Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 156,315 kmsq in 2022. ▬ Flat
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean stood at 156,315 kmsq.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean peaked at 163,989 kmsq in 2006 and was at its lowest, 146,241 kmsq, in 2000.
Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 14th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 146,241 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 154,582 kmsq | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 160,211 kmsq | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 162,729 kmsq | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 163,130 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 163,665 kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 163,989 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 163,890 kmsq | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 163,291 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 163,004 kmsq | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 161,837 kmsq | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 160,440 kmsq | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 159,634 kmsq | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 159,161 kmsq | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 158,323 kmsq | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 158,294 kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 158,348 kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 157,579 kmsq | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 157,788 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 158,138 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 157,998 kmsq | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 157,040 kmsq | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 156,315 kmsq | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 160,473 kmsq | 146,241 kmsq | 163,989 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 158,954 kmsq | 157,579 kmsq | 161,837 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 157,118 kmsq | 156,315 kmsq | 157,998 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Latin America and the Caribbean
More environment data for Latin America and the Caribbean
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Temperature change 1.27 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.204 °C (2025)
- Cropland — Share in Land area 9.17 % (2024)
- Cropland — Share in Agricultural land 29.54 % (2024)
- Arable land — Area 158,363 1000 ha (2024)
- Arable land — Share in Agricultural land 25.3 % (2024)
- Inland waters — Area 35,902 1000 ha (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Latin America and the Caribbean was 156,315 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 163,989 kmsq in 2006.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 146,241 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Latin America and the Caribbean rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 14th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Latin America and the Caribbean 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.
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