Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia
Australia: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 4,467 kmsq in 2022. βΌ Falling
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia, 2000β2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Australia stood at 4,467 kmsq.
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 kmsq in 2002 and was at its lowest, 4,306 kmsq, in 2010.
That places Australia 29th out of 212 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5,356 kmsq | 4,345 kmsq | 6,273 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,231 kmsq | 4,306 kmsq | 6,118 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,423 kmsq | 4,399 kmsq | 4,467 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More environment data for Australia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 Β°C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 Β°C (2025)
- Recovered paper β Production 2.63 million t (2024)
- Total fibre furnish β Production 3.61 million t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified β Import value 51,999 1000 USD (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified β Import quantity 4,000 t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard β Export value 450,829 1000 USD (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard β Export quantity 806,085 t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard β Import value 587,995 1000 USD (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 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?
- The highest recorded value was 6,273 kmsq in 2002.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,306 kmsq in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Australia ranks 29th out of 212 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 Β· JSON β 23 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).