Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South America
South America: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 120,689 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South 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 South America is 120,689 kmsq, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South America peaked at 126,757 kmsq in 2020 and was at its lowest, 86,059 kmsq, in 2000.
South America ranks 14th 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 South America, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 86,059 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 93,343 kmsq | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 99,486 kmsq | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 102,583 kmsq | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 101,604 kmsq | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 99,635 kmsq | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 98,894 kmsq | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 96,275 kmsq | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 97,916 kmsq | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 99,346 kmsq | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 99,357 kmsq | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 99,511 kmsq | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 100,481 kmsq | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 97,072 kmsq | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 97,378 kmsq | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 102,661 kmsq | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 106,441 kmsq | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 112,622 kmsq | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 120,856 kmsq | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 126,598 kmsq | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 126,757 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 123,954 kmsq | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 120,689 kmsq | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 97,514 kmsq | 86,059 kmsq | 102,583 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 106,298 kmsq | 97,072 kmsq | 126,598 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 123,800 kmsq | 120,689 kmsq | 126,757 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 11 Argentina 28,440 kmsq compare
- 12 Viet Nam 17,415 kmsq compare
- 12 Viet Nam 17,415 kmsq compare
- 14 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 16,811 kmsq compare
- 15 Bangladesh 16,396 kmsq compare
- 16 Pakistan 15,286 kmsq compare
- 17 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 12,385 kmsq compare
More environment data for South America
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Production 477.72 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 379.32 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 98.40 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 589,290 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 4.28 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South America?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in South America was 120,689 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 America?
- The highest recorded value was 126,757 kmsq in 2020.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 86,059 kmsq in 2000.
- How does South America rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- South America ranks 14th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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.
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