Progress on Water-Related Ecosystems
Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems will mitigate and strengthen resilience to climate change. For instance, wetlands trap carbon from the atmosphere and protect coastal areas from storm surges and inland areas from both floods and droughts by retaining water.
- 21 % of the world’s water basins is experiencing rapid changes in the area covered by surface waters (SDG 6 indicator 6.6.1, 2020)
Available time series: 2005-2020
Proportion of world population covered by reporting in the last five years:98%
Proportion of world economy covered by reporting in the last five years: 99%
Proportion of world land area covered by reporting in the last five years: 99%
Learn more about the indicator here
Read the latest progress report here
SDG target 6.6 is: ‘By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.’
To track progress towards the target, indicator 6.6.1 tracks changes over time in water-related ecosystems such as lakes, rivers, wetlands and mangroves, with the help of earth observations.
Global status of indicator 6.6.1 Proportion of water basins experiencing high surface water extent changes (2020)
Changes include both increases and decreases in the area covered by surface water, corresponding to flooding and droughts and often associated with climate change. In --- countries (and areas) (representing ---% of the global land area and ---% of the global population), more than 50% of water basins is experiencing rapid changes. In --- countries (and areas) (representing ---% of the global land area and ---% of the global population), all water basins are experiencing rapid changes.
Proportion of water basins (%)
Change over time of indicator Proportion of water basins experiencing high surface water extent changes
Status in different countries (or areas) of indicator 6.6.1 Proportion of water basins experiencing high surface water extent changes (2020)
- Australia and New Zealand
- Eastern and South-Eastern Asia
- Central and Southern Asia
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Europe and Northern America
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand)
- Northern Africa and Western Asia
Status in different SDG regions of indicator 6.6.1 Proportion of water basins experiencing high surface water extent changes (2020)
Status of different components of Indicator 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
Spatial extent of wetlands, rivers and open water bodies, from national data, for one country (as an example)
Water quantity in rivers, open water bodies and aquifers, from national data, for one country (as an example)
Proportion of water bodies with good water quality, in rivers, open water bodies and aquifers, from national data, for one country (as an example). The data are coming from SDG indicator 6.3.2 on ambient water quality.
Country (or area), regional and world data for the latest year of reporting: 2007 - 2023
| Country (or area), region, world | Year | 6.6.1 Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spatial extent of water-related ecosystems from earth observation data, Lakes, rivers, estuaries and artificial water bodies (km2) | Spatial extent of water-related ecosystems from national data, Total (km2) | Water quantity from national data, Total (10^6 m3/year) | Water quality from national data, Overall (Indicator 6.3.2 Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality, %) | |||||
| Afghanistan | 2016 | 580.46 | ||||||
| Albania | 2016-2023 | 518.5 | 39.06 | |||||
| Algeria | 2016 | 421.77 | ||||||
| American Samoa | 2016 | 0.68 | ||||||
| Andorra | 2016-2023 | 0.62 | 473.39 | 11.8 | 68 | |||
| Angola | 2016-2023 | 913.35 | 75.25 | |||||
| Anguilla | 2016 | 1.61 | ||||||
| Antigua and Barbuda | 2016-2023 | 33.53 | 0 | |||||
| Argentina | 2016-2023 | 27897.89 | 62.2 | |||||
| Armenia | 2016 | 1333.45 | ||||||
| Aruba | 2016 | 1.11 | ||||||
| Australia | 2016-2023 | 14511.39 | 83.76 | |||||
| Australia and New Zealand | 2016-2023 | 21583.39 | 80.6 | |||||
| Austria | 2015-2023 | 633.49 | 85840.4 | 178841.4 | 82.26 | |||
| Azerbaijan | 2016-2023 | 72059.04 | 56.6 | |||||
| Bahamas | 2016-2023 | 1076.81 | 64.71 | |||||
| Bahrain | 2016-2023 | 52.38 | 4.5 | |||||
| Bangladesh | 2016 | 4681.36 | ||||||
| Barbados | 2016 | 0.2 | ||||||
| Belarus | 2016-2023 | 1804.6 | 69.22 | |||||
| Belgium | 2016-2023 | 157.95 | 26.25 | |||||
| Belize | 2016-2023 | 281.48 | 78.95 | |||||
| Benin | 2016-2023 | 119.81 | 89.39 | |||||
| Bermuda | 2016 | 26.72 | ||||||
| Bhutan | 2016 | 75.43 | ||||||
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 2016-2023 | 12019.8 | 55.56 | |||||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2016-2023 | 197.82 | 30.58 | |||||
