Droughts are a global phenomenon and affect countries in every region of the world. 2. Globally, the area affected by drought is increasing every year. 3. Over the Mediterranean region, drying may be increasing. 4. Globally, droughts are also becoming more severe and frequent. 5. Droughts are more frequent over the East Coast of the United States of America, Amazonia and north-eastern Brazil, Patagonia, the Mediterranean region, most of Africa and north-eastern China, but frequency has decreased over northern Argentina, Uruguay and northern Europe. 6. Droughts are more intense over north-western USA, parts of Patagonia and southern Chile, the Sahel, the Congo River basin, southern Europe, north-eastern China, and southeastern Australia. Eastern USA, south-eastern Brazil, northern Europe, and central northern Australia have experienced less severe droughts