Precipitation anomalies in Zambia
Zambia: Precipitation anomalies was 33.96 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
33.96 millimeters
Change on year
up 111.7%
World rank
61st
of 192 countries
All-time high
634.77 millimeters
in 1957
All-time low
-415.57 millimeters
in 1954
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Zambia, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 33.96 millimeters for precipitation anomalies in 2025.
The figure is up 111.7% on the previous year and up 159.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Zambia peaked at 634.77 millimeters in 1957 and was at its lowest, -415.57 millimeters, in 1954.
Zambia ranks 61st 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 165.35 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -89.5 millimeters | -154.1% |
| 1942 | -50.54 millimeters | -43.5% |
| 1943 | -120.16 millimeters | +137.7% |
| 1944 | 24.35 millimeters | -120.3% |
| 1945 | 46.36 millimeters | +90.4% |
| 1946 | 139.01 millimeters | +199.8% |
| 1947 | 189.49 millimeters | +36.3% |
| 1948 | 349.68 millimeters | +84.5% |
| 1949 | 44.71 millimeters | -87.2% |
| 1950 | 127.63 millimeters | +185.4% |
| 1951 | -80.02 millimeters | -162.7% |
| 1952 | 134.04 millimeters | -267.5% |
| 1953 | 526.17 millimeters | +292.6% |
| 1954 | -415.57 millimeters | -179.0% |
| 1955 | 358.89 millimeters | -186.4% |
| 1956 | 253.86 millimeters | -29.3% |
| 1957 | 634.77 millimeters | +150.1% |
| 1958 | 549.8 millimeters | -13.4% |
| 1959 | 212.53 millimeters | -61.3% |
| 1960 | -62.13 millimeters | -129.2% |
| 1961 | 329.77 millimeters | -630.8% |
| 1962 | 237.32 millimeters | -28.0% |
| 1963 | 200.45 millimeters | -15.5% |
| 1964 | -57.19 millimeters | -128.5% |
| 1965 | -166.46 millimeters | +191.1% |
| 1966 | -61.14 millimeters | -63.3% |
| 1967 | -43.55 millimeters | -28.8% |
| 1968 | -42.6 millimeters | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 302.49 millimeters | -810.0% |
| 1970 | -15.65 millimeters | -105.2% |
| 1971 | 40.26 millimeters | -357.2% |
| 1972 | 37.13 millimeters | -7.8% |
| 1973 | -88.49 millimeters | -338.3% |
| 1974 | 184.24 millimeters | -308.2% |
| 1975 | -61.76 millimeters | -133.5% |
| 1976 | 182.26 millimeters | -395.1% |
| 1977 | 142.16 millimeters | -22.0% |
| 1978 | 467.38 millimeters | +228.8% |
| 1979 | 104.61 millimeters | -77.6% |
| 1980 | -47.53 millimeters | -145.4% |
| 1981 | -35.22 millimeters | -25.9% |
| 1982 | 46.01 millimeters | -230.6% |
| 1983 | -35.69 millimeters | -177.6% |
| 1984 | -1.86 millimeters | -94.8% |
| 1985 | 66.54 millimeters | -3669.1% |
| 1986 | 156.09 millimeters | +134.6% |
| 1987 | -144.1 millimeters | -192.3% |
| 1988 | -41.56 millimeters | -71.2% |
| 1989 | 139.11 millimeters | -434.8% |
| 1990 | -84.69 millimeters | -160.9% |
| 1991 | -28.91 millimeters | -65.9% |
| 1992 | -207.51 millimeters | +617.7% |
| 1993 | 98.76 millimeters | -147.6% |
| 1994 | -136.79 millimeters | -238.5% |
| 1995 | -187.23 millimeters | +36.9% |
| 1996 | -69.76 millimeters | -62.7% |
| 1997 | 73.49 millimeters | -205.4% |
| 1998 | -23.93 millimeters | -132.6% |
| 1999 | -70.31 millimeters | +193.8% |
| 2000 | 106.44 millimeters | -251.4% |
| 2001 | 65.65 millimeters | -38.3% |
| 2002 | -108.94 millimeters | -266.0% |
| 2003 | -56.54 millimeters | -48.1% |
| 2004 | 42.58 millimeters | -175.3% |
| 2005 | -233.34 millimeters | -648.0% |
| 2006 | 33.05 millimeters | -114.2% |
| 2007 | 83.63 millimeters | +153.1% |
| 2008 | 89.72 millimeters | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 63.34 millimeters | -29.4% |
| 2010 | 115.8 millimeters | +82.8% |
| 2011 | 36.5 millimeters | -68.5% |
| 2012 | 42.83 millimeters | +17.4% |
| 2013 | 5.89 millimeters | -86.2% |
| 2014 | -20.75 millimeters | -452.4% |
| 2015 | -57 millimeters | +174.6% |
| 2016 | 21.39 millimeters | -137.5% |
| 2017 | 175.68 millimeters | +721.1% |
| 2018 | 34.18 millimeters | -80.5% |
| 2019 | -76.78 millimeters | -324.6% |
| 2020 | 188.88 millimeters | -346.0% |
| 2021 | -36.01 millimeters | -119.1% |
| 2022 | 213.13 millimeters | -691.8% |
| 2023 | 32.8 millimeters | -84.6% |
| 2024 | -290.81 millimeters | -986.5% |
| 2025 | 33.96 millimeters | -111.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 33.96 millimeters is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -16.79 millimeters. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 33.96 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 Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +3669.1% | -1.86 millimeters | 66.54 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 69.87 millimeters | -120.16 millimeters | 349.68 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 230.21 millimeters | -415.57 millimeters | 634.77 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 63.69 millimeters | -166.46 millimeters | 329.77 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 99.21 millimeters | -88.49 millimeters | 467.38 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.18 millimeters | -144.1 millimeters | 156.09 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -63.69 millimeters | -207.51 millimeters | 98.76 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.56 millimeters | -233.34 millimeters | 106.44 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.77 millimeters | -76.78 millimeters | 175.68 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.66 millimeters | -290.81 millimeters | 213.13 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 58 Belize 45.34 millimeters compare
- 59 Isle of Man 44.78 millimeters compare
- 60 Lithuania 39.62 millimeters compare
- 62 South Korea 32.11 millimeters compare
- 63 Heard Island and McDonald Islands 29.5 millimeters compare
- 64 Belarus 29.39 millimeters compare
More climate change data for Zambia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 303.19 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,752 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 10.55 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 169.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,153 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,033 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 120.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.67 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Zambia?
- Precipitation anomalies in Zambia was 33.96 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 634.77 millimeters in 1957.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -415.57 millimeters in 1954.
- How does Zambia rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Zambia ranks 61st out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 159.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.