Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 1,824 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
1,824
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
58th
of 252 countries
All-time high
1,839
in 2018
All-time low
761.45
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2022

05001.0k1.5k2.0k2000201120222000: 761.42001: 1.1k2002: 1.5k2003: 1.7k2004: 1.7k2005: 1.7k2006: 1.4k2007: 1.3k2008: 1.2k2009: 980.72010: 1.1k2011: 1.3k2012: 1.4k2013: 1.5k2014: 1.7k2015: 1.7k2016: 1.8k2017: 1.8k2018: 1.8k2019: 1.8k2020: 1.8k2021: 1.8k2022: 1.8k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2022, lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 1,824.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 1,839 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 761.45, in 2000.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 58th of 252 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers permanent water area (square kilometres) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 761.45
2001 1,117 +46.6%
2002 1,470 +31.7%
2003 1,706 +16.0%
2004 1,719 +0.8%
2005 1,678 -2.4%
2006 1,436 -14.4%
2007 1,338 -6.8%
2008 1,161 -13.3%
2009 980.69 -15.5%
2010 1,095 +11.6%
2011 1,297 +18.5%
2012 1,407 +8.5%
2013 1,536 +9.1%
2014 1,728 +12.5%
2015 1,737 +0.6%
2016 1,792 +3.1%
2017 1,791 -0.1%
2018 1,839 +2.7%
2019 1,833 -0.3%
2020 1,819 -0.8%
2021 1,821 +0.1%
2022 1,824 +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1,337 761.45 1,719 10
2010s 1,606 1,095 1,839 10
2020s 1,821 1,819 1,824 3

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 55 Iraq 1,963 compare
  2. 56 Italy 1,949 compare
  3. 57 Burundi 1,944 compare
  4. 58 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1,824 compare
  5. 60 Madagascar 1,816 compare
  6. 61 Ecuador 1,746 compare

See the full ranking of 291 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1,824 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 1,839 in 2018.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 761.45 in 2000.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 58th out of 252 countries with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-permanent-water-area-square-kilometres/united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers permanent water area (square kilometres)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
291 places, 6,691 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed