Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 11,261 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Southern Africa, 2000–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.
Analysis
Southern Africa recorded 11,261 kmsq for lakes and rivers seasonal water area in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Southern Africa peaked at 11,261 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4,909 kmsq, in 2000.
That places Southern Africa 30th out of 39 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4,909 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 5,287 kmsq | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 6,183 kmsq | +16.9% |
| 2003 | 6,258 kmsq | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 6,327 kmsq | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 7,193 kmsq | +13.7% |
| 2006 | 7,084 kmsq | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 7,338 kmsq | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 7,587 kmsq | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 8,226 kmsq | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 8,450 kmsq | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 9,102 kmsq | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 9,110 kmsq | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 8,947 kmsq | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 8,658 kmsq | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 8,512 kmsq | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 8,351 kmsq | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 8,565 kmsq | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 9,663 kmsq | +12.8% |
| 2019 | 10,468 kmsq | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 10,313 kmsq | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 11,004 kmsq | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 11,261 kmsq | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,639 kmsq | 4,909 kmsq | 8,226 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,983 kmsq | 8,351 kmsq | 10,468 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,859 kmsq | 10,313 kmsq | 11,261 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More environment data for Southern Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 7.61 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 4.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 0.892 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.282 °C (2025)
- Industrial roundwood — Export quantity 427,327 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 9.63 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import value 35,013 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import quantity 161,260 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 17.26 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Southern Africa?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Southern Africa was 11,261 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11,261 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,909 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Southern Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- Southern Africa ranks 30th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern 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).