Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in China

China: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 81,086 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
81,086
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
3rd
of 219 countries
All-time high
81,086
in 2022
All-time low
35,641
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k2000201120222000: 35.6k2001: 40.6k2002: 44.8k2003: 54.0k2004: 61.2k2005: 66.3k2006: 66.9k2007: 66.0k2008: 64.6k2009: 63.7k2010: 62.3k2011: 61.2k2012: 59.9k2013: 58.0k2014: 59.1k2015: 60.6k2016: 60.4k2017: 64.7k2018: 69.6k2019: 71.3k2020: 74.2k2021: 79.6k2022: 81.1k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2022, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in China stood at 81,086. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 35.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in China peaked at 81,086 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 35,641, in 2000.

China ranks 3rd of 219 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in China, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 35,641
2001 40,558 +13.8%
2002 44,800 +10.5%
2003 54,038 +20.6%
2004 61,229 +13.3%
2005 66,327 +8.3%
2006 66,921 +0.9%
2007 66,037 -1.3%
2008 64,580 -2.2%
2009 63,722 -1.3%
2010 62,254 -2.3%
2011 61,197 -1.7%
2012 59,928 -2.1%
2013 58,039 -3.2%
2014 59,063 +1.8%
2015 60,648 +2.7%
2016 60,375 -0.5%
2017 64,672 +7.1%
2018 69,585 +7.6%
2019 71,308 +2.5%
2020 74,234 +4.1%
2021 79,614 +7.2%
2022 81,086 +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 56,385 35,641 66,921 10
2010s 62,707 58,039 71,308 10
2020s 78,311 74,234 81,086 3

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 Russian Federation 176,162 compare
  2. 2 Canada 99,001 compare
  3. 4 India 62,015 compare
  4. 5 Australia and New Zealand 51,211 compare
  5. 6 Australia 50,627 compare
  6. 6 Viet Nam 17,415 compare

See the full ranking of 277 places →

More environment data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in China?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in China was 81,086 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 81,086 in 2022.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 35,641 in 2000.
How does China rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
China ranks 3rd out of 219 countries with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China 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 China. 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/china/

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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