Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in New Zealand

New Zealand: Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change was 75.52 Millimetres per year in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
75.52 Millimetres per year
Change on year
down 45.3%
World rank
66th
of 222 countries
All-time high
192.02 Millimetres per year
in 1995
All-time low
-219.87 Millimetres per year
in 2005
Years of data
45
1979–2023

Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in New Zealand, 1979–2023

-200-10001002001979200120231979: 183.8 Millimetres per year1980: 137.3 Millimetres per year1981: -14.3 Millimetres per year1982: -28.2 Millimetres per year1983: 108 Millimetres per year1984: 21.6 Millimetres per year1985: -54.3 Millimetres per year1986: 39 Millimetres per year1987: 41.1 Millimetres per year1988: 167.6 Millimetres per year1989: 6.2 Millimetres per year1990: -11.5 Millimetres per year1991: -6.3 Millimetres per year1992: -85.7 Millimetres per year1993: -116.4 Millimetres per year1994: 55 Millimetres per year1995: 192 Millimetres per year1996: 73.8 Millimetres per year1997: -52.4 Millimetres per year1998: 135.9 Millimetres per year1999: -105.4 Millimetres per year2000: -1.7 Millimetres per year2001: -78 Millimetres per year2002: 1.7 Millimetres per year2003: -89.9 Millimetres per year2004: 179.1 Millimetres per year2005: -219.9 Millimetres per year2006: 63.9 Millimetres per year2007: -179.3 Millimetres per year2008: -44.1 Millimetres per year2009: -68.4 Millimetres per year2010: 70.7 Millimetres per year2011: 54.2 Millimetres per year2012: -31.4 Millimetres per year2013: -12.5 Millimetres per year2014: -23.1 Millimetres per year2015: -99.4 Millimetres per year2016: 114.9 Millimetres per year2017: -6.7 Millimetres per year2018: 155.2 Millimetres per year2019: 46.4 Millimetres per year2020: -126.6 Millimetres per year2021: 97.9 Millimetres per year2022: 138.2 Millimetres per year2023: 75.5 Millimetres per year

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Millimetres per year.

Analysis

In 2023, exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in New Zealand stood at 75.52 Millimetres per year.

The figure is down 45.3% on the previous year and up 704.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in New Zealand peaked at 192.02 Millimetres per year in 1995 and was at its lowest, -219.87 Millimetres per year, in 2005.

New Zealand ranks 66th of 222 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.

Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in New Zealand, 1979 to 2023.
Year Millimetres per year Change
1979 183.8 Millimetres per year
1980 137.28 Millimetres per year -25.3%
1981 -14.29 Millimetres per year -110.4%
1982 -28.17 Millimetres per year +97.1%
1983 108.01 Millimetres per year -483.4%
1984 21.56 Millimetres per year -80.0%
1985 -54.33 Millimetres per year -352.0%
1986 39.04 Millimetres per year -171.9%
1987 41.09 Millimetres per year +5.2%
1988 167.62 Millimetres per year +308.0%
1989 6.22 Millimetres per year -96.3%
1990 -11.46 Millimetres per year -284.2%
1991 -6.32 Millimetres per year -44.9%
1992 -85.71 Millimetres per year +1256.2%
1993 -116.38 Millimetres per year +35.8%
1994 54.95 Millimetres per year -147.2%
1995 192.02 Millimetres per year +249.4%
1996 73.84 Millimetres per year -61.5%
1997 -52.45 Millimetres per year -171.0%
1998 135.88 Millimetres per year -359.1%
1999 -105.38 Millimetres per year -177.6%
2000 -1.66 Millimetres per year -98.4%
2001 -78 Millimetres per year +4602.6%
2002 1.72 Millimetres per year -102.2%
2003 -89.87 Millimetres per year -5317.0%
2004 179.15 Millimetres per year -299.3%
2005 -219.87 Millimetres per year -222.7%
2006 63.87 Millimetres per year -129.1%
2007 -179.27 Millimetres per year -380.7%
2008 -44.15 Millimetres per year -75.4%
2009 -68.36 Millimetres per year +54.8%
2010 70.69 Millimetres per year -203.4%
2011 54.2 Millimetres per year -23.3%
2012 -31.36 Millimetres per year -157.8%
2013 -12.49 Millimetres per year -60.2%
2014 -23.12 Millimetres per year +85.1%
2015 -99.4 Millimetres per year +330.0%
2016 114.94 Millimetres per year -215.6%
2017 -6.72 Millimetres per year -105.8%
2018 155.18 Millimetres per year -2410.2%
2019 46.42 Millimetres per year -70.1%
2020 -126.64 Millimetres per year -372.8%
2021 97.91 Millimetres per year -177.3%
2022 138.18 Millimetres per year +41.1%
2023 75.52 Millimetres per year -45.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 183.8 Millimetres per year 183.8 Millimetres per year 183.8 Millimetres per year 1
1980s 42.4 Millimetres per year -54.33 Millimetres per year 167.62 Millimetres per year 10
1990s 7.9 Millimetres per year -116.38 Millimetres per year 192.02 Millimetres per year 10
2000s -43.64 Millimetres per year -219.87 Millimetres per year 179.15 Millimetres per year 10
2010s 26.83 Millimetres per year -99.4 Millimetres per year 155.18 Millimetres per year 10
2020s 46.24 Millimetres per year -126.64 Millimetres per year 138.18 Millimetres per year 4

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 63 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 88.51 Millimetres per year compare
  2. 64 Czechia 85.88 Millimetres per year compare
  3. 65 Sweden 81.43 Millimetres per year compare
  4. 67 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 74.98 Millimetres per year compare
  5. 68 Zimbabwe 67.32 Millimetres per year compare
  6. 69 Montserrat 65.26 Millimetres per year compare

See the full ranking of 979 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in New Zealand?
Exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in New Zealand was 75.52 Millimetres per year in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 192.02 Millimetres per year in 1995.
What is the lowest exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was -219.87 Millimetres per year in 2005.
How does New Zealand rank for exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change?
New Zealand ranks 66th out of 222 countries with data for 2023.
Is exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 704.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/exposure-to-extreme-precipitation-annual-precipitation-change/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change
Unit
Millimetres per year
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
979 places, 44,055 data points, 1979–2023
Last refreshed

The dataset provides a global assessment of changes in average precipitation by providing the precipitation anomaly and provides a global assessment of extreme precipitation through the use of two precipitation indices, i.e. very heavy precipitation days and frequency of extreme precipitation events. Exposure indicators to extreme precipitation have been prepared jointly by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Please see the working paper for a more complete description of the methods. The datasets span the period 1979-2022, depending on data availability and are the result of the use of a variety of geospatial data sources as referenced in the Working Paper. The dataset has a global coverage on a national level; on the sub-national TL2 level (i.e. large subnational regions) results are reported for all OECD countries as well as for Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. A number of aggregates are included: Euro area, European Union, Advanced economies, Emerging market economies, G7, G20, OECD, OECD Europe, OECD Asia Oceania, OECD Americas and the LAC region. Data source(s): Copernicus Climate Data Store precipitation data (ERA5) and Copernicus Climate Change Initiative land cover data. Contact: ENV.Stat@oecd.org Database documentation