Global Drought Outlook 2025

Current Context : The Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development released its Global Drought Outlook 2025, forecasting increased drought severity and economic impacts.

About Global Drought Outlook

• Severity & Extent: 40 percent of land facing more frequent/severe droughts.
• Economic Cost: Annual drought episode costs rising 3–7.5 percent of GDP in affected regions.
• Agricultural Impact: Crop yields may decline up to 22 percent; hydro‑power disruptions in India and Australia.
• Hydrology:
  • Soil moisture down across 37 percent of land since 1980.
  • 62 percent of monitored aquifers showing groundwater decline.
• Disaster Statistics: Droughts cause 34 percent of disaster‑related deaths (WMO 2021).
• Global & Indian Responses:
  • UNCCD Drought Initiative; IDMP by WMO & Global Water Partnership.
  • India’s NADAMS, Watershed Development under PMKSY, Atal Bhujal Yojana.