Drought affected countries. Globally, droughts are also becoming more severe and frequent. Human-induced climate change has led to an increased risk of drought. and related weather and climate conditions Dec 17, 2024 · From Malawi to Namibia, drought has decimated southern African farms, with millions going hungry and the risk of floods in 2025 May 21, 2025 · The 10 countries most affected by climate change experience a devastating condition unlike any others, with extreme health problems and more. The maps, tools, and resources on this page address drought conditions around the world. For those who rely on local water sources for drinking water, agriculture, hydropower, or river transport droughts’ impacts are immediately visible. 5 billion people and cost US$125 billion globally. Many countries across the globe that soon may face the impacts of intense drought still lack a comprehensive plan of action at the first signs of drought May 2, 2025 · The drought conditions have a significant impact on the environment, economies, and societies in the affected regions, threatening food security, agricultural production, and water resources. S. 5 billion people and cost USD 125 billion globally. Since 2000, most drought-related deaths have occurred in Africa. In May 2023, Kenya experienced an unprecedented extreme drought event that posed a serious threat to the lives and property of the local population. Global Drought Overview Overview: GDIS global indicators revealed dry conditions continued during March 2024 across large parts of Africa, South and Central America, and Mexico. Feb 13, 2025 · Through maps, infographics, and case studies, the World Drought Atlas illustrates how drought risks are interconnected across sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport, and international trade and how they can trigger cascading effects, fuelling inequalities and conflicts and threatening public health. The areas affected by droughts are typically larger than those for other hazards. Drought can cause or exacerbate water, food, and national security hazards. Jul 25, 2024 · NAIROBI/NEW YORK, 25 July 2024 – The severe drought that has impacted large swathes of Southern Africa is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in the six worst-affected countries, UNICEF said today. This includes more than 270,000 children who are expected to suffer from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2024. Droughts, once localized, now increasingly affect every continent, with projections indicating that by 2050, three-quarters of the global population could face their effects. El Niño-related weather conditions Dec 16, 2024 · The publication was unveiled at UNCCD COP 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, as leaders convened to address desertification and drought. Dec 2, 2024 · Droughts affect people and economies both directly and indirectly, with the most vulnerable populations bearing the heaviest burden. 4. 2. However, a third of the land mass is considered desert. Over the Mediterranean region, drying may be increasing. Drought's hazard is far reaching Out of 98 countries affected by drought, 15 have experienced severe or extreme drought over some or all of their territory. Least developed countries (LDCs Nov 30, 2023 · UNCCD launches ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ report at COP28 in collaboration with International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) Recent drought-related data based on research in the past two years and compiled by the UN point to “an unprecedented emergency on a planetary scale, where the massive impacts of human-induced droughts are only starting to unfold. . drought status, with narrative and graphics A summary of wildfires in the U. An estimated 55 million people globally are directly affected by droughts every year, according to the WHO. Global Drought Overview Overview: GDIS global indicators revealed dry conditions continued during December 2023 in Australia, the Brazilian Amazon, the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, and much of Canada, while above-normal precipitation helped Apr 21, 2023 · Learn more about Chad > 7) The Sahel – Droughts, Wildfires & Floods Niger is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the adverse effects of climate change. One major solution could be increased focus on land restoration such as China has been impacted by more drought-related disasters than any other country over the past three decades, with ** events occurring between 1990 and 2023. The economic impact of drought can ripple across industries, influencing global markets and even raising the cost of everyday products and energy for consumers. Droughts have become the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in nearly every part Oct 10, 2024 · As climate change accelerates, drought is becoming more frequent - and its effects are felt far beyond the immediately affected areas. This study The eastern Horn of Africa is currently experiencing increasingly intense and recurrent cycles of flooding and drought. The last decade has seen extreme, persistent, and recurrent droughts affecting large regions of the world and their populations, economies, and ecosystems. Jul 2, 2025 · The Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023-2025 report draws on over 250 peer-reviewed