Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa
South Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 1,363 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa is 1,363, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.4% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa peaked at 1,518 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1,237, in 2020.
That places South Africa 58th out of 219 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,405 | — |
| 2001 | 1,469 | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 1,514 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 1,518 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 1,487 | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 1,461 | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 1,376 | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 1,333 | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 1,292 | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 1,318 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 1,338 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 1,373 | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 1,422 | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 1,432 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1,429 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 1,454 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 1,420 | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 1,319 | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 1,302 | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 1,288 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 1,237 | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 1,268 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 1,363 | +7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,417 | 1,292 | 1,518 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,378 | 1,288 | 1,454 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,289 | 1,237 | 1,363 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 20.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.012 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South Africa was 1,363 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,518 in 2003.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,237 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 219 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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).