Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly was 7.61 Percentage change in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa, 1950–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage change.
Analysis
The most recent figure for historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa is 7.61 Percentage change, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 145.3% on the previous year and up 212.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa peaked at 17.19 Percentage change in 2001 and was at its lowest, -34.98 Percentage change, in 1951.
Southern Africa ranks 2nd of 72 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Percentage change | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.22 Percentage change | — |
| 1951 | -34.98 Percentage change | -1187.2% |
| 1952 | -30.72 Percentage change | -12.2% |
| 1953 | -25.96 Percentage change | -15.5% |
| 1954 | -17.79 Percentage change | -31.5% |
| 1955 | 8.83 Percentage change | -149.7% |
| 1956 | -8.53 Percentage change | -196.6% |
| 1957 | 14.57 Percentage change | -270.8% |
| 1958 | 1.42 Percentage change | -90.3% |
| 1959 | -5.69 Percentage change | -500.9% |
| 1960 | -11.85 Percentage change | +108.3% |
| 1961 | 1.44 Percentage change | -112.2% |
| 1962 | 0.3484 Percentage change | -75.8% |
| 1963 | 3.48 Percentage change | +898.1% |
| 1964 | -9.32 Percentage change | -368.1% |
| 1965 | -11.59 Percentage change | +24.3% |
| 1966 | -15.7 Percentage change | +35.5% |
| 1967 | 5.55 Percentage change | -135.4% |
| 1968 | -7.16 Percentage change | -228.9% |
| 1969 | 1.92 Percentage change | -126.9% |
| 1970 | -6.03 Percentage change | -413.6% |
| 1971 | 1.21 Percentage change | -120.1% |
| 1972 | -0.1549 Percentage change | -112.8% |
| 1973 | -0.703 Percentage change | +353.9% |
| 1974 | 12.51 Percentage change | -1879.1% |
| 1975 | 2.94 Percentage change | -76.5% |
| 1976 | 15.65 Percentage change | +431.5% |
| 1977 | 12.46 Percentage change | -20.4% |
| 1978 | 3.99 Percentage change | -68.0% |
| 1979 | -2.77 Percentage change | -169.4% |
| 1980 | -9.96 Percentage change | +259.9% |
| 1981 | 3.87 Percentage change | -138.9% |
| 1982 | -4.12 Percentage change | -206.3% |
| 1983 | -12.04 Percentage change | +192.5% |
| 1984 | 5.21 Percentage change | -143.3% |
| 1985 | -5.74 Percentage change | -210.2% |
| 1986 | 4.88 Percentage change | -185.0% |
| 1987 | 3.68 Percentage change | -24.6% |
| 1988 | 5.53 Percentage change | +50.4% |
| 1989 | 8.6 Percentage change | +55.4% |
| 1990 | 0.0845 Percentage change | -99.0% |
| 1991 | -4 Percentage change | -4829.0% |
| 1992 | -14.7 Percentage change | +267.7% |
| 1993 | -6.74 Percentage change | -54.1% |
| 1994 | -4.45 Percentage change | -34.0% |
| 1995 | 0.4975 Percentage change | -111.2% |
| 1996 | 3.72 Percentage change | +648.5% |
| 1997 | 12.76 Percentage change | +242.6% |
| 1998 | -0.5176 Percentage change | -104.1% |
| 1999 | -2.15 Percentage change | +315.4% |
| 2000 | 14.5 Percentage change | -774.3% |
| 2001 | 17.19 Percentage change | +18.5% |
| 2002 | -0.032 Percentage change | -100.2% |
| 2003 | -14.85 Percentage change | +46362.8% |
| 2004 | -4.07 Percentage change | -72.6% |
| 2005 | -1.67 Percentage change | -59.0% |
| 2006 | 9.89 Percentage change | -692.8% |
| 2007 | -1.3 Percentage change | -113.1% |
| 2008 | -10.6 Percentage change | +717.5% |
| 2009 | 0.4446 Percentage change | -104.2% |
| 2010 | -3.89 Percentage change | -975.9% |
| 2011 | 6.96 Percentage change | -278.7% |
| 2012 | -2.52 Percentage change | -136.2% |
| 2013 | -6.89 Percentage change | +173.5% |
| 2014 | -4.24 Percentage change | -38.5% |
| 2015 | -6.78 Percentage change | +60.0% |
| 2016 | -17.05 Percentage change | +151.4% |
| 2017 | -9.85 Percentage change | -42.2% |
| 2018 | -7.56 Percentage change | -23.2% |
| 2019 | -19.23 Percentage change | +154.3% |
| 2020 | -2.93 Percentage change | -84.8% |
| 2021 | 6.55 Percentage change | -323.7% |
| 2022 | 3.64 Percentage change | -44.5% |
| 2023 | 0.1526 Percentage change | -95.8% |
| 2024 | -16.78 Percentage change | -11098.3% |
| 2025 | 7.61 Percentage change | -145.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -9.56 Percentage change | -34.98 Percentage change | 14.57 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1960s | -4.29 Percentage change | -15.7 Percentage change | 5.55 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.91 Percentage change | -6.03 Percentage change | 15.65 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.009 Percentage change | -12.04 Percentage change | 8.6 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.55 Percentage change | -14.7 Percentage change | 12.76 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9509 Percentage change | -14.85 Percentage change | 17.19 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2010s | -7.11 Percentage change | -19.23 Percentage change | 6.96 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2937 Percentage change | -16.78 Percentage change | 7.61 Percentage change | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 1 India 12.52 Percentage change compare
- 2 Northern Mariana Islands 10.19 Percentage change compare
- 3 Mauritius 9.84 Percentage change compare
- 4 South Africa 8.52 Percentage change compare
- 5 New Caledonia 8.33 Percentage change compare
More environment data for Southern Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 4.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 0.892 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.282 °C (2025)
- Industrial roundwood — Export quantity 427,327 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 9.63 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import value 35,013 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import quantity 161,260 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 17.26 million m3 (2024)
- Wood fuel — Production 18.57 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa?
- Historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly in Southern Africa was 7.61 Percentage change in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.19 Percentage change in 2001.
- What is the lowest historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -34.98 Percentage change in 1951.
- How does Southern Africa rank for historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly?
- Southern Africa ranks 2nd out of 72 groups with data for 2025.
- Is historical exposure to drought — cropland soil moisture anomaly rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 212.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The dataset provides annual anomalies in land and cropland soil moisture content of the top soil layer (0 to 7 cm) compared to the reference period 1981-2010. Exposure indicators to drought have been prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Please see the working paper for a more complete description of the methods. The datasets span the period 1981-2024 and is the result of the use of a variety of geospatial data sources, including the ERA5-Land averaged monthly data of volumetric soil moisture and ESA CCI land cover data. Average anomalies have been calculated for both land and cropland exposure to drought. 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 Change Initiative land cover data and Copernicus Climate Data Store monthly soil moisture data based on the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset. Contact: ENV.Stat@oecd.org