Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Europe

Europe: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 195,018 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
195,018
Change on year
down 0.7%
Rank
4th
of 34 groups
All-time high
196,371
in 2021
All-time low
33,980
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

50.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k2000201120222000: 34.0k2001: 53.0k2002: 72.3k2003: 93.0k2004: 87.9k2005: 96.1k2006: 94.1k2007: 94.2k2008: 98.3k2009: 105.6k2010: 110.0k2011: 110.5k2012: 111.7k2013: 104.8k2014: 113.4k2015: 119.3k2016: 127.9k2017: 145.6k2018: 168.0k2019: 180.3k2020: 186.3k2021: 196.4k2022: 195.0k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

Europe recorded 195,018 for lakes and rivers seasonal water area in 2022.

The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 74.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Europe peaked at 196,371 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 33,980, in 2000.

That places Europe 4th out of 34 groups with data for 2022, putting it 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 Europe, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in Europe, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 33,980
2001 53,048 +56.1%
2002 72,276 +36.2%
2003 92,968 +28.6%
2004 87,889 -5.5%
2005 96,066 +9.3%
2006 94,145 -2.0%
2007 94,208 +0.1%
2008 98,320 +4.4%
2009 105,560 +7.4%
2010 109,958 +4.2%
2011 110,514 +0.5%
2012 111,705 +1.1%
2013 104,794 -6.2%
2014 113,357 +8.2%
2015 119,254 +5.2%
2016 127,871 +7.2%
2017 145,596 +13.9%
2018 167,971 +15.4%
2019 180,310 +7.3%
2020 186,292 +3.3%
2021 196,371 +5.4%
2022 195,018 -0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 82,846 33,980 105,560 10
2010s 129,133 104,794 180,310 10
2020s 192,560 186,292 196,371 3

Countries ranked near Europe

  1. 1 Russian Federation 176,162 compare
  2. 2 Canada 99,001 compare
  3. 3 China 81,086 compare
  4. 4 India 62,015 compare
  5. 5 Australia and New Zealand 51,211 compare
  6. 6 Australia 50,627 compare
  7. 6 Viet Nam 17,415 compare
  8. 7 Kazakhstan 50,254 compare

See the full ranking of 277 places →

More environment data for Europe

All data for Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Europe?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Europe was 195,018 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Europe?
The highest recorded value was 196,371 in 2021.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 33,980 in 2000.
How does Europe rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
Europe ranks 4th out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 74.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Europe 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 Europe. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/europe/

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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