Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly was -3.13 Percentage change in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at -3.13 Percentage change.
The figure is down 426.6% on the previous year and down 227.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in United Kingdom peaked at 5.36 Percentage change in 2008 and was at its lowest, -11.13 Percentage change, in 1955.
That places United Kingdom 99th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Percentage change | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.3204 Percentage change | — |
| 1951 | -0.2055 Percentage change | -164.1% |
| 1952 | -2.87 Percentage change | +1296.6% |
| 1953 | 2.59 Percentage change | -190.3% |
| 1954 | 1.45 Percentage change | -44.0% |
| 1955 | -11.13 Percentage change | -867.0% |
| 1956 | -2.8 Percentage change | -74.8% |
| 1957 | -5.08 Percentage change | +81.3% |
| 1958 | 2.41 Percentage change | -147.4% |
| 1959 | -7.61 Percentage change | -415.7% |
| 1960 | -1.63 Percentage change | -78.6% |
| 1961 | -5.69 Percentage change | +249.0% |
| 1962 | -4.23 Percentage change | -25.6% |
| 1963 | -0.5228 Percentage change | -87.7% |
| 1964 | -5.45 Percentage change | +943.4% |
| 1965 | 0.0441 Percentage change | -100.8% |
| 1966 | 1.05 Percentage change | +2275.8% |
| 1967 | 1.33 Percentage change | +27.2% |
| 1968 | 1.93 Percentage change | +45.0% |
| 1969 | -1.43 Percentage change | -174.2% |
| 1970 | 0.4966 Percentage change | -134.7% |
| 1971 | 2.49 Percentage change | +401.9% |
| 1972 | 0.3531 Percentage change | -85.8% |
| 1973 | -0.1987 Percentage change | -156.3% |
| 1974 | -1.45 Percentage change | +628.3% |
| 1975 | -5.09 Percentage change | +251.9% |
| 1976 | -5.96 Percentage change | +16.9% |
| 1977 | -1.1 Percentage change | -81.5% |
| 1978 | -0.558 Percentage change | -49.5% |
| 1979 | 2.55 Percentage change | -556.6% |
| 1980 | 3.38 Percentage change | +32.5% |
| 1981 | 1.26 Percentage change | -62.8% |
| 1982 | -1.1 Percentage change | -187.8% |
| 1983 | -0.9565 Percentage change | -13.3% |
| 1984 | -5 Percentage change | +422.3% |
| 1985 | 3.31 Percentage change | -166.2% |
| 1986 | 1.46 Percentage change | -55.9% |
| 1987 | 1.74 Percentage change | +19.4% |
| 1988 | 2.73 Percentage change | +56.7% |
| 1989 | -3.81 Percentage change | -239.6% |
| 1990 | -4.86 Percentage change | +27.5% |
| 1991 | -2.46 Percentage change | -49.2% |
| 1992 | 2.4 Percentage change | -197.2% |
| 1993 | -1.19 Percentage change | -149.6% |
| 1994 | -0.2641 Percentage change | -77.8% |
| 1995 | -7.33 Percentage change | +2676.9% |
| 1996 | -1.21 Percentage change | -83.4% |
| 1997 | -2.19 Percentage change | +79.9% |
| 1998 | 2.74 Percentage change | -225.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2057 Percentage change | -92.5% |
| 2000 | 4.48 Percentage change | +2077.3% |
| 2001 | 1.28 Percentage change | -71.4% |
| 2002 | 1.59 Percentage change | +24.1% |
| 2003 | -1.34 Percentage change | -184.3% |
| 2004 | 1.04 Percentage change | -177.2% |
| 2005 | 2.02 Percentage change | +94.6% |
| 2006 | 1.58 Percentage change | -21.4% |
| 2007 | 1.89 Percentage change | +19.0% |
| 2008 | 5.36 Percentage change | +184.1% |
| 2009 | -1.81 Percentage change | -133.8% |
| 2010 | -1.53 Percentage change | -15.3% |
| 2011 | -3.81 Percentage change | +147.9% |
| 2012 | 3.58 Percentage change | -194.2% |
| 2013 | -0.644 Percentage change | -118.0% |
| 2014 | 1.08 Percentage change | -267.3% |
| 2015 | 2.45 Percentage change | +127.2% |
| 2016 | 1.4 Percentage change | -42.8% |
| 2017 | 3.52 Percentage change | +151.4% |
| 2018 | -3.85 Percentage change | -209.3% |
| 2019 | 0.6153 Percentage change | -116.0% |
| 2020 | -1.26 Percentage change | -304.1% |
| 2021 | -0.2492 Percentage change | -80.2% |
| 2022 | -0.1324 Percentage change | -46.9% |
| 2023 | 1.81 Percentage change | -1469.3% |
| 2024 | 0.9574 Percentage change | -47.2% |
| 2025 | -3.13 Percentage change | -426.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -3.13 Percentage change is below the median for high income countries, which is -1.98 Percentage change, 1.6× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -3.13 Percentage change is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1.76 Percentage change, 1.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -2676.9% | -0.2641 Percentage change | -7.33 Percentage change |
| 1966 | +2275.8% | 0.0441 Percentage change | 1.05 Percentage change |
| 2000 | +2077.3% | 0.2057 Percentage change | 4.48 Percentage change |
| 2023 | +1469.3% | -0.1324 Percentage change | 1.81 Percentage change |
| 1952 | -1296.6% | -0.2055 Percentage change | -2.87 Percentage change |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -2.29 Percentage change | -11.13 Percentage change | 2.59 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.46 Percentage change | -5.69 Percentage change | 1.93 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.8467 Percentage change | -5.96 Percentage change | 2.55 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3004 Percentage change | -5 Percentage change | 3.38 Percentage change | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.42 Percentage change | -7.33 Percentage change | 2.74 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.61 Percentage change | -1.81 Percentage change | 5.36 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2811 Percentage change | -3.85 Percentage change | 3.58 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3324 Percentage change | -3.13 Percentage change | 1.81 Percentage change | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 96 Antigua and Barbuda -3.03 Percentage change compare
- 97 Jersey -3.05 Percentage change compare
- 98 Venezuela -3.12 Percentage change compare
- 100 El Salvador -3.31 Percentage change compare
- 101 Uruguay -3.58 Percentage change compare
- 102 Mozambique -3.62 Percentage change compare
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -2.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.47 % 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 -0.8735 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in United Kingdom?
- Historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in United Kingdom was -3.13 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 5.36 Percentage change in 2008.
- What is the lowest historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -11.13 Percentage change in 1955.
- How does United Kingdom rank for historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly?
- United Kingdom ranks 99th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is historical exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 227.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
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