Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change was 9.13 Millimetres per year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Western Sahara, 1979–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Millimetres per year.
Analysis
Western Sahara recorded 9.13 Millimetres per year for exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in 2023.
The figure is up 598.7% on the previous year and up 107.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Western Sahara peaked at 55.84 Millimetres per year in 2015 and was at its lowest, -26.68 Millimetres per year, in 2001.
That places Western Sahara 100th out of 222 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | Millimetres per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 22.11 Millimetres per year | — |
| 1980 | 12.52 Millimetres per year | -43.4% |
| 1981 | -3.96 Millimetres per year | -131.6% |
| 1982 | -20.46 Millimetres per year | +417.0% |
| 1983 | -14.01 Millimetres per year | -31.5% |
| 1984 | -15.82 Millimetres per year | +12.9% |
| 1985 | -15.43 Millimetres per year | -2.5% |
| 1986 | -7.82 Millimetres per year | -49.3% |
| 1987 | 17.65 Millimetres per year | -325.7% |
| 1988 | 16.28 Millimetres per year | -7.8% |
| 1989 | 7.75 Millimetres per year | -52.4% |
| 1990 | 0.4771 Millimetres per year | -93.8% |
| 1991 | 37.32 Millimetres per year | +7724.0% |
| 1992 | -18.28 Millimetres per year | -149.0% |
| 1993 | 0.6708 Millimetres per year | -103.7% |
| 1994 | -13.29 Millimetres per year | -2080.8% |
| 1995 | -5 Millimetres per year | -62.4% |
| 1996 | 4.28 Millimetres per year | -185.6% |
| 1997 | -10.32 Millimetres per year | -341.2% |
| 1998 | 18.96 Millimetres per year | -283.7% |
| 1999 | 14.86 Millimetres per year | -21.6% |
| 2000 | -9.93 Millimetres per year | -166.8% |
| 2001 | -26.68 Millimetres per year | +168.8% |
| 2002 | -12.22 Millimetres per year | -54.2% |
| 2003 | 26.98 Millimetres per year | -320.8% |
| 2004 | -4.52 Millimetres per year | -116.8% |
| 2005 | 21.59 Millimetres per year | -577.4% |
| 2006 | 7.25 Millimetres per year | -66.4% |
| 2007 | -11.64 Millimetres per year | -260.5% |
| 2008 | -8.23 Millimetres per year | -29.3% |
| 2009 | -3.07 Millimetres per year | -62.7% |
| 2010 | 26.61 Millimetres per year | -967.7% |
| 2011 | -12.64 Millimetres per year | -147.5% |
| 2012 | 32.68 Millimetres per year | -358.6% |
| 2013 | 4.41 Millimetres per year | -86.5% |
| 2014 | 12.33 Millimetres per year | +179.6% |
| 2015 | 55.84 Millimetres per year | +352.9% |
| 2016 | 19.42 Millimetres per year | -65.2% |
| 2017 | -19.4 Millimetres per year | -199.9% |
| 2018 | 20.22 Millimetres per year | -204.2% |
| 2019 | -17.64 Millimetres per year | -187.2% |
| 2020 | -19.32 Millimetres per year | +9.5% |
| 2021 | -16.57 Millimetres per year | -14.2% |
| 2022 | -1.83 Millimetres per year | -88.9% |
| 2023 | 9.13 Millimetres per year | -598.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change in Western Sahara 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +7724.0% | 0.4771 Millimetres per year | 37.32 Millimetres per year |
| 1994 | -2080.8% | 0.6708 Millimetres per year | -13.29 Millimetres per year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.11 Millimetres per year | 22.11 Millimetres per year | 22.11 Millimetres per year | 1 |
| 1980s | -2.33 Millimetres per year | -20.46 Millimetres per year | 17.65 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.97 Millimetres per year | -18.28 Millimetres per year | 37.32 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.05 Millimetres per year | -26.68 Millimetres per year | 26.98 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.18 Millimetres per year | -19.4 Millimetres per year | 55.84 Millimetres per year | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.15 Millimetres per year | -19.32 Millimetres per year | 9.13 Millimetres per year | 4 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More reference data data for Western Sahara
- Free country 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 7 (2025)
- Area of permanent meadows and pastures 5.00 million hectares (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. Human Development Index 2.16 live births per woman (2023)
- Average age of mothers at childbirth 29.99 years (2023)
- Exposure to extreme temperature — Annual temperature change 1.35 Degrees celsius (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Western Sahara?
- Exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change in Western Sahara was 9.13 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 Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 55.84 Millimetres per year in 2015.
- What is the lowest exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was -26.68 Millimetres per year in 2001.
- How does Western Sahara rank for exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change?
- Western Sahara ranks 100th out of 222 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exposure to extreme precipitation — annual precipitation change rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 107.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Western Sahara 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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About this data
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