Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa
South Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 0.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa stood at 0.2%. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa peaked at 0.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 179th of 221 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.1% | — |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | +16.5% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | +6.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4%, 43% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.3%, 60% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Cooling Degree Days, annual growth rate 15.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, gaps filled 1,439 (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Value Added Deflator (Agriculture, forestry and fishery) — Value 26.72 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa was 0.2% in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- South Africa ranks 179th out of 221 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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 (% of total land area). 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).