Global Drought Hits Record High Coverage in 2021
An international annual review of the world’s climate found that 32% of global land areas were experiencing some level of drought in August 2021, a new record high.
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In August 2021, 32% of global land areas were experiencing some level of drought, a new record high, according to the 32nd annual State of the Climate report. The international annual review of the world’s climate, led by scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information and published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), is based on contributions from more than 530 scientists in over 60 countries. In 2021, a megadrought continued in central Chile for the 12th consecutive year, becoming the longest drought in the historical record in the region. Drought intensified and expanded through most of the western United States and elsewhere along a large stretch of northeastern Siberia and the Far East region of Russia, which led to unprecedented wildfires. Most of the Middle East, from Turkey to Pakistan, also saw an intensification of drought conditions. In parts of equatorial East Africa, the annual total rainfall was the lowest on record, leading to three consecutive failed rainy seasons that resulted in one of the worst threats to food security in 35 years for more than 20 million people in the region. | |
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Drought in Numbers 2022
This report includes drought-related information and data to inform decisions by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 196 member states.
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Some key statistics:
- Since 2000, the number and duration of droughts has risen 29%
- From 1970 to 2019, weather, climate and water hazards accounted for 50% of disasters and 45% of disaster-related deaths, mostly in developing countries
- Droughts represent 15% of natural disasters but took the largest human toll, approximately 650,000 deaths from 1970-2019
- From 1998 to 2017, droughts caused global economic losses of roughly USD 124 billion
- In 2022, more than 2.3 billion people face water stress; almost 160 million children are exposed to severe and prolonged droughts.
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Unless action is stepped up:
- By 2030, an estimated 700 million people will be at risk of being displaced by drought
- By 2040, an estimated one in four children will live in areas with extreme water shortages
- By 2050, droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population, and an estimated 4.8-5.7 billion people will live in areas that are water-scarce for at least one month each year, up from 3.6 billion today. And up to 216 million people could be forced to migrate by 2050, largely due to drought in combination with other factors including water scarcity, declining crop productivity, sea-level rise, and overpopulation
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Children Facing Deadly Drought in Horn of Africa | |
Consecutive years of below-average rainfall in the Horn of Africa have created one of the worst climate-related emergencies of the past 40 years, as shown in this photo essay by UNICEF. The protracted drought is forcing families to leave their homes in search of food and water, putting their health, safety and education at risk. Over 20 million people, including 10 million children, in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia will need water and food assistance through 2022.
Learn more >
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Climate Change Impacts on Mediterranean Drying
| In this study, scientists with NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory conducted simulations to explore the response to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions after 2040. While a decline in Mediterranean summer rainfall was reversed, the research found a drying trend in winter precipitation over the Mediterranean persisted even with substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This contradictory behavior was found to be related to changes in Atlantic Ocean circulation. Learn more > | |
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FEATURED MAPS + DATA
Global Drought Conditions From Drought.gov
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The international section of drought.gov provides maps, tools, and resources to address drought conditions around the world. In addition to providing easily accessible maps on global drought conditions (see below), this section includes links to the Global Drought Information System and North American Drought Monitor, two NOAA products that pull together drought information from nations around the world. Also included is a link to The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), which provides monthly reports and maps for approximately 30 countries detailing current and projected food insecurity in order to inform planning and humanitarian response.
Learn more >
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NIDIS is Hiring!
NIDIS and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) are seeking a full-time Regional Drought Information Systems Coordinator to serve as a regional source of information for partners and other organizations on drought early warning, forecasting and outlooks, and mitigation and response planning. Learn more >
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UPCOMING
Events & Webinars
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About NIDIS
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) was authorized by Congress in 2006 (Public Law 109-430) with an interagency mandate to develop and provide a national drought early warning information system, by coordinating and integrating drought research, and building upon existing federal, tribal, state, and local partnerships.
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