Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America
United States of America: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 252,791 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America stood at 252,791 kmsq.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America peaked at 253,011 kmsq in 2021 and was at its lowest, 222,564 kmsq, in 2000.
United States of America ranks 4th of 252 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 222,564 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 225,086 kmsq | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 234,358 kmsq | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 242,863 kmsq | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 250,471 kmsq | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 250,559 kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 250,119 kmsq | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 249,977 kmsq | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 249,554 kmsq | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 250,141 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 250,746 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 250,885 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 251,165 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 250,944 kmsq | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 251,240 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 251,317 kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 251,226 kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 251,114 kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 252,258 kmsq | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 252,292 kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 252,521 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 253,011 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 252,791 kmsq | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 242,569 kmsq | 222,564 kmsq | 250,559 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 251,319 kmsq | 250,746 kmsq | 252,292 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 252,774 kmsq | 252,521 kmsq | 253,011 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 1 Canada 916,377 kmsq compare
- 2 Russian Federation 425,204 kmsq compare
- 2 Russian Federation 425,204 kmsq compare
- 5 Kazakhstan 155,467 kmsq compare
- 6 China 101,751 kmsq compare
- 7 Turkmenistan 88,527 kmsq compare
More environment data for United States of America
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.91 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.62 Percentage change (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,193 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 1,199 (2024)
- Total fisheries production 4.68 million metric tons (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 4.21 million metric tons (2024)
- Aquaculture production 467,617 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 9.94 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in United States of America was 252,791 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 253,011 kmsq in 2021.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 222,564 kmsq in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- United States of America ranks 4th out of 252 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of 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.
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