Provisional climate data from multiple scientific analyses show that 2025 was another year of unprecedented heat across the globe, with many regional temperature records shattered. According to the AFP analysis of data from the European Copernicus climate programme, Central Asia, the Sahel in Africa, and northern Europe experienced their hottest year on record in 2025. This comes as part of a broader pattern of warming that has made recent years among the warmest ever recorded.
Experts note that globally, the last 12 months are set to be the third hottest on record after 2024 and 2023, showing the ongoing trend of rising temperatures driven by human-induced climate change. The averages include both land and ocean data, but they can obscure more extreme regional disparities that have been documented around the world.
In Central Asia, every country broke its annual temperature record in 2025. Tajikistan stood out with temperatures more than 3°C above its seasonal average, making it one of the most extreme cases worldwide. Satellite observations and weather station data indicate that monthly temperature records were broken almost continuously throughout the year, especially from May through October. Neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Iran, and Uzbekistan also saw temperatures between 2°C to 3°C above normal averages.
West Africa’s Sahel region recorded significant heat anomalies as well. Nations like Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Chad experienced temperatures 0.7°C to 1.5°C above seasonal norms, with Nigeria marking its hottest year on record. These regions are especially vulnerable to extreme heat due to existing challenges like food insecurity, limited access to water, and socio-economic stresses.
Europe also felt the intense heat, with around ten countries approaching or breaking annual temperature records. Switzerland and several Balkan states saw summer heat 2°C to 3°C above average, and parts of Spain, Portugal, and the UK endured some of their most severe heatwaves and driest conditions in over a century, contributing to wildfire risks and water shortages.
Scientists emphasize that the frequency and intensity of such record-breaking temperature events are increasing largely due to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. These changes have widespread implications for climate, ecosystems, and human societies, highlighting the urgent need for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
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