Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 0.1% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Southern Africa recorded 0.1% for lakes and rivers permanent water area in 2022.
That represents a change of up 7.8% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa peaked at 0.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2008.
Southern Africa ranks 36th of 37 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.1% | — |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +7.8% |
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 Southern Africa
- 33 North Macedonia 1.8% compare
- 34 Iceland 1.6% compare
- 35 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1.5% compare
- 36 Chile 1.5% compare
- 37 Cayman Islands 1.4% compare
- 38 Singapore 1.4% compare
- 39 Kenya 1.4% compare
More environment data for Southern Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 7.61 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 4.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 0.892 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.282 °C (2025)
- Industrial roundwood — Export quantity 427,327 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 9.63 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import value 35,013 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import quantity 161,260 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 17.26 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2008.
- How does Southern Africa rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Southern Africa ranks 36th out of 37 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern 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).