Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America
South America: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 136,082 in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
136,082
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
14th
of 34 groups
All-time high
145,057
in 2006
All-time low
129,100
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America is 136,082, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America peaked at 145,057 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 129,100, in 2000.
That places South America 14th out of 34 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 129,100 | — |
| 2001 | 135,526 | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 141,278 | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 143,930 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 144,241 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 144,792 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 145,057 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 144,768 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 144,026 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 143,601 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 142,338 | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 140,807 | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 139,960 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 139,483 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 138,785 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 138,643 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 138,553 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 137,639 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 137,722 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 137,831 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 137,633 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 136,775 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 136,082 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 141,632 | 129,100 | 145,057 | 10 |
| 2010s | 139,176 | 137,639 | 142,338 | 10 |
| 2020s | 136,830 | 136,082 | 137,633 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South America
More environment data for South America
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Production 477.72 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 379.32 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 98.40 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 589,290 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 4.28 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in South America was 136,082 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South America?
- The highest recorded value was 145,057 in 2006.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 129,100 in 2000.
- How does South America rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- South America ranks 14th out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South 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).