Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa

Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change was 59.4% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
59.4%
Change on year
up 5.7%
Rank
11th
of 34 groups
All-time high
59.4%
in 2022
All-time low
-11.2%
in 2007
Years of data
18
2005–2022

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa, 2005–2022

-2002040602005201320222005: -82006: -10.22007: -11.22008: -32009: -0.7672010: 32011: 8.62012: 9.42013: 82014: 11.12015: 15.62016: 19.22017: 28.32018: 36.12019: 43.52020: 462021: 56.22022: 59.4

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Africa recorded 59.4% for lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in 2022. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 529.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa peaked at 59.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -11.2%, in 2007.

Africa ranks 11th of 34 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change (%) in Africa, 2005 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2005 -8.0%
2006 -10.2% +27.3%
2007 -11.2% +9.4%
2008 -3.0% -73.4%
2009 -0.8% -74.3%
2010 3.0% -484.7%
2011 8.6% +192.7%
2012 9.4% +9.2%
2013 8.0% -15.7%
2014 11.1% +39.1%
2015 15.6% +41.1%
2016 19.2% +22.8%
2017 28.3% +47.8%
2018 36.1% +27.5%
2019 43.5% +20.5%
2020 46.0% +5.7%
2021 56.2% +22.0%
2022 59.4% +5.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -6.7% -11.2% -0.8% 5
2010s 18.3% 3.0% 43.5% 10
2020s 53.8% 46.0% 59.4% 3

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 8 Gibraltar 348.9% compare
  2. 9 Andorra 257.1% compare
  3. 9 Democratic Republic of the Congo 51.6% compare
  4. 10 Marshall Islands 241.7% compare
  5. 11 French Polynesia 240.9% compare
  6. 12 Equatorial Guinea 234.9% compare
  7. 13 Fiji 200.9% compare
  8. 14 Northern Mariana Islands 179.8% compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More environment data for Africa

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa was 59.4% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area change recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2022.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area change recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -11.2% in 2007.
How does Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area change?
Africa ranks 11th out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area change rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 529.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-change-percent/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
272 places, 4,894 data points, 2005–2022
Last refreshed