Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia
Australia: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 4,467 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia stood at 4,467.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia peaked at 6,273 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 4,306, in 2010.
That places Australia 38th out of 254 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5,773 | — |
| 2001 | 5,979 | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 6,273 | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 6,044 | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 5,793 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 5,471 | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 5,013 | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 4,474 | -10.7% |
| 2008 | 4,345 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 4,399 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 4,306 | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 4,432 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 5,205 | +17.4% |
| 2013 | 5,839 | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 6,017 | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 6,118 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 5,913 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 5,100 | -13.7% |
| 2018 | 4,765 | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 4,618 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 4,403 | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 4,399 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 4,467 | +1.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 4,467 is above the median for high income countries, which is 98.79, 45.2× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Australia's 4,467 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 98.79, 45.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5,356 | 4,345 | 6,273 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,231 | 4,306 | 6,118 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,423 | 4,399 | 4,467 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.0861 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia was 4,467 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 6,273 in 2002.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,306 in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Australia ranks 38th out of 254 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia 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
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).