Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 1,894 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Southern Africa recorded 1,894 for lakes and rivers permanent water area in 2022.
The figure is up 7.8% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa peaked at 2,099 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,673, in 2008.
That places Southern Africa 30th out of 34 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,775 | — |
| 2001 | 1,874 | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 1,913 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 1,887 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1,856 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 1,854 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 1,735 | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 1,713 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 1,673 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 1,732 | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 1,748 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 1,807 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 1,860 | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 1,941 | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 1,991 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 2,099 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 2,088 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 1,971 | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 1,961 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 1,918 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 1,767 | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 1,757 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 1,894 | +7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,801 | 1,673 | 1,913 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,938 | 1,748 | 2,099 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,806 | 1,757 | 1,894 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More environment data for Southern Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 7.61 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 4.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 0.892 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.282 °C (2025)
- Industrial roundwood — Export quantity 427,327 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 9.63 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import value 35,013 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import quantity 161,260 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 17.26 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Southern Africa was 1,894 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,099 in 2015.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,673 in 2008.
- How does Southern Africa rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Southern Africa ranks 30th out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern 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).