Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Western Africa
Western Africa: Lakes and rivers permanent water area was 4,700 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Western Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Western Africa recorded 4,700 for lakes and rivers permanent water area in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers permanent water area in Western Africa peaked at 4,700 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2,021, in 2000.
That places Western Africa 26th 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 Western Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,021 | — |
| 2001 | 2,484 | +22.9% |
| 2002 | 3,222 | +29.7% |
| 2003 | 4,029 | +25.0% |
| 2004 | 4,276 | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 4,229 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 4,193 | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 4,143 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 4,112 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 4,156 | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 4,199 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 4,250 | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 4,375 | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 4,445 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 4,570 | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 4,651 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 4,638 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 4,612 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 4,592 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 4,468 | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 4,478 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 4,585 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 4,700 | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,687 | 2,021 | 4,276 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,480 | 4,199 | 4,651 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,587 | 4,478 | 4,700 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
More environment data for Western Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -6.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.59 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.37 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Wood fuel — Production 221.11 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 51,000 m3 (2024)
- Wood fuel, coniferous — Production 0 m3 (2024)
- Wood fuel, non-coniferous — Production 221.11 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 20.68 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers permanent water area in Western Africa?
- Lakes and rivers permanent water area in Western Africa was 4,700 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,700 in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers permanent water area recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,021 in 2000.
- How does Western Africa rank for lakes and rivers permanent water area?
- Western Africa ranks 26th out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers permanent water area rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western 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).