Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia

Australia: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 50,627 in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
50,627
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
6th
of 219 countries
All-time high
62,664
in 2012
All-time low
47,948
in 2007
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

020.0k40.0k60.0k2000201120222000: 50.9k2001: 53.8k2002: 59.5k2003: 53.9k2004: 54.1k2005: 56.4k2006: 50.9k2007: 47.9k2008: 51.9k2009: 51.3k2010: 51.3k2011: 56.7k2012: 62.7k2013: 62.0k2014: 60.6k2015: 58.4k2016: 53.3k2017: 50.3k2018: 51.8k2019: 52.9k2020: 51.0k2021: 53.0k2022: 50.6k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2022, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia stood at 50,627.

The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia peaked at 62,664 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 47,948, in 2007.

That places Australia 6th out of 219 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in Australia, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 50,948
2001 53,784 +5.6%
2002 59,502 +10.6%
2003 53,930 -9.4%
2004 54,088 +0.3%
2005 56,384 +4.2%
2006 50,913 -9.7%
2007 47,948 -5.8%
2008 51,946 +8.3%
2009 51,250 -1.3%
2010 51,311 +0.1%
2011 56,742 +10.6%
2012 62,664 +10.4%
2013 61,958 -1.1%
2014 60,567 -2.2%
2015 58,381 -3.6%
2016 53,321 -8.7%
2017 50,332 -5.6%
2018 51,842 +3.0%
2019 52,876 +2.0%
2020 50,966 -3.6%
2021 53,025 +4.0%
2022 50,627 -4.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 53,069 47,948 59,502 10
2010s 55,999 50,332 62,664 10
2020s 51,539 50,627 53,025 3

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 3 China 81,086 compare
  2. 4 India 62,015 compare
  3. 5 Australia and New Zealand 51,211 compare
  4. 7 Kazakhstan 50,254 compare
  5. 8 Brazil 43,922 compare
  6. 9 Argentina 28,440 compare

See the full ranking of 277 places →

More environment data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Australia was 50,627 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 62,664 in 2012.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 47,948 in 2007.
How does Australia rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
Australia ranks 6th out of 219 countries with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia 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. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/australia/

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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
277 places, 6,369 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed