Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa

Northern Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 8,236 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
8,236 kmsq
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
31st
of 39 groups
All-time high
8,236 kmsq
in 2022
All-time low
1,366 kmsq
in 2000
Years of data
21
2000–2022

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa, 2000–2022

2.0k4.0k6.0k8.0k2000201120222000: 1.4k kmsq2001: 2.1k kmsq2002: 2.5k kmsq2003: 3.1k kmsq2004: 3.5k kmsq2005: 3.8k kmsq2006: 3.7k kmsq2007: 4.1k kmsq2008: 6.3k kmsq2009: 6.3k kmsq2010: 6.6k kmsq2011: 6.7k kmsq2012: 6.8k kmsq2013: 6.7k kmsq2016: 7.5k kmsq2017: 7.6k kmsq2018: 7.7k kmsq2019: 7.7k kmsq2020: 7.9k kmsq2021: 8.1k kmsq2022: 8.2k kmsq

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa is 8,236 kmsq, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa peaked at 8,236 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,366 kmsq, in 2000.

Northern Africa ranks 31st of 39 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in Northern Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year kmsq Change
2000 1,366 kmsq
2001 2,065 kmsq +51.2%
2002 2,549 kmsq +23.4%
2003 3,128 kmsq +22.7%
2004 3,505 kmsq +12.1%
2005 3,813 kmsq +8.8%
2006 3,716 kmsq -2.5%
2007 4,068 kmsq +9.5%
2008 6,340 kmsq +55.9%
2009 6,287 kmsq -0.8%
2010 6,590 kmsq +4.8%
2011 6,719 kmsq +2.0%
2012 6,775 kmsq +0.8%
2013 6,702 kmsq -1.1%
2016 7,493 kmsq +11.8%
2017 7,591 kmsq +1.3%
2018 7,697 kmsq +1.4%
2019 7,688 kmsq -0.1%
2020 7,879 kmsq +2.5%
2021 8,123 kmsq +3.1%
2022 8,236 kmsq +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3,684 kmsq 1,366 kmsq 6,340 kmsq 10
2010s 7,157 kmsq 6,590 kmsq 7,697 kmsq 8
2020s 8,079 kmsq 7,879 kmsq 8,236 kmsq 3

Countries ranked near Northern Africa

  1. 28 Turkmenistan 6,818 kmsq compare
  2. 29 Peru 6,774 kmsq compare
  3. 30 Iraq 6,227 kmsq compare
  4. 31 Nigeria 5,593 kmsq compare
  5. 32 Democratic Republic of the Congo 5,375 kmsq compare
  6. 33 Botswana 4,691 kmsq compare
  7. 34 Namibia 4,602 kmsq compare

See the full ranking of 291 places →

More environment data for Northern Africa

All data for Northern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa was 8,236 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Northern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 8,236 kmsq in 2022.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Northern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1,366 kmsq in 2000.
How does Northern Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
Northern Africa ranks 31st out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Northern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Northern 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.

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Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/northern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres)
Unit
kmsq
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