Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Africa

Western Africa: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 21,965 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
21,965 kmsq
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
25th
of 39 groups
All-time high
21,965 kmsq
in 2022
All-time low
4,854 kmsq
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Africa, 2000–2022

5.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k2000201120222000: 4.9k kmsq2001: 7.1k kmsq2002: 9.6k kmsq2003: 11.9k kmsq2004: 14.0k kmsq2005: 12.8k kmsq2006: 12.1k kmsq2007: 11.8k kmsq2008: 12.3k kmsq2009: 12.1k kmsq2010: 13.1k kmsq2011: 14.2k kmsq2012: 14.3k kmsq2013: 14.4k kmsq2014: 15.5k kmsq2015: 15.7k kmsq2016: 16.6k kmsq2017: 18.5k kmsq2018: 18.7k kmsq2019: 19.5k kmsq2020: 20.9k kmsq2021: 21.9k kmsq2022: 22.0k kmsq

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kmsq.

Analysis

Western Africa recorded 21,965 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 0.2% on the previous year and up 53.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Africa peaked at 21,965 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4,854 kmsq, in 2000.

That places Western Africa 25th out of 39 groups with data for 2022, putting it 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 Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in Western Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year kmsq Change
2000 4,854 kmsq
2001 7,140 kmsq +47.1%
2002 9,607 kmsq +34.5%
2003 11,930 kmsq +24.2%
2004 14,024 kmsq +17.5%
2005 12,826 kmsq -8.5%
2006 12,057 kmsq -6.0%
2007 11,827 kmsq -1.9%
2008 12,322 kmsq +4.2%
2009 12,093 kmsq -1.9%
2010 13,050 kmsq +7.9%
2011 14,160 kmsq +8.5%
2012 14,337 kmsq +1.2%
2013 14,450 kmsq +0.8%
2014 15,484 kmsq +7.2%
2015 15,732 kmsq +1.6%
2016 16,624 kmsq +5.7%
2017 18,485 kmsq +11.2%
2018 18,743 kmsq +1.4%
2019 19,513 kmsq +4.1%
2020 20,881 kmsq +7.0%
2021 21,932 kmsq +5.0%
2022 21,965 kmsq +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10,868 kmsq 4,854 kmsq 14,024 kmsq 10
2010s 16,058 kmsq 13,050 kmsq 19,513 kmsq 10
2020s 21,592 kmsq 20,881 kmsq 21,965 kmsq 3

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 22 Uzbekistan 8,769 kmsq compare
  2. 23 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 8,749 kmsq compare
  3. 24 Thailand 8,462 kmsq compare
  4. 25 Mali 7,892 kmsq compare
  5. 26 Colombia 7,788 kmsq compare
  6. 27 Zambia 7,044 kmsq compare
  7. 28 Turkmenistan 6,818 kmsq compare

See the full ranking of 291 places →

More environment data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Africa?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Africa was 21,965 kmsq in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 21,965 kmsq in 2022.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4,854 kmsq in 2000.
How does Western Africa rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
Western Africa ranks 25th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Western 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.

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Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/western-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres)
Unit
kmsq
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
291 places, 6,691 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed