Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Namibia
Namibia: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 287.35 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
287.35 kmsq
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
118th
of 254 countries
All-time high
350.86 kmsq
in 2015
All-time low
250.78 kmsq
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Namibia, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 287.35 kmsq for lakes and rivers permanent water area in 2022.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Namibia peaked at 350.86 kmsq in 2015 and was at its lowest, 250.78 kmsq, in 2000.
That places Namibia 118th out of 254 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Namibia, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 250.78 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 251.87 kmsq | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 262.47 kmsq | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 261.73 kmsq | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 263.11 kmsq | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 265.5 kmsq | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 267.03 kmsq | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 271.16 kmsq | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 273.18 kmsq | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 278.8 kmsq | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 283.51 kmsq | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 298.28 kmsq | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 314.8 kmsq | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 332.64 kmsq | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 340.88 kmsq | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 350.86 kmsq | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 341.91 kmsq | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 324.75 kmsq | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 309.81 kmsq | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 300.8 kmsq | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 285 kmsq | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 282.59 kmsq | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 287.35 kmsq | +1.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 287.35 kmsq is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 287.35 kmsq, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 287.35 kmsq is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 302.83 kmsq, 95% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 264.56 kmsq | 250.78 kmsq | 278.8 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 319.82 kmsq | 283.51 kmsq | 350.86 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 284.98 kmsq | 282.59 kmsq | 287.35 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 4.07 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Namibia?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Namibia was 287.35 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 350.86 kmsq in 2015.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 250.78 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Namibia rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Namibia ranks 118th out of 254 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia 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).