Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America
Europe and Northern America: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 1.71 million kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
1.71 million kmsq
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
3rd
of 39 groups
All-time high
1.71 million kmsq
in 2018
All-time low
1.33 million kmsq
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
Europe and Northern America recorded 1.71 million kmsq for lakes and rivers permanent water area in 2022.
The figure is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America peaked at 1.71 million kmsq in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.33 million kmsq, in 2000.
That places Europe and Northern America 3rd out of 39 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.33 million kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 1.42 million kmsq | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 1.53 million kmsq | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 1.62 million kmsq | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 1.65 million kmsq | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.67 million kmsq | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 1.67 million kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.67 million kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 1.68 million kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 1.69 million kmsq | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 1.69 million kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.69 million kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.69 million kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.68 million kmsq | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.69 million kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 1.69 million kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.69 million kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.70 million kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.71 million kmsq | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.71 million kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.71 million kmsq | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 1.71 million kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.71 million kmsq | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.59 million kmsq | 1.33 million kmsq | 1.69 million kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.69 million kmsq | 1.68 million kmsq | 1.71 million kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.71 million kmsq | 1.71 million kmsq | 1.71 million kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Europe and Northern America
- 1 Canada 916,377 kmsq compare
- 2 Russian Federation 425,204 kmsq compare
- 2 Russian Federation 425,204 kmsq compare
- 4 United States of America 252,791 kmsq compare
- 5 Kazakhstan 155,467 kmsq compare
- 6 China 101,751 kmsq compare
More environment data for Europe and Northern America
- Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by 61.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 62.5% (2025)
- Average proportion of Mountain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered 64.7% (2025)
- Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) 58.8% (2025)
- Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, by 85.5% (2024)
- Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water 94.2% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic drinking water services, by 98.9% (2024)
- Proportion of population using basic sanitation services, by location 98.0% (2024)
- Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of 11.3% (2023)
- Water Use Efficiency 56.62 USD/m3 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Europe and Northern America was 1.71 million kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 1.71 million kmsq in 2018.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.33 million kmsq in 2000.
- How does Europe and Northern America rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Europe and Northern America ranks 3rd out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Europe and Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe and Northern America 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).