Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America
South America: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 0.8% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
0.8%
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
22nd
of 37 groups
All-time high
0.8%
in 2006
All-time low
0.7%
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America is 0.8%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America peaked at 0.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2000.
South America ranks 22nd of 37 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.7% | — |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 19 Switzerland 3.1% compare
- 20 British Virgin Islands 3.1% compare
- 21 French Polynesia 2.8% compare
- 22 United States of America 2.6% compare
- 23 Russian Federation 2.5% compare
- 23 Russian Federation 2.5% compare
- 25 Polynesia 2.4% compare
More environment data for South America
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Production 477.72 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 379.32 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 98.40 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 589,290 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 4.28 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America was 0.8% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2000.
- How does South America rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- South America ranks 22nd out of 37 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South 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).