United States vs Western Europe: Lakes and rivers permanent water area

United States
2.6%
in 2022
Western Europe
0.8%
in 2022
United States rank
22nd
Western Europe rank
21st

Lakes and rivers permanent water area over time

  • United States
  • Western Europe
0.511.522.5200020112022

How they compare

United States currently reports 2.6% against 0.8% in Western Europe, a difference of 1.8%.

That makes United States's figure about 3.3 times Western Europe's.

Across all 23 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

United States ranks 22nd and Western Europe ranks 21st of 221 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade United States Western Europe Difference Ahead
2000s 2.5% 0.6% 1.8% United States
2010s 2.6% 0.8% 1.8% United States
2020s 2.6% 0.8% 1.8% United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher lakes and rivers permanent water area, United States or Western Europe?
United States, at 2.6% against 0.8% in Western Europe as of 2022.
What is the difference in lakes and rivers permanent water area between United States and Western Europe?
1.8%, with United States ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for United States and Western Europe?
23 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2022.
How do United States and Western Europe rank globally for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
United States ranks 22nd and Western Europe ranks 21st of 221 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Lakes and rivers permanent water area (% of total land area). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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United States vs Western Europe: Lakes and rivers permanent water area. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/lakes-and-rivers-permanent-water-area-percent-of-total-land-area/united-states/western-europe/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers permanent water area (% of total land area)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
258 places, 5,932 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed