Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 7,761 kmsq in 2022. ▬ Flat
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand is 7,761 kmsq, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand peaked at 9,414 kmsq in 2015 and was at its lowest, 6,421 kmsq, in 2000.
That places Australia and New Zealand 30th out of 252 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6,421 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 7,286 kmsq | +13.5% |
| 2002 | 8,238 kmsq | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 8,671 kmsq | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 9,075 kmsq | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 8,777 kmsq | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 8,313 kmsq | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 7,771 kmsq | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 7,624 kmsq | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 7,672 kmsq | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 7,565 kmsq | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 7,692 kmsq | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 8,475 kmsq | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 9,119 kmsq | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 9,308 kmsq | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 9,414 kmsq | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 9,198 kmsq | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 8,374 kmsq | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 8,038 kmsq | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 7,892 kmsq | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 7,669 kmsq | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 7,685 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 7,761 kmsq | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,985 kmsq | 6,421 kmsq | 9,075 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,507 kmsq | 7,565 kmsq | 9,414 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,705 kmsq | 7,669 kmsq | 7,761 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia and New Zealand
More environment data for Australia and New Zealand
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.87 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.39 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.335 °C (2025)
- Total fibre furnish — Production 4.99 million t (2024)
- Recovered paper — Production 2.98 million t (2024)
- Agricultural land — Value of agricultural production (Int. $) per Area 187.5 USD_PPP/ha (2024)
- Arable land — Area 31,787 1000 ha (2024)
- Cropland — Area per capita 1.01 ha/cap (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia and New Zealand was 7,761 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 9,414 kmsq in 2015.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,421 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Australia and New Zealand rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Australia and New Zealand ranks 30th out of 252 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Australia and New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia and New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Lakes and rivers permanent water area (square kilometres). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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