Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America

South America: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change was 18.4% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
18.4%
Change on year
down 14.8%
Rank
35th
of 39 groups
All-time high
24.4%
in 2020
All-time low
-5.5%
in 2007
Years of data
18
2005–2022

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

-10010202005201320222005: -2.2 %2006: -3 %2007: -5.5 %2008: -3.9 %2009: -2.5 %2010: -2.5 %2011: -2.3 %2012: -1.4 %2013: -4.7 %2014: -4.4 %2015: 0.74 %2016: 4.5 %2017: 10.5 %2018: 18.6 %2019: 24.2 %2020: 24.4 %2021: 21.6 %2022: 18.4 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America is 18.4%, measured in 2022.

The figure is down 14.8% on the previous year and up 1,417.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America peaked at 24.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, -5.5%, in 2007.

That places South America 35th out of 39 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change (%) in South America, 2005 to 2022.
Year % Change
2005 -2.2%
2006 -3.0% +32.6%
2007 -5.5% +87.0%
2008 -3.9% -29.1%
2009 -2.5% -35.8%
2010 -2.5% -0.4%
2011 -2.3% -6.1%
2012 -1.4% -40.5%
2013 -4.7% +239.1%
2014 -4.4% -6.3%
2015 0.7% -116.7%
2016 4.5% +501.0%
2017 10.5% +136.3%
2018 18.6% +76.8%
2019 24.2% +30.3%
2020 24.4% +0.6%
2021 21.6% -11.3%
2022 18.4% -14.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -3.4% -5.5% -2.2% 5
2010s 4.3% -4.7% 24.2% 10
2020s 21.5% 18.4% 24.4% 3

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 33 Malawi 146.4% compare
  2. 34 Palau 145.2% compare
  3. 35 Norway 141.7% compare
  4. 36 Gabon 141.1% compare
  5. 37 Tokelau 138.3% compare
  6. 38 Liechtenstein 136.6% compare

See the full ranking of 286 places →

More environment data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America was 18.4% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area change recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 2020.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area change recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was -5.5% in 2007.
How does South America rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area change?
South America ranks 35th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area change rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,417.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South America 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-change-percent/south-america/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-change-percent/south-america/">Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change in South America</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area change (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
286 places, 5,146 data points, 2005–2022
Last refreshed