Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America
Europe and Northern America: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 3.9% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
3.9%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
4th
of 37 groups
All-time high
3.9%
in 2018
All-time low
3.1%
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Europe and Northern America recorded 3.9% for lakes and rivers permanent water area in 2022.
The figure is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America peaked at 3.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2000.
Europe and Northern America ranks 4th of 37 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.1% | — |
| 2001 | 3.3% | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 3.7% | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Europe and Northern America
- 1 Azerbaijan 90.5% compare
- 2 Malawi 19.8% compare
- 3 Turkmenistan 18.1% compare
- 4 Saint Martin (French Part) 11.0% compare
- 5 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 10.5% compare
- 6 Canada 9.3% compare
- 7 Bahamas 8.1% compare
More environment data for Europe and Northern America
- Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by 61.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 62.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered 64.7% (2025)
- Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 58.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by 85.5% (2024)
- Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water 94.2% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, by 98.9% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location 98.0% (2024)
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of 11.3% (2023)
- Water Use Efficiency 56.62 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America was 3.9% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2000.
- How does Europe and Northern America rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Europe and Northern America ranks 4th out of 37 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Europe and Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe and Northern America data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Lakes and rivers permanent water area (% of total land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).