Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa
Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 85,556 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa stood at 85,556. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 45.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa peaked at 85,556 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 25,039, in 2000.
Africa ranks 13th of 34 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25,039 | — |
| 2001 | 30,224 | +20.7% |
| 2002 | 39,070 | +29.3% |
| 2003 | 45,142 | +15.5% |
| 2004 | 48,680 | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 49,368 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 48,188 | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 47,672 | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 52,086 | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 53,277 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 55,273 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 58,326 | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 58,753 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 57,958 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 59,628 | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 62,070 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 63,979 | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 68,902 | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 73,079 | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 77,060 | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 78,398 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 83,837 | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 85,556 | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43,875 | 25,039 | 53,277 | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,503 | 55,273 | 77,060 | 10 |
| 2020s | 82,597 | 78,398 | 85,556 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More environment data for Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.32 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.213 °C (2025)
- Primary wood and paper products (export/import) — Export value 5.54 million 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 32.26 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 714,851 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 3.78 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value 182,147 1000 USD (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Africa was 85,556 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 85,556 in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25,039 in 2000.
- How does Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- Africa ranks 13th out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (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).