Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Switzerland
Switzerland: Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index was -0.165 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Switzerland, 1960–2023
Source: Global SPEI database (SPEIbase). https://spei.csic.es/database.html.
Analysis
In 2023, standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Switzerland stood at -0.165.
The figure is up 90.9% on the previous year and down 141.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Switzerland peaked at 2.17 in 1965 and was at its lowest, -2.05, in 2003.
Switzerland ranks 84th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.31 | — |
| 1961 | -0.8717 | -166.3% |
| 1962 | -0.9642 | +10.6% |
| 1963 | 0.3896 | -140.4% |
| 1964 | -1.06 | -372.9% |
| 1965 | 2.17 | -304.5% |
| 1966 | 1.14 | -47.5% |
| 1967 | -0.4926 | -143.2% |
| 1968 | 1.19 | -342.0% |
| 1969 | -0.3574 | -130.0% |
| 1970 | 1.25 | -449.5% |
| 1971 | -1.36 | -208.9% |
| 1972 | -0.6722 | -50.6% |
| 1973 | -0.2908 | -56.7% |
| 1974 | 0.5521 | -289.9% |
| 1975 | 0.1294 | -76.6% |
| 1976 | -1.25 | -1066.8% |
| 1977 | 1.5 | -220.0% |
| 1978 | 0.7845 | -47.7% |
| 1979 | 1.37 | +74.4% |
| 1980 | 0.5711 | -58.3% |
| 1981 | 1.84 | +221.7% |
| 1982 | 0.567 | -69.1% |
| 1983 | -0.0977 | -117.2% |
| 1984 | 0.1882 | -292.6% |
| 1985 | -0.55 | -392.2% |
| 1986 | 0.5698 | -203.6% |
| 1987 | 1.14 | +100.9% |
| 1988 | 1.12 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | -1.21 | -208.1% |
| 1990 | 0.152 | -112.6% |
| 1991 | -1 | -759.7% |
| 1992 | 0.3961 | -139.5% |
| 1993 | 0.3585 | -9.5% |
| 1994 | 0.294 | -18.0% |
| 1995 | 1.22 | +314.0% |
| 1996 | -0.0213 | -101.7% |
| 1997 | -0.5867 | +2654.5% |
| 1998 | -0.2027 | -65.5% |
| 1999 | 1.99 | -1082.0% |
| 2000 | 0.2327 | -88.3% |
| 2001 | 1.14 | +391.0% |
| 2002 | 1.6 | +39.6% |
| 2003 | -2.05 | -228.5% |
| 2004 | -0.4246 | -79.3% |
| 2005 | -0.823 | +93.8% |
| 2006 | 0.2288 | -127.8% |
| 2007 | 0.7543 | +229.7% |
| 2008 | 0.3542 | -53.0% |
| 2009 | -0.6921 | -295.4% |
| 2010 | -0.3355 | -51.5% |
| 2011 | -1.33 | +295.5% |
| 2012 | 0.3901 | -129.4% |
| 2013 | 0.4002 | +2.6% |
| 2014 | -0.1713 | -142.8% |
| 2015 | -1.68 | +881.4% |
| 2016 | 0.1974 | -111.7% |
| 2017 | -0.5915 | -399.6% |
| 2018 | -1.66 | +180.6% |
| 2019 | -0.6647 | -59.9% |
| 2020 | -1.31 | +96.7% |
| 2021 | 0.1959 | -115.0% |
| 2022 | -1.82 | -1030.3% |
| 2023 | -0.165 | -90.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's -0.165 is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.3666, 45% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's -0.165 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -0.2017, 82% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | -2654.5% | -0.0213 | -0.5867 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2463 | -1.06 | 2.17 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2009 | -1.36 | 1.5 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.414 | -1.21 | 1.84 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2595 | -1 | 1.99 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0318 | -2.05 | 1.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.5443 | -1.68 | 0.4002 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7748 | -1.82 | 0.1959 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More environment data for Switzerland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2925 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.4333 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.458 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.33 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 11.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2741 % 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 0.0914 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Switzerland?
- Standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index in Switzerland was -0.165 in 2023, according to Global SPEI database (SPEIbase). https://spei.csic.es/database.html.
- What is the highest standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.17 in 1965.
- What is the lowest standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.05 in 2003.
- How does Switzerland rank for standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index?
- Switzerland ranks 84th out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is standardised precipitation-evapotranspiration index rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 141.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.