Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa
South Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 0.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa is 0.1%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.4% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa peaked at 0.1% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 167th out of 221 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.1% | — |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 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)
- Land area equipped for irrigation — Area, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value Standard 16.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value Standard 0.0032 million SLC per person (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value US$, annual 17.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value US$, per unit 0 million USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa was 0.1% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2003.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- South Africa ranks 167th out of 221 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (% 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).