Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa
South Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 1,913 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 1,913 kmsq, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa peaked at 1,913 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,217 kmsq, in 2000.
That places South Africa 56th out of 252 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,217 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 1,292 kmsq | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 1,506 kmsq | +16.5% |
| 2003 | 1,468 kmsq | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 1,391 kmsq | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 1,477 kmsq | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 1,456 kmsq | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 1,504 kmsq | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 1,472 kmsq | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 1,508 kmsq | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 1,501 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 1,544 kmsq | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 1,511 kmsq | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1,505 kmsq | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 1,547 kmsq | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 1,623 kmsq | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 1,669 kmsq | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 1,664 kmsq | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 1,759 kmsq | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 1,798 kmsq | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 1,784 kmsq | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 1,802 kmsq | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 1,913 kmsq | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,429 kmsq | 1,217 kmsq | 1,508 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,612 kmsq | 1,501 kmsq | 1,798 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,833 kmsq | 1,784 kmsq | 1,913 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs, non-coniferous — Production, annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other industrial roundwood — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other industrial roundwood, non-coniferous (production) — Production 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Wood charcoal — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South Africa was 1,913 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,913 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,217 kmsq in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 252 countries with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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).