Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Europe
Western Europe: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 2,340 kmsq in 2022. ▲ Rising
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Europe, 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 Western Europe is 2,340 kmsq, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 73.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Europe peaked at 2,340 kmsq in 2022 and was at its lowest, 305.54 kmsq, in 2000.
That places Western Europe 36th 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 Western Europe, year by year
| Year | kmsq | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 305.54 kmsq | — |
| 2001 | 587.84 kmsq | +92.4% |
| 2002 | 868.27 kmsq | +47.7% |
| 2003 | 1,131 kmsq | +30.2% |
| 2004 | 1,331 kmsq | +17.7% |
| 2005 | 1,489 kmsq | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 1,522 kmsq | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 1,586 kmsq | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 1,534 kmsq | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 1,400 kmsq | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 1,426 kmsq | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 1,388 kmsq | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 1,346 kmsq | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 1,359 kmsq | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 1,525 kmsq | +12.3% |
| 2015 | 1,594 kmsq | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 1,791 kmsq | +12.4% |
| 2017 | 1,904 kmsq | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 2,054 kmsq | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 2,116 kmsq | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 2,159 kmsq | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 2,264 kmsq | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 2,340 kmsq | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,175 kmsq | 305.54 kmsq | 1,586 kmsq | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,650 kmsq | 1,346 kmsq | 2,116 kmsq | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,255 kmsq | 2,159 kmsq | 2,340 kmsq | 3 |
Countries ranked near Western Europe
More environment data for Western Europe
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.94 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.485 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.23 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total fibre furnish — Production, annual growth rate -4.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Plywood and LVL — Import quantity, annual growth rate 5.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Import value, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export quantity, annual growth rate 3.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export value, annual growth rate 8.44 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Europe?
- Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in Western Europe was 2,340 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 Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 2,340 kmsq in 2022.
- What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 305.54 kmsq in 2000.
- How does Western Europe rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
- Western Europe ranks 36th out of 39 groups with data for 2022.
- Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 73.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Europe 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).