studies, official data sources, and news reports across more than a dozen countries and regions. Globally, the area affected by drought is increasing every year. Beneficial precipitation fell across much of the contiguous Droughts continue to affect ecosystems, communities, and entire economies. Global Drought Overview Overview: GDIS global indicators revealed dry conditions continued during January 2024 across much of South America, Africa, and southern parts of Asia. A drought occurs when a location gets below-average precipitation for a long enough period to disrupt water and food supply. The main focus of the crisis was across southern Ethiopia, south-central Somalia and northern Kenya. Mar 23, 2018 · The Most Drought Prone Countries in the World Jerry cans intended to carry water to residents affected by drought in Uganda. In the decade to 2017, drought affected at least 1. Droughts are more frequent over the East Coast of the United States of America, Amazonia and north-eastern Brazil Global Drought Information System This Global Drought Narrative is based on global drought indicators available at the Global Drought Information System. Fueled by climate change and relentless pressure on land and water resources, some of the most widespread and damaging drought events in recorded history have taken place since 2023, according to a UN-backed report launched today. Water covers seventy-one percent of the earth; the remaining 29% is land. Dec 2, 2024 · Driven by changes in climate, land and water use and management, human population and consumption patterns, droughts worldwide are increasing in frequency, intensity, spatial extent and duration. Oct 15, 2024 · Worst drought in century devastates Southern Africa, millions at risk More than 27 million lives affected by worst drought in a century, with 21 million children malnourished, says WFP. The rainy season of 2022 was recorded to be the driest in over 40 years, [3][4] with an estimated 43,000 in Somalia dying in 2022. ” Sep 20, 2024 · At the same time, Vietnam, the world’s second-biggest coffee producer, is experiencing heat and drought, affecting its crops. [5][6] The drought ended in early 2023, when Horn of Africa experienced above-average rainfall that led to May 12, 2022 · No continent is safe While severe drought affects Africa more than any other continent – accounting for 44 per cent of the global total – over the past century, 45 major drought events have also affected millions of people in Europe – affecting an average of 15 per cent of that continent’s land and 17 per cent of its population. Jan 25, 2022 · Humanitarian situation reports, response plans, news, analyses, evaluations, assessments, maps, infographics and more on Southern Africa: Drought - 2018-2022 The complexity of drought risk demands cross-sectoral policies accounting for regional diversity, leveraging local knowledge and promoting communities' engagement. Droughts often have a range of indirect impacts Jun 16, 2022 · Climate change is accelerating desertification and several parts of the earth would have limited access to fresh water by 2050. Dec 17, 2024 · Drought is no longer a distant threat confined to arid regions; it is a global crisis fueled by climate change, unsustainable water practices, and land degradation. The impacts of droughts encompass the global ecosystem as a whole but vary from region to region. The two largest deserts in the world occupy the coldest places on earth, the Arctic, and the Antarctic. Jul 10, 2025 · With a risk index score of ***, Somalia was the country most exposed to drought risk worldwide as of March 2025. The number of recorded droughts has increased by 29 per cent over the past 20 years. Jul 13, 2023 · The drought affecting countries like Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia began in October 2020. Jun 10, 2019 · All told, more than 45 million people will struggle to find enough food across 14 countries in 2019, many feeling the compounded effects of years of drought. The Sahara Desert remains the largest Dec 4, 2024 · The Atlas uses past, present, and future data to show drought’s continuous effects on natural and human systems. Across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, the 2020-2022 La Niña event was the most severe in 70 years. It is a visual resource that hopes to convey all dimensions of drought intuitively and directly. The country is affected by desertification, land degradation and extreme weather. Jul 7, 2025 · Worst droughts worldwide 2022-2023, by number of people affected Worst drought disasters worldwide in 2022 and 2023, based on the number of people affected (in millions) Oct 2, 2024 · The impact of drought on agriculture and food security Droughts, together with heatwaves and warm spells, affected crops productivity in several regions of Europe, southern Africa, Central and Southern America, and Southeast Asia. Like floods, droughts are also widespread and affect countries in every region of the world. The 2020–2023 Horn of Africa drought is a drought that hit the countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. 