Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World

World: Lakes and rivers seasonal water area was 990,821 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
990,821
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
1st
of 34 groups
All-time high
995,238
in 2021
All-time low
473,491
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World, 2000–2022

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1.0M2000201120222000: 473.5k2001: 529.9k2002: 588.2k2003: 648.6k2004: 663.9k2005: 690.8k2006: 692.3k2007: 695.8k2008: 717.4k2009: 741.2k2010: 748.1k2011: 755.2k2012: 767.1k2013: 739.9k2014: 753.9k2015: 769.5k2016: 782.3k2017: 823.7k2018: 896.6k2019: 930.9k2020: 957.6k2021: 995.2k2022: 990.8k

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World is 990,821, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 29.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World peaked at 995,238 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 473,491, in 2000.

World ranks 1st of 34 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World, year by year

Annual values for Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres) in World, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 473,491
2001 529,915 +11.9%
2002 588,176 +11.0%
2003 648,585 +10.3%
2004 663,889 +2.4%
2005 690,786 +4.1%
2006 692,312 +0.2%
2007 695,770 +0.5%
2008 717,392 +3.1%
2009 741,199 +3.3%
2010 748,067 +0.9%
2011 755,156 +0.9%
2012 767,137 +1.6%
2013 739,940 -3.5%
2014 753,869 +1.9%
2015 769,501 +2.1%
2016 782,323 +1.7%
2017 823,671 +5.3%
2018 896,552 +8.8%
2019 930,933 +3.8%
2020 957,617 +2.9%
2021 995,238 +3.9%
2022 990,821 -0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 644,152 473,491 741,199 10
2010s 796,715 739,940 930,933 10
2020s 981,225 957,617 995,238 3

Countries ranked near World

  1. 1 Russian Federation 176,162 compare
  2. 2 Canada 99,001 compare
  3. 3 China 81,086 compare
  4. 4 India 62,015 compare

See the full ranking of 277 places →

More environment data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World?
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area in World was 990,821 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 995,238 in 2021.
What is the lowest lakes and rivers seasonal water area recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 473,491 in 2000.
How does World rank for lakes and rivers seasonal water area?
World ranks 1st out of 34 groups with data for 2022.
Is lakes and rivers seasonal water area rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/lakes-and-rivers-seasonal-water-area-square-kilometres/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Lakes and rivers seasonal water area (square kilometres)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
277 places, 6,369 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed