Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions
Developing regions: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 869,284 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions stood at 869,284 kmsq. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions peaked at 869,284 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 635,269 kmsq, in 2000.
That places Developing regions 6th out of 38 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 635,269 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 682,717 kmsq | +7.5% |
| 2002 | 751,428 kmsq | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 835,564 kmsq | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 852,154 kmsq | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 852,776 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 852,488 kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 852,953 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 854,509 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 852,117 kmsq | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 848,319 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 844,959 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 842,041 kmsq | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 838,705 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 838,221 kmsq | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 838,620 kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 842,131 kmsq | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 847,209 kmsq | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 854,834 kmsq | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 860,138 kmsq | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 865,755 kmsq | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 868,236 kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 869,284 kmsq | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 802,198 kmsq | 635,269 kmsq | 854,509 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 845,518 kmsq | 838,221 kmsq | 860,138 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 867,758 kmsq | 865,755 kmsq | 869,284 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Developing regions
- 4 United States 252,791 kmsq compare
- 5 Kazakhstan 155,467 kmsq compare
- 6 China 101,751 kmsq compare
- 7 Turkmenistan 88,527 kmsq compare
- 8 Azerbaijan 78,372 kmsq compare
- 9 Brazil 61,477 kmsq compare
More environment data for Developing regions
- Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 33.1% (2025)
- Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered 33.8% (2025)
- Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 33.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by 36.0% (2025)
- Total official development assistance (gross disbursement) for water 9,640 million constant US$ (2024)
- Total official development assistance for biodiversity, by recipient 13,672 million constant US$ (2024)
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area 566,689 kmsq (2022)
- Reservoir minimum water area 178,897 kmsq (2022)
- Reservoir maximum water area 217,541 kmsq (2022)
- Reservoir minimum water area change 10.3% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Developing regions was 869,284 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Developing regions?
- The highest recorded value was 869,284 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Developing regions?
- The lowest recorded value was 635,269 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Developing regions rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Developing regions ranks 6th out of 38 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Developing regions?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Developing regions 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).