Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 27,161 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Eastern Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
In 2022, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Eastern Africa stood at 27,161 kmsq. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 43.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Eastern Africa peaked at 27,161 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 9,772 kmsq, in 2000.
Eastern Africa ranks 24th of 39 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 Eastern Africa, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9,772 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 10,426 kmsq | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 13,335 kmsq | +27.9% |
| 2003 | 14,678 kmsq | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 15,035 kmsq | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 15,688 kmsq | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 15,554 kmsq | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 15,050 kmsq | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 16,719 kmsq | +11.1% |
| 2009 | 17,454 kmsq | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 17,977 kmsq | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 18,755 kmsq | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 18,939 kmsq | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 18,362 kmsq | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 18,162 kmsq | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 19,071 kmsq | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 19,368 kmsq | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 20,645 kmsq | +6.6% |
| 2018 | 22,220 kmsq | +7.6% |
| 2019 | 23,834 kmsq | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 23,743 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 25,896 kmsq | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 27,161 kmsq | +4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14,371 kmsq | 9,772 kmsq | 17,454 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,733 kmsq | 17,977 kmsq | 23,834 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,600 kmsq | 23,743 kmsq | 27,161 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Eastern Africa
More environment data for Eastern Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.229 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import value -0.3367 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total fibre furnish — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.69 Percentage change (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Import quantity, annual growth rate 13.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Import value, annual growth rate -0.29 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Eastern Africa?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Eastern Africa was 27,161 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27,161 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,772 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Eastern Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- Eastern Africa ranks 24th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eastern 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).