Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 51,211 in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
51,211
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
7th
of 252 countries
All-time high
63,175
in 2012
All-time low
48,501
in 2007
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand, 2000–2022

020.0k40.0k60.0k2000201120222000: 51.0k2001: 54.0k2002: 59.8k2003: 54.3k2004: 54.6k2005: 56.9k2006: 51.4k2007: 48.5k2008: 52.5k2009: 51.8k2010: 51.9k2011: 57.3k2012: 63.2k2013: 62.5k2014: 61.1k2015: 58.9k2016: 53.9k2017: 50.9k2018: 52.4k2019: 53.5k2020: 51.5k2021: 53.6k2022: 51.2k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2022, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand stood at 51,211.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand peaked at 63,175 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 48,501, in 2007.

That places Australia and New Zealand 7th out of 252 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in Australia and New Zealand, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 51,031
2001 53,964 +5.7%
2002 59,773 +10.8%
2003 54,300 -9.2%
2004 54,565 +0.5%
2005 56,885 +4.3%
2006 51,433 -9.6%
2007 48,501 -5.7%
2008 52,504 +8.3%
2009 51,806 -1.3%
2010 51,853 +0.1%
2011 57,277 +10.5%
2012 63,175 +10.3%
2013 62,451 -1.1%
2014 61,076 -2.2%
2015 58,920 -3.5%
2016 53,900 -8.5%
2017 50,912 -5.5%
2018 52,441 +3.0%
2019 53,463 +2.0%
2020 51,543 -3.6%
2021 53,576 +3.9%
2022 51,211 -4.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 53,476 48,501 59,773 10
2010s 56,547 50,912 63,175 10
2020s 52,110 51,211 53,576 3

Countries ranked near Australia and New Zealand

  1. 4 China 81,086 compare
  2. 5 United States of America 76,486 compare
  3. 6 India 62,015 compare
  4. 8 Australia 50,627 compare
  5. 9 Kazakhstan 50,254 compare
  6. 10 Brazil 43,922 compare

See the full ranking of 291 places →

More environment data for Australia and New Zealand

All data for Australia and New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand was 51,211 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 63,175 in 2012.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 48,501 in 2007.
How does Australia and New Zealand rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
Australia and New Zealand ranks 7th out of 252 countries with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Australia and New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia and New Zealand 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.

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Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia and New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/australia-and-new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
291 places, 6,691 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed