Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 77,320 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Sub-Saharan 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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 77,320 kmsq, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 48.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 77,320 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 23,673 kmsq, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 19th 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 23,673 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 28,159 kmsq | +19.0% |
| 2002 | 36,521 kmsq | +29.7% |
| 2003 | 42,014 kmsq | +15.0% |
| 2004 | 45,175 kmsq | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 45,556 kmsq | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 44,472 kmsq | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 43,604 kmsq | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 45,746 kmsq | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 46,990 kmsq | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 48,684 kmsq | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 51,607 kmsq | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 51,978 kmsq | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 51,256 kmsq | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 52,623 kmsq | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 54,897 kmsq | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 56,486 kmsq | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 61,311 kmsq | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 65,382 kmsq | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 69,372 kmsq | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 70,519 kmsq | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 75,714 kmsq | +7.4% |
| 2022 | 77,320 kmsq | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40,191 kmsq | 23,673 kmsq | 46,990 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 56,360 kmsq | 48,684 kmsq | 69,372 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 74,518 kmsq | 70,519 kmsq | 77,320 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More environment data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.223 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.21 °C (2025)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 305.43 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Aquaculture production 904,662 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2.29 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Permanent meadows and pastures — Share in Agricultural land 72.81 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Sub-Saharan Africa was 77,320 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 77,320 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,673 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 19th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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).