Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos
Laos: Lakes and rivers permanent water area change was 22.3% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos, 2005–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos is 22.3%, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and up 216.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos peaked at 22.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2008.
Laos ranks 69th of 249 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5.2% | — |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -19.0% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | -15.5% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | -14.1% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +20.2% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | +43.2% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 7.0% | +37.5% |
| 2013 | 8.7% | +23.0% |
| 2014 | 8.8% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 10.3% | +16.4% |
| 2016 | 13.5% | +31.4% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 17.0% | +18.2% |
| 2019 | 19.6% | +15.4% |
| 2020 | 20.7% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 20.5% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 22.3% | +8.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 22.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.6%, 2.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 22.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 18.1%, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.1% | 5.2% | 5 |
| 2010s | 11.0% | 5.1% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.1% | 20.5% | 22.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 67 Pakistan 22.3% compare
- 68 Sri Lanka 22.3% compare
- 69 Lao People's Democratic Republic 22.3% compare
- 71 Iceland 21.9% compare
- 72 French Guiana 21.8% compare
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.4183 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in Laos was 22.3% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 22.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2008.
- How does Laos rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area change?
- Laos ranks 69th out of 249 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area change rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 216.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).