Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly was 5.24 Percentage change in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka, 1950–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage change.
Analysis
In 2025, historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka stood at 5.24 Percentage change.
The figure is up 82.6% on the previous year and down 56.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka peaked at 13.16 Percentage change in 1955 and was at its lowest, -16.09 Percentage change, in 1950.
That places Sri Lanka 12th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Percentage change | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | -16.09 Percentage change | — |
| 1951 | -6.4 Percentage change | -60.2% |
| 1952 | -15.86 Percentage change | +147.7% |
| 1953 | -4.99 Percentage change | -68.6% |
| 1954 | 3.77 Percentage change | -175.7% |
| 1955 | 13.16 Percentage change | +248.6% |
| 1956 | 2.83 Percentage change | -78.5% |
| 1957 | -0.6642 Percentage change | -123.5% |
| 1958 | 1.13 Percentage change | -269.8% |
| 1959 | -5.78 Percentage change | -612.1% |
| 1960 | 3.87 Percentage change | -167.0% |
| 1961 | 3.83 Percentage change | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 9.62 Percentage change | +151.6% |
| 1963 | 9.94 Percentage change | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 8.73 Percentage change | -12.2% |
| 1965 | 8.78 Percentage change | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 10.06 Percentage change | +14.6% |
| 1967 | 8.44 Percentage change | -16.1% |
| 1968 | 2.23 Percentage change | -73.6% |
| 1969 | -0.0095 Percentage change | -100.4% |
| 1970 | 4.46 Percentage change | -47207.5% |
| 1971 | 2.38 Percentage change | -46.5% |
| 1972 | -1.19 Percentage change | -150.1% |
| 1973 | -2.99 Percentage change | +150.1% |
| 1974 | -6.74 Percentage change | +125.6% |
| 1975 | 4.43 Percentage change | -165.7% |
| 1976 | -4.71 Percentage change | -206.4% |
| 1977 | -1.39 Percentage change | -70.6% |
| 1978 | -0.5274 Percentage change | -62.0% |
| 1979 | -5.02 Percentage change | +851.4% |
| 1980 | -2.21 Percentage change | -56.0% |
| 1981 | 0.034 Percentage change | -101.5% |
| 1982 | -7.84 Percentage change | -23194.9% |
| 1983 | -9.76 Percentage change | +24.4% |
| 1984 | 10.45 Percentage change | -207.2% |
| 1985 | 5.76 Percentage change | -44.9% |
| 1986 | 0.0139 Percentage change | -99.8% |
| 1987 | 2.75 Percentage change | +19645.5% |
| 1988 | -2.88 Percentage change | -204.8% |
| 1989 | -5.5 Percentage change | +90.9% |
| 1990 | -3.76 Percentage change | -31.6% |
| 1991 | -0.1719 Percentage change | -95.4% |
| 1992 | -5.55 Percentage change | +3127.0% |
| 1993 | -1.24 Percentage change | -77.6% |
| 1994 | 5.78 Percentage change | -565.3% |
| 1995 | 0.4161 Percentage change | -92.8% |
| 1996 | -2.37 Percentage change | -668.8% |
| 1997 | -4.15 Percentage change | +75.5% |
| 1998 | -8.23 Percentage change | +98.1% |
| 1999 | 2.73 Percentage change | -133.2% |
| 2000 | 1.97 Percentage change | -27.9% |
| 2001 | 2.9 Percentage change | +47.4% |
| 2002 | 4.5 Percentage change | +54.8% |
| 2003 | 3.41 Percentage change | -24.2% |
| 2004 | 0.2263 Percentage change | -93.4% |
| 2005 | -3.34 Percentage change | -1574.0% |
| 2006 | -0.7013 Percentage change | -79.0% |
| 2007 | 0.9543 Percentage change | -236.1% |
| 2008 | 5.81 Percentage change | +508.6% |
| 2009 | -1.7 Percentage change | -129.3% |
| 2010 | 9.48 Percentage change | -657.5% |
| 2011 | 6.97 Percentage change | -26.4% |
| 2012 | -3.87 Percentage change | -155.5% |
| 2013 | 2.86 Percentage change | -173.9% |
| 2014 | 0.4897 Percentage change | -82.9% |
| 2015 | 12.05 Percentage change | +2360.7% |
| 2016 | -0.8245 Percentage change | -106.8% |
| 2017 | 3.85 Percentage change | -567.3% |
| 2018 | 8.9 Percentage change | +130.9% |
| 2019 | -2.76 Percentage change | -131.1% |
| 2020 | -5.5 Percentage change | +99.2% |
| 2021 | 6.81 Percentage change | -223.7% |
| 2022 | 6.63 Percentage change | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 10.37 Percentage change | +56.5% |
| 2024 | 2.87 Percentage change | -72.4% |
| 2025 | 5.24 Percentage change | +82.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.24 Percentage change is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -3.73 Percentage change. (46 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.24 Percentage change is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.73 Percentage change, 1.9× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +47207.5% | -0.0095 Percentage change | 4.46 Percentage change |
| 1982 | -23194.9% | 0.034 Percentage change | -7.84 Percentage change |
| 1987 | +19645.5% | 0.0139 Percentage change | 2.75 Percentage change |
| 1992 | -3127.0% | -0.1719 Percentage change | -5.55 Percentage change |
| 2015 | +2360.7% | 0.4897 Percentage change | 12.05 Percentage change |
| 2005 | -1574.0% | 0.2263 Percentage change | -3.34 Percentage change |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -2.89 Percentage change | -16.09 Percentage change | 13.16 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.55 Percentage change | -0.0095 Percentage change | 10.06 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.13 Percentage change | -6.74 Percentage change | 4.46 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.9176 Percentage change | -9.76 Percentage change | 10.45 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.65 Percentage change | -8.23 Percentage change | 5.78 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4 Percentage change | -3.34 Percentage change | 5.81 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.71 Percentage change | -3.87 Percentage change | 12.05 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4 Percentage change | -5.5 Percentage change | 10.37 Percentage change | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 9 Botswana 6.04 Percentage change compare
- 10 Panama 5.66 Percentage change compare
- 11 Fiji 0.6759 Percentage change compare
- 11 South Africa 5.46 Percentage change compare
- 13 Niger 4.49 Percentage change compare
- 14 Svalbard and Jan Mayen 4.16 Percentage change compare
- 15 Holy See 4.1 Percentage change compare
More environment data for Sri Lanka
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 5.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.207 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.849 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka?
- Historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in Sri Lanka was 5.24 Percentage change in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 13.16 Percentage change in 1955.
- What is the lowest historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.09 Percentage change in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly?
- Sri Lanka ranks 12th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical exposure to drought — Land 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