Population Exposure to Severe and Extreme Droughts in the Mediterranean: A State-Level Panel Dataset (1990–2022)

The Mediterranean region has become a hotspot for drought conditions in recent decades, likely intensified by anthropogenic climate change. This region is of significant interest to social scientists due to its unique mix of developed and developing countries, diverse cultures, and geopolitical challenges, which may also be exacerbated by recent droughts. Here, we explore and quantify the intensification of drought conditions and corresponding population exposure across Mediterranean countries between 1990 and 2022. By integrating gridded data on the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), annually updated georeferenced population distributions, and national boundary maps, we generate a panel dataset for 21 Mediterranean countries. This dataset includes annual measures of population exposure to severe (SPEI < -1.5) and extreme drought (SPEI < -2). Our state-level analysis identifies the countries with the largest increases in drought exposure in both absolute and relative terms. For social scientists, this panel dataset provides a means to explore the intersection of drought impacts and the social consequences of climate change, such as migration, governance, and conflict.