Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Droughts - statistics & facts
Precipitation levels worldwide fell in 2023 to their lowest since records started. Annual rainfall stood at 46.2 millimeters below the average recorded from 1901 to 2000, marking a third consecutive year of negative precipitation anomalies. Such dry conditions, along with higher temperatures driven by climate change, are increasing the odds of worsening drought and desertification across the globe. While these phenomena occur naturally, they are aggravated by human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization, and the overexploitation of groundwater resources, affecting the economies and livelihoods of millions.
