2013 | -57.1 millimeters | +71.7% |
| 2014 | 490.28 millimeters | -958.6% |
| 2015 | 452.33 millimeters | -7.7% |
| 2016 | -386 millimeters | -185.3% |
| 2017 | -53.95 millimeters | -86.0% |
| 2018 | 190.35 millimeters | -452.8% |
| 2019 | -57.1 millimeters | -130.0% |
| 2020 | -195.9 millimeters | +243.1% |
| 2021 | 226.78 millimeters | -215.8% |
| 2022 | 76.92 millimeters | -66.1% |
| 2023 | 578.31 millimeters | +651.8% |
| 2024 | 234.08 millimeters | -59.5% |
| 2025 | 310.74 millimeters | +32.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 310.74 millimeters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -15.85 millimeters. (50 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 310.74 millimeters is above the median for South Asia, which is 87.35 millimeters, 3.6× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +4195.9% | -10.81 millimeters | 442.62 millimeters |
| 2005 | -3247.2% | -3.95 millimeters | -132.3 millimeters |
| 2001 | -2507.5% | 8.19 millimeters | -197.17 millimeters |
| 1994 | +1357.7% | 6.68 millimeters | 97.38 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -106.15 millimeters | -618.98 millimeters | 136.22 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | -287.3 millimeters | -885.5 millimeters | 210.69 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 69.19 millimeters | -217.8 millimeters | 442.62 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | -171.73 millimeters | -576.18 millimeters | 43.05 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | -213.81 millimeters | -498.56 millimeters | 311.65 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -131.52 millimeters | -397.17 millimeters | 97.38 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | -18.59 millimeters | -197.17 millimeters | 316.69 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 152.69 millimeters | -386 millimeters | 544.36 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 205.16 millimeters | -195.9 millimeters | 578.31 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 10 Panama 328.24 millimeters compare
- 11 East Timor 317.16 millimeters compare
- 12 Guyana 313.54 millimeters compare
- 14 Solomon Islands 308.27 millimeters compare
- 15 Guinea-Bissau 300.08 millimeters compare
- 16 Lesotho 284.94 millimeters compare
More climate change data for Sri Lanka
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 327.09 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,418 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 618.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,800 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,168 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,071 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,097 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka?
- Precipitation anomalies in Sri Lanka was 310.74 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 578.31 millimeters in 2023.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -885.5 millimeters in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Sri Lanka ranks 13th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.