Data Stories

Analysis of anomalies over time demonstrates a warming trend in a vast majority of economies.

The figure below presents the spread of minimum to maximum temperature anomalies from 2001 to 2023 (yellow bars incremented on the left of the figure) and the mean temperature anomalies (blue diamonds incremented on the right of the figure) for economies of Asia and the Pacific with available data. Analysis indicates that, from 2001 to 2023, all economies with available data experienced an increase in land surface temperature anomalies relative to the 1900–2000 average, with Myanmar registering the highest average increase in anomalies. Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz Republic reported the widest range, with the highest temperature anomaly recorded in the Asia and Pacific region.

Land Surface Temperature Anomalies for Economies of Asia and the Pacific, 2001–2023

All economies in the region experienced a net increase in land surface temperature anomalies with respect to the 1901–2000 average.
Land Surface Temperature Anomalies for Economies of Asia and the Pacific, 2001–2023
Notes: Lao PDR = Lao People’s Democratic Republic, PNG = Papua New Guinea, PRC = People’s Republic of China.
Source: Asian Development Bank analysis using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dataset. (accessed December 11, 2023).

The top five economies experiencing the most warming months were Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Myanmar. 

The figure below presents the percentage of positive or negative values in monthly temperature anomalies from 2001 to 2023, by economy. The figure shows that all economies in the region with available data had a greater proportion of monthly temperature anomalies surpassing the 1901–2000 average, ranging from 75.4% to 99.6%. Figure 3.15 presents the percentage of positive or negative values in monthly temperature anomalies from 2001 to 2023, by economy. The figure shows that all economies in the region with available data had a greater proportion of monthly temperature anomalies surpassing the 1901–2000 average, ranging from 75.4% to 99.6%.

Monthly Temperature Anomalies for Economies of Asia and the Pacific, 2001–2023

All economies in the region reported more months above the 1901–2000 average than months below that average.
Monthly Temperature Anomalies for Economies of Asia and the Pacific, 2001–2023
Lao PDR = Lao People’s Democratic Republic, PNG = Papua New Guinea, PRC = People’s Republic of China.
Notes: Anomalies are with respect to the 20th-Century average (1901-2000). Monthly temperature anomalies are computed using 5-degree resolution global land surface grid measurements. World Bank Official Boundaries are used for national aggregation.
Source: Asian Development Bank analysis using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dataset. (accessed December 11, 2023).

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