Precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Precipitation anomalies was 206 millimeters in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
206 millimeters
Change on year
up 166.1%
World rank
25th
of 192 countries
All-time high
539.67 millimeters
in 1948
All-time low
-437.1 millimeters
in 1965
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe stood at 206 millimeters.
That represents a change of up 166.1% on the previous year and up 207.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe peaked at 539.67 millimeters in 1948 and was at its lowest, -437.1 millimeters, in 1965.
Zimbabwe ranks 25th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -104.33 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | -183.37 millimeters | +75.8% |
| 1942 | 14.02 millimeters | -107.6% |
| 1943 | 92.57 millimeters | +560.1% |
| 1944 | 106.54 millimeters | +15.1% |
| 1945 | 8.34 millimeters | -92.2% |
| 1946 | 356.69 millimeters | +4174.9% |
| 1947 | 175.68 millimeters | -50.7% |
| 1948 | 539.67 millimeters | +207.2% |
| 1949 | 152.78 millimeters | -71.7% |
| 1950 | -21.23 millimeters | -113.9% |
| 1951 | -294.55 millimeters | +1287.6% |
| 1952 | 120.6 millimeters | -140.9% |
| 1953 | 283.17 millimeters | +134.8% |
| 1954 | -289.05 millimeters | -202.1% |
| 1955 | 344.31 millimeters | -219.1% |
| 1956 | 150.55 millimeters | -56.3% |
| 1957 | 88.43 millimeters | -41.3% |
| 1958 | 526.57 millimeters | +495.5% |
| 1959 | -97.47 millimeters | -118.5% |
| 1960 | -212.13 millimeters | +117.6% |
| 1961 | -73.36 millimeters | -65.4% |
| 1962 | 199.22 millimeters | -371.6% |
| 1963 | -31.95 millimeters | -116.0% |
| 1964 | -149.97 millimeters | +369.3% |
| 1965 | -437.1 millimeters | +191.5% |
| 1966 | -46.71 millimeters | -89.3% |
| 1967 | -155.36 millimeters | +232.6% |
| 1968 | -116.34 millimeters | -25.1% |
| 1969 | 181.86 millimeters | -256.3% |
| 1970 | -234.64 millimeters | -229.0% |
| 1971 | -127.17 millimeters | -45.8% |
| 1972 | -26.69 millimeters | -79.0% |
| 1973 | -24.5 millimeters | -8.2% |
| 1974 | 144.25 millimeters | -688.8% |
| 1975 | -5.47 millimeters | -103.8% |
| 1976 | 67.02 millimeters | -1325.5% |
| 1977 | 222.61 millimeters | +232.2% |
| 1978 | 281.34 millimeters | +26.4% |
| 1979 | -132.1 millimeters | -147.0% |
| 1980 | -42.47 millimeters | -67.9% |
| 1981 | 125.89 millimeters | -396.4% |
| 1982 | -200.37 millimeters | -259.2% |
| 1983 | -171.09 millimeters | -14.6% |
| 1984 | -50.38 millimeters | -70.6% |
| 1985 | 91.98 millimeters | -282.6% |
| 1986 | 41.19 millimeters | -55.2% |
| 1987 | -216.5 millimeters | -625.6% |
| 1988 | 11.76 millimeters | -105.4% |
| 1989 | 13.82 millimeters | +17.5% |
| 1990 | -88.09 millimeters | -737.6% |
| 1991 | -133.51 millimeters | +51.6% |
| 1992 | -204.07 millimeters | +52.8% |
| 1993 | 8.91 millimeters | -104.4% |
| 1994 | -218.77 millimeters | -2556.6% |
| 1995 | -186.37 millimeters | -14.8% |
| 1996 | 147.17 millimeters | -179.0% |
| 1997 | 140.18 millimeters | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 49.41 millimeters | -64.8% |
| 1999 | 33.56 millimeters | -32.1% |
| 2000 | 336.27 millimeters | +902.0% |
| 2001 | 183.14 millimeters | -45.5% |
| 2002 | -308.08 millimeters | -268.2% |
| 2003 | 2.48 millimeters | -100.8% |
| 2004 | 65.24 millimeters | +2527.3% |
| 2005 | -140.18 millimeters | -314.9% |
| 2006 | 28.65 millimeters | -120.4% |
| 2007 | 136.1 millimeters | +375.0% |
| 2008 | 4.05 millimeters | -97.0% |
| 2009 | -11.59 millimeters | -386.1% |
| 2010 | 67.43 millimeters | -681.9% |
| 2011 | -24.57 millimeters | -136.4% |
| 2012 | -129.2 millimeters | +425.9% |
| 2013 | 57.96 millimeters | -144.9% |
| 2014 | 150.38 millimeters | +159.5% |
| 2015 | -191.47 millimeters | -227.3% |
| 2016 | -19.92 millimeters | -89.6% |
| 2017 | 242.18 millimeters | -1315.6% |
| 2018 | -40.82 millimeters | -116.9% |
| 2019 | -125.21 millimeters | +206.7% |
| 2020 | 80.62 millimeters | -164.4% |
| 2021 | 55.46 millimeters | -31.2% |
| 2022 | 40.83 millimeters | -26.4% |
| 2023 | 43.33 millimeters | +6.1% |
| 2024 | -311.79 millimeters | -819.6% |
| 2025 | 206 millimeters | -166.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 206 millimeters is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -16.79 millimeters. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 206 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 Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +4174.9% | 8.34 millimeters | 356.69 millimeters |
| 1994 | -2556.6% | 8.91 millimeters | -218.77 millimeters |
| 2004 | +2527.3% | 2.48 millimeters | 65.24 millimeters |
| 1976 | +1325.5% | -5.47 millimeters | 67.02 millimeters |
| 2017 | +1315.6% | -19.92 millimeters | 242.18 millimeters |
| 1951 | -1287.6% | -21.23 millimeters | -294.55 millimeters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 115.86 millimeters | -183.37 millimeters | 539.67 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 81.13 millimeters | -294.55 millimeters | 526.57 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | -84.18 millimeters | -437.1 millimeters | 199.22 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.47 millimeters | -234.64 millimeters | 281.34 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | -39.62 millimeters | -216.5 millimeters | 125.89 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | -45.16 millimeters | -218.77 millimeters | 147.17 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.61 millimeters | -308.08 millimeters | 336.27 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.32 millimeters | -191.47 millimeters | 242.18 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.08 millimeters | -311.79 millimeters | 206 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More climate change data for Zimbabwe
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 178.46 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,716 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,805 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 11,912 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 21.9 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 425.42 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,483 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,345 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 137.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 5.08 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe?
- Precipitation anomalies in Zimbabwe was 206 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 539.67 millimeters in 1948.
- What is the lowest precipitation anomalies recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was -437.1 millimeters in 1965.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for precipitation anomalies?
- Zimbabwe ranks 25th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is precipitation anomalies rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 207.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.