Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in United States
United States: Lakes and rivers permanent water area change was 2.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
2.4%
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
184th
of 249 countries
All-time high
2.5%
in 2021
All-time low
1.1%
in 2008
Years of data
18
2005–2022
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in United States, 2005–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
United States recorded 2.4% for lakes and rivers permanent water area change in 2022.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area change in United States peaked at 2.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2008.
United States ranks 184th of 249 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1.5% | — |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -12.2% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | +22.5% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +18.9% |
| 2011 | 1.6% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +27.4% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | -3.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.7%, 19% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 182 Oman 2.6% compare
- 183 Costa Rica 2.5% compare
- 185 El Salvador 2.2% compare
- 186 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2.1% compare
- 187 Nepal 1.5% compare
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 3.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area change in United States?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area change in United States was 2.4% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area change recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2008.
- How does United States rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area change?
- United States ranks 184th out of 249 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area change rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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).