5. A drought occurs when a location gets below-average precipitation for a long enough period to disrupt water and food supply. A drought is a natural hazard that can cause long-term problems like loss of livelihood, loss of plant and animal life, and economic losses. Potential supply shortages in both countries have started driving up global coffee prices, according to the report. A new UN report says drought frequency and duration has increased by nearly a third since 2000. The Global Drought Information System (GDIS) is a tool for exploring global drought data and learning more about global drought resources, research and education. Global Drought Information System This Global Drought Narrative is based on global drought indicators available at the Global Drought Information System. Drought again in 2018 was Mar 1, 2015 · Droughts occur both in developed and developing countries with significant impacts and are exacerbating in frequency, severity and duration. Over the past decades Global Drought Narrative An analysis of national temperatures and precipitation each month, placing the data into a historical perspective A monthly discussion of U. Kenya, in particular, is one of the most drought-affected countries in the region. 3. Throughout these regions, insecurity, severe drought, and an exponential increase in food prices have brought millions to the brink of famine. Droughts are one of the costliest natural hazards year-to-year and can affect many economic sectors and people anytime. The ripple effects of prolonged drought extend beyond water scarcity, impacting food security, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. Jul 20, 2011 · The Horn of Africa crisis of 2011-2012 affected 13 million people. Despite these impacts and the growing risk Jul 25, 2024 · NEW YORK (July 25, 2024) – The severe drought that has impacted large swathes of Southern Africa is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in the six worst-affected countries, UNICEF said today. According to the 2024 Drought Atlas by the United Nations Convention to Combat […] Jul 30, 2024 · Millions in the greater Horn of Africa are facing acute hunger as the region faces one of the worst droughts in recent decades, compounded by years of conflict and instability, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising food prices due to, in part, the war in Ukraine. It’s the second time in three years that an El Niño event has disrupted weather patterns. Who is most affected by droughts? Droughts are costly, damaging, and their impacts are pervasive. To successfully manage drought risk, communities, regions and countries must adopt proactive and prospective approaches to drought risk management and adaptation. In this study, we used information gathered by the National Drought Mitigation Center’s weekly roundups of drought impact news to identify areas around the world that experienced the most reported drought impacts in 2023 and 2024. Agriculture bears much of the impact, and in many countries it is the most heavily affected sector. A recent World Bank report highlighted the alarming potential of drought and water scarcity to slow Jul 21, 2025 · Worldwide, some of the most widespread and damaging drought events in recorded history have occurred in recent years due to climate change and resource depletion. Forecasts estimate that by 2050 droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population. Aug 22, 2025 · This chart shows countries by their drought risk index score. Aug 12, 2022 · Climate change is contributing to more droughts and water shortages on continents around the world. However, not all countries and regions are affected equally by drought. Northern Italy is facing its worst drought in 70 years, and more than 43% of US states are currently experiencing droughts. Regional drought came on top Drought is considered one of the most far-reaching natural disasters, bringing short and long- term economic and social losses to millions of people worldwide. Dec 1, 2023 · At least 23 countries, including India, declared drought emergencies at a national or sub-national level during 2022-23, showed new data from a global drought map compiled by the United Nations, pointing to unprecedented urgency on a planetary scale. Beneficial precipitation occurred in parts of North America Apr 18, 2025 · It is crucial for the future of the global food supply to develop effective adaptation strategies. In 2017 – a year in which the UN labelled the crisis the worst in decades – some 38 million people were in need. Droughts are a normal part of the climate, and they can occur in any environment worldwide, even in deserts and rainforests. They affect both developed and developing nations, across all inhabited continents. Over exploitation of water resources, weather variability and climate change are mostly responsible for such exacerbation. Dec 2, 2024 · Atlas launched as UNCCD Member States, meeting in Riyadh, negotiate drought resilience effortsRiyadh, Saudi Arabia — As record-breaking droughts are becoming a new normal around the globe, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) launch the most comprehensive global publication on drought risks and solutions as an urgent wake Jan 8, 2025 · In the context of global warming, the East African region has experienced frequent droughts, with severe impacts on local society and livelihoods. In the United States, drought-induced crop failures and Droughts are a global phenomenon and affect countries in every region of the world. xjviz xeu zee ezm 5r9xvy rlq54r ft5uqsb xd vlra4 scmcm