Greenland vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area

Greenland
17,316 kmsq
in 2022
Sub-Saharan Africa
140,659 kmsq
in 2022
Greenland rank
16th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
17th

Lakes and rivers permanent water area over time

  • Greenland
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
050.0k100.0k150.0k200020112022

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 140,659 kmsq against 17,316 kmsq in Greenland, a difference of 123,343 kmsq.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 8.1 times Greenland's.

Across all 23 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

Greenland ranks 16th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th of 252 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Greenland Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 18,685 kmsq 129,543 kmsq 110,858 kmsq Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s 21,676 kmsq 138,936 kmsq 117,260 kmsq Sub-Saharan Africa
2020s 17,068 kmsq 139,409 kmsq 122,341 kmsq Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher lakes and rivers permanent water area, Greenland or Sub-Saharan Africa?
Sub-Saharan Africa, at 140,659 kmsq against 17,316 kmsq in Greenland as of 2022.
What is the difference in lakes and rivers permanent water area between Greenland and Sub-Saharan Africa?
123,343 kmsq, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Greenland and Sub-Saharan Africa?
23 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2022.
How do Greenland and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
Greenland ranks 16th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th of 252 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Lakes and rivers permanent water area (square kilometres). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Greenland vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/lakes-and-rivers-permanent-water-area-square-kilometres/greenland/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers permanent water area (square kilometres)
Unit
kmsq
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
291 places, 6,691 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed