Australia vs China: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area

Australia
50,627 kmsq
in 2022
China
81,086 kmsq
in 2022
Australia rank
8th
China rank
4th

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area over time

  • Australia
  • China
020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k200020112022

How they compare

China currently reports 81,086 kmsq against 50,627 kmsq in Australia, a difference of 30,459 kmsq.

That makes China's figure about 1.6 times Australia's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 23 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Australia ahead.

Australia ranks 8th and China ranks 4th of 252 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia China Difference Ahead
2000s 53,069 kmsq 56,385 kmsq 3,316 kmsq China
2010s 55,999 kmsq 62,707 kmsq 6,707 kmsq China
2020s 51,539 kmsq 78,311 kmsq 26,772 kmsq China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher lakes and rivers seasonal water area, Australia or China?
China, at 81,086 kmsq against 50,627 kmsq in Australia as of 2022.
What is the difference in lakes and rivers seasonal water area between Australia and China?
30,459 kmsq, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and China?
23 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2022.
How do Australia and China rank globally for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
Australia ranks 8th and China ranks 4th of 252 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs China: Lakes and rivers seasonal 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-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/australia/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal 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