Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa
South Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area change was -2.5% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa, 2005–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa is -2.5%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 72.9% on the previous year and down 242.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa peaked at 4.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, -11.5%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 191st out of 216 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.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4.6% | — |
| 2006 | -1.5% | -133.6% |
| 2007 | -4.6% | +199.2% |
| 2008 | -7.6% | +65.3% |
| 2009 | -5.7% | -25.3% |
| 2010 | -4.2% | -25.1% |
| 2011 | -1.8% | -58.4% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | -199.6% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | +41.1% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -9.2% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +80.0% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | -60.7% |
| 2017 | -5.7% | -455.1% |
| 2018 | -6.8% | +20.5% |
| 2019 | -7.9% | +15.3% |
| 2020 | -11.5% | +46.7% |
| 2021 | -9.2% | -19.8% |
| 2022 | -2.5% | -72.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -3.0% | -7.6% | 4.6% | 5 |
| 2010s | -1.4% | -7.9% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.8% | -11.5% | -2.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 20.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.012 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in South Africa was -2.5% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -11.5% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area change?
- South Africa ranks 191st out of 216 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area change rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 242.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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).