Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Australia

Australia: Lakes and rivers permanent water area change was -15.6% in 2022. β—† Volatile

Latest (2022)
-15.6%
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
204th
of 209 countries
All-time high
15.6%
in 2015
All-time low
-18.7%
in 2010
Years of data
18
2005–2022

Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Australia, 2005–2022

-20-10010202005201320222005: 3.4 %2006: -5.3 %2007: -15.5 %2008: -17.9 %2009: -16.9 %2010: -18.7 %2011: -16.3 %2012: -1.7 %2013: 10.3 %2014: 13.7 %2015: 15.6 %2016: 11.7 %2017: -3.7 %2018: -10 %2019: -12.8 %2020: -16.8 %2021: -16.9 %2022: -15.6 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

Australia recorded -15.6% for lakes and rivers permanent water area change in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.6% on the previous year and down 831.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Australia peaked at 15.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -18.7%, in 2010.

That places Australia 204th out of 209 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -10.5% -17.9% 3.4% 5
2010s -1.2% -18.7% 15.6% 10
2020s -16.4% -16.9% -15.6% 3

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 201 Algeria -12.9% compare
  2. 202 Greenland -14.2% compare
  3. 203 Lesotho -14.8% compare
  4. 205 Eswatini -27.8% compare
  5. 206 Dominica -36.7% compare
  6. 207 Uzbekistan -37.9% compare

See the full ranking of 274 places β†’

More environment data for Australia

All data for Australia β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Australia?
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Australia was -15.6% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 2015.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was -18.7% in 2010.
How does Australia rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area change?
Australia ranks 204th out of 209 countries with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers permanent water area change rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 831.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Lakes and rivers permanent water area change (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-permanent-water-area-change-percent/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
274 places, 4,930 data points, 2005–2022
Last refreshed