Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern America
Northern America: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 176,802 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern America, 2000–2022
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 America is 176,802 kmsq, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern America peaked at 176,802 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 122,280 kmsq, in 2001.
Northern America ranks 9th of 39 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern America, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 122,830 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 122,280 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 124,686 kmsq | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 126,149 kmsq | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 127,012 kmsq | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 128,722 kmsq | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 133,512 kmsq | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 135,907 kmsq | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 137,036 kmsq | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 142,654 kmsq | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 145,036 kmsq | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 144,686 kmsq | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 146,557 kmsq | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 140,577 kmsq | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 140,533 kmsq | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 138,786 kmsq | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 138,340 kmsq | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 140,636 kmsq | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 153,407 kmsq | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 158,257 kmsq | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 166,214 kmsq | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 174,736 kmsq | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 176,802 kmsq | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 130,079 kmsq | 122,280 kmsq | 142,654 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 144,682 kmsq | 138,340 kmsq | 158,257 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 172,584 kmsq | 166,214 kmsq | 176,802 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Northern America
More environment data for Northern America
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.23 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.466 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.49 °C (2025)
- Recovered paper — Production 43.74 million t (2024)
- Total fibre furnish — Production 92.54 million t (2024)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Agricultural Use 14.64 million t (2024)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per capita 37.99 kg/cap (2024)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Use per area of cropland 75.85 kg/ha (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern America?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Northern America was 176,802 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 America?
- The highest recorded value was 176,802 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 122,280 kmsq in 2001.
- How does Northern America rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- Northern America ranks 9th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Northern America 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).