Long term average annual precipitation

Definition

Average precipitation is the long-term average in depth (over space and time) of annual precipitation in the country. Precipitation is defined as any kind of water that falls from clouds as a liquid or a solid.

Relevance

Precipitation is an important source of water for agriculture (blue water). Rain-fed agriculture can be considered more sustainable than irrigated agriculture (green water). However, in many places rain-fed agriculture is associated with lower yields and less resilient production.

Additional Information

Recommended citation: FAO. 2025. AQUASTAT: AQUASTAT Dissemination System. [Accessed June 2024]. https://data.apps.fao.org/aquastat/?lang=en. Licence: CC-BY-4.0.