Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi

Malawi: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 23,500 kmsq in 2022. β–¬ Flat

Latest (2022)
23,500 kmsq
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
11th
of 235 countries
All-time high
24,178 kmsq
in 2011
All-time low
20,302 kmsq
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi, 2000–2022

05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k2000201120222000: 20.3k kmsq2001: 20.4k kmsq2002: 24.1k kmsq2003: 24.1k kmsq2004: 24.1k kmsq2005: 24.2k kmsq2006: 24.2k kmsq2007: 24.2k kmsq2008: 24.2k kmsq2009: 24.2k kmsq2010: 24.2k kmsq2011: 24.2k kmsq2012: 24.2k kmsq2013: 24.0k kmsq2014: 24.0k kmsq2015: 23.9k kmsq2016: 23.9k kmsq2017: 23.9k kmsq2018: 23.8k kmsq2019: 23.6k kmsq2020: 23.5k kmsq2021: 23.5k kmsq2022: 23.5k kmsq

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi is 23,500 kmsq, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi peaked at 24,178 kmsq in 2011 and was at its lowest, 20,302 kmsq, in 2000.

That places Malawi 11th out of 235 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 23,389 kmsq 20,302 kmsq 24,170 kmsq 10
2010s 23,968 kmsq 23,622 kmsq 24,178 kmsq 10
2020s 23,504 kmsq 23,484 kmsq 23,528 kmsq 3

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 10 Argentina 25,229 kmsq compare
  2. 12 Finland 22,408 kmsq compare
  3. 14 Greenland 17,316 kmsq compare

See the full ranking of 277 places β†’

More environment data for Malawi

All data for Malawi β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi?
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi was 23,500 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 24,178 kmsq in 2011.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 20,302 kmsq in 2000.
How does Malawi rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
Malawi ranks 11th out of 235 countries with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Malawi 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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Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-permanent-water-area-square-kilometres/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers permanent water area (square kilometres)
Unit
kmsq
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
277 places, 6,369 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed