Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Malta
Malta: Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index was -1.5 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Malta, 1960–2023
Source: Global SPEI database (SPEIbase). https://spei.csic.es/database.html.
Analysis
The most recent figure for standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Malta is -1.5, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.9% on the previous year and down 99.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Malta peaked at 2.9 in 1976 and was at its lowest, -1.9, in 1961.
That places Malta 165th out of 189 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -1.36 | — |
| 1961 | -1.9 | +39.9% |
| 1962 | -0.0149 | -99.2% |
| 1963 | -0.7798 | +5133.6% |
| 1964 | 1.22 | -256.5% |
| 1965 | 0.9256 | -24.2% |
| 1966 | 0.3974 | -57.1% |
| 1967 | -0.8717 | -319.4% |
| 1968 | -1.09 | +25.1% |
| 1969 | 1.97 | -280.9% |
| 1970 | -0.8697 | -144.1% |
| 1971 | 1.08 | -224.0% |
| 1972 | 1.59 | +47.8% |
| 1973 | 1.78 | +11.5% |
| 1974 | -1.55 | -187.4% |
| 1975 | 1.05 | -167.8% |
| 1976 | 2.9 | +175.2% |
| 1977 | -1.59 | -154.7% |
| 1978 | -0.0673 | -95.8% |
| 1979 | 1.3 | -2036.6% |
| 1980 | 0.1141 | -91.2% |
| 1981 | -1.83 | -1706.7% |
| 1982 | 1.93 | -205.2% |
| 1983 | -0.1637 | -108.5% |
| 1984 | 1.41 | -960.7% |
| 1985 | -0.3598 | -125.5% |
| 1986 | 1.54 | -527.1% |
| 1987 | -1.8 | -217.2% |
| 1988 | 0.6652 | -136.9% |
| 1989 | -0.4328 | -165.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0587 | -113.6% |
| 1991 | 0.5139 | +775.5% |
| 1992 | 0.3597 | -30.0% |
| 1993 | -1.1 | -405.3% |
| 1994 | -1.59 | +44.4% |
| 1995 | 0.3688 | -123.2% |
| 1996 | 0.2357 | -36.1% |
| 1997 | -0.4655 | -297.5% |
| 1998 | -1.28 | +174.5% |
| 1999 | -1.15 | -10.3% |
| 2000 | -1.42 | +24.1% |
| 2001 | -1.59 | +11.7% |
| 2002 | -0.629 | -60.4% |
| 2003 | -0.333 | -47.1% |
| 2004 | -0.6823 | +104.9% |
| 2005 | -0.1663 | -75.6% |
| 2006 | -0.916 | +450.8% |
| 2007 | -0.6033 | -34.1% |
| 2008 | -0.835 | +38.4% |
| 2009 | -0.1832 | -78.1% |
| 2010 | -0.4141 | +126.0% |
| 2011 | -0.6509 | +57.2% |
| 2012 | -1.43 | +120.3% |
| 2013 | -0.7537 | -47.4% |
| 2014 | -0.8347 | +10.7% |
| 2015 | -0.8529 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | -1.15 | +34.3% |
| 2017 | -1.31 | +14.0% |
| 2018 | -0.163 | -87.5% |
| 2019 | -0.596 | +265.6% |
| 2020 | -0.9134 | +53.3% |
| 2021 | -1.01 | +11.0% |
| 2022 | -1.74 | +72.0% |
| 2023 | -1.5 | -13.9% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's -1.5 is below the median for high income countries, which is -0.3666, 4.1× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Malta's -1.5 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -1.51, 99% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Malta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | -5133.6% | -0.0149 | -0.7798 |
| 1979 | +2036.6% | -0.0673 | 1.3 |
| 1981 | -1706.7% | 0.1141 | -1.83 |
| 1984 | +960.7% | -0.1637 | 1.41 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.1507 | -1.9 | 1.97 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5628 | -1.59 | 2.9 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1062 | -1.83 | 1.93 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.4038 | -1.59 | 0.5139 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.7361 | -1.59 | -0.1663 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.815 | -1.43 | -0.163 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.29 | -1.74 | -0.9134 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More environment data for Malta
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.365 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.16 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8269 % 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 % 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 standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Malta?
- Standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Malta was -1.5 in 2023, according to Global SPEI database (SPEIbase). https://spei.csic.es/database.html.
- What is the highest standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9 in 1976.
- What is the lowest standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.9 in 1961.
- How does Malta rank for standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index?
- Malta ranks 165th out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from Global SPEI database (SPEIbase). https://spei.csic.es/database.html, published as part of Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The SPEI fulfills the requirements of a drought index since its multi-scalar character enables it to be used by different scientific disciplines to detect, monitor, and analyze droughts. Like the sc-PDSI and the SPI, the SPEI can measure drought severity according to its intensity and duration, and can identify the onset and end of drought episodes. The SPEI allows comparison of drought severity through time and space, since it can be calculated over a wide range of climates, as can the SPI.