Annual average mean temperature in Australia

In 2022, the observed annual average mean temperature in Australia reached 21.96 degrees Celsius. Overall, the annual average temperature had increased compared to the temperature reported for 1901.

Impact of climate change

The rising temperatures in Australia are a prime example of global climate change. As a dry country, peak temperatures and drought pose significant environmental threats to Australia, leading to water shortages and an increase in bushfires. Western and South Australia reported the highest temperatures measured in the country, with record high temperatures of over 50°C in 2022.

Australia’s emission sources

While Australia has pledged its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, it still relies economically on a few high greenhouse gas emitting sectors, such as the mining and energy sectors. Australia’s current leading source of greenhouse gas emissions is the generation of electricity, and black coal is still a dominant source for its total energy production. One of the future challenges of the country will thus be to find a balance between economic security and the mitigation of environmental impact.

Observed annual average mean temperature in Australia from 1901 to 2022 (in degrees Celsius)

Characteristic	Average temperature in degrees Celsius
2022	21.96
2021	22.05
2020	22.56
2019	22.78
2018	22.49
2017	22.49
2016	22.42
2015	22.33
2014	22.54
2013	22.72
2012	21.75
2011	21.44
2010	21.49
2009	22.11
2008	21.71
2007	21.99
2006	21.83
2005	22.48
2004	21.99
2003	22.12
2002	22.16
2001	21.48
2000	21.45
1999	21.81
1998	22.33
1997	21.72
1996	22.03
1995	21.68
1994	21.84
1993	21.91
1992	21.68
1991	22.2
1990	22.04
1989	21.54
1988	22.33
1987	21.73
1986	21.78
1985	21.77
1984	21.24
1983	21.96
1982	21.67
1981	21.86
1980	22.31
1979	21.94
1978	21.34
1977	21.59
1976	20.96
1975	21.4
1974	20.97
1973	22.09
1972	21.78
1971	21.35
1970	21.48
1969	21.62
1968	21.24
1967	21.43
1966	21.11
1965	21.83
1964	21.41
1963	21.47
1962	21.57
1961	21.69
1960	21.02
1959	21.85
1958	21.73
1957	21.62
1956	20.72
1955	21.23
1954	21.25
1953	21.19
1952	21.21
1951	21.22
1950	21.05
1949	20.8
1948	21.21
1947	21.33
1946	21.06
1945	21.37
1944	21.35
1943	21.06
1942	21.72
1941	21.14
1940	21.53
1939	21.26
1938	21.92
1937	21.41
1936	21.55
1935	21.28
1934	21.37
1933	21.25
1932	21.42
1931	21.19
1930	21.53
1929	20.94
1928	21.75
1927	21.31
1926	21.66
1925	20.94
1924	20.99
1923	21.4
1922	21.28
1921	21.52
1920	21.21
1919	21.65
1918	21.16
1917	20.66
1916	21.37
1915	21.97
1914	21.99
1913	21.1
1912	21.7
1911	21.19
1910	21.39
1909	20.98
1908	20.84
1907	21.2
1906	21.86
1905	21.19
1904	21.11
1903	21.18
1902	21.53
1901	21.53