| Botswana | 2016-2023 | 383.65 | 221199.69 | 83.81 | ||||
| Brazil | 2016-2023 | 104863.47 | 68.23 | |||||
| British Virgin Islands | 2016 | 5.48 | ||||||
| Brunei Darussalam | 2016 | 62.37 | ||||||
| Bulgaria | 2016-2023 | 1028.15 | 32.68 | |||||
| Burkina Faso | 2016-2023 | 370.06 | 8.99 | |||||
| Burundi | 2016-2023 | 1955.15 | 100 | |||||
| Cabo Verde | 2016-2023 | 280.67 | 89 | |||||
| Cambodia | 2016 | 3431.14 | ||||||
| Cameroon | 2016-2023 | 1875.94 | 40 | |||||
| Canada | 2016-2023 | 698030.27 | 87.95 | |||||
| Cayman Islands | 2016 | 4.66 | ||||||
| Central African Republic | 2016 | 431.46 | ||||||
| Central and Southern Asia | 2016-2023 | 346773.9 | 33.1 | |||||
| Chad | 2016 | 1360.09 | ||||||
| Chile | 2016-2023 | 12106.65 | 73.06 | |||||
| China | 2016-2023 | 111859.06 | 88.52 | |||||
| China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | 2016 | 116.22 | ||||||
| Colombia | 2016-2023 | 9438.51 | 52.58 | |||||
| Comoros | 2016 | 5.61 | ||||||
| Congo | 2016 | 1675.35 | ||||||
| Cook Islands | 2016 | 1.31 | ||||||
| Costa Rica | 2016-2023 | 170.38 | 63.92 | |||||
| Croatia | 2016-2023 | 630.15 | 90.91 | |||||
| Cuba | 2016 | 2543.54 | ||||||
| Cyprus | 2016-2023 | 13.37 | 75 | |||||
| Czechia | 2016-2023 | 503.7 | 15.53 | |||||
| Côte d'Ivoire | 2016-2023 | 1812.46 | 76.92 | |||||
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 2016 | 1672.69 | ||||||
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2016-2023 | 35865.05 | 66 | |||||
| Denmark | 2016-2023 | 2416.52 | 29.31 | |||||
| Djibouti | 2016 | 151.31 | ||||||
| Dominica | 2016 | 0.32 | ||||||
| Dominican Republic | 2016-2023 | 478.49 | 88.24 | |||||
| Eastern and South-Eastern Asia | 2016-2023 | 201537.35 | 81.6 | |||||
| Ecuador | 2016 | 2121.1 | ||||||
| Egypt | 2016 | 6376.32 | ||||||
| El Salvador | 2016-2023 | 340.07 | 51 | |||||
| Equatorial Guinea | 2016 | 112.82 | ||||||
| Eritrea | 2016 | 47.54 | ||||||
| Estonia | 2013-2023 | 2063.14 | 99687.06 | 16122.87 | 18.5 | |||
| Eswatini | 2016-2023 | 56.17 | 70 | |||||
| Ethiopia | 2016-2023 | 6896.89 | 72.73 | |||||
| Europe and Northern America | 2016-2023 | 1583218.83 | 51 | |||||
| Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 2016 | 170.62 | ||||||
| Faroe Islands | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Fiji | 2016-2023 | 525.88 | 83788556.13 | 100 | ||||
| Finland | 2012-2023 | 30116.2 | 61476 | 59.71 | ||||
| France | 2016-2023 | 3689.84 | 85.26 | |||||
| French Guiana | 2016 | 519.53 | ||||||
| French Polynesia | 2016 | 264.99 | ||||||
| Gabon | 2016-2023 | 2133.65 | 93.55 | |||||
| Gambia | 2016-2023 | 742.35 | 58 | |||||
| Georgia | 2016-2023 | 308.25 | 92 | |||||
| Germany | 2016-2023 | 3838.09 | 76.7 | |||||
| Ghana | 2016-2023 | 6064.95 | 83 | |||||
| Gibraltar | 2016 | 0.24 | ||||||
| Greece | 2016-2023 | 2903.25 | 20.37 | |||||
| Greenland | 2016 | 37637.35 | ||||||
| Grenada | 2016 | 1.33 | ||||||
| Guadeloupe | 2016 | 2.75 | ||||||
| Guam | 2016 | 1.52 | ||||||
| Guatemala | 2016 | 1153.56 | ||||||
| Guernsey | 2016 | 0.45 | ||||||
| Guinea | 2016-2023 | 169.02 | 80.89 | |||||
| Guinea-Bissau | 2016 | 55.38 | ||||||
| Guyana | 2016-2023 | 1421.28 | 67.76 | |||||
| Haiti | 2016 | 212.19 | ||||||
| Holy See | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Honduras | 2016 | 836.29 | ||||||
| Hungary | 2016-2023 | 1144.91 | 12.98 | |||||
| Iceland | 2016-2023 | 2677.91 | 50 | |||||
| India | 2016-2023 | 16686.13 | 10 | |||||
| Indonesia | 2016-2023 | 30901.51 | 5 | |||||
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 2016 | 57712.02 | ||||||
| Iraq | 2016 | 4210.86 | ||||||
| Ireland | 2016-2023 | 1528.32 | 58.2 | |||||
| Isle of Man | 2016 | 0.93 | ||||||
| Israel | 2016-2023 | 457.46 | 40 | |||||
| Italy | 2016-2023 | 3627.02 | 50.66 | |||||
| Jamaica | 2016-2023 | 19.83 | 62.98 | |||||
| Japan | 2015-2023 | 7910.77 | 2140000000000 | 57.14 | ||||
| Jersey | 2016 | 0.36 | ||||||
| Jordan | 2016-2020 | 446.72 | 100 | |||||
| Kazakhstan | 2016-2023 | 158805.77 | 48.86 | |||||
| Kenya | 2016-2023 | 11584.41 | 381820.56 | 37.05 | ||||
| Kiribati | 2016 | 140.46 | ||||||
| Kuwait | 2016 | 84.48 | ||||||
| Kyrgyzstan | 2016 | 7249.77 | ||||||
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2016-2023 | 1656.4 | 80 | |||||
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 2016-2023 | 230357.63 | 57.4 | |||||
| Latvia | 2012-2023 | 964.65 | 1755.6 | 25802.7 | 83.76 | |||
| Lebanon | 2016-2023 | 17.53 | 29.09 | |||||
| Lesotho | 2016-2023 | 49.4 | 64.71 | |||||
| Liberia | 2016-2023 | 197.99 | 50 | |||||
| Libya | 2016 | 59.64 | ||||||
| Liechtenstein | 2016-2023 | 0.57 | 80.2 | |||||
| Lithuania | 2016-2023 | 916.78 | 22.36 | |||||
| Luxembourg | 2016-2023 | 5.31 | 0 | |||||
| Madagascar | 2016-2023 | 2542.55 | 90.67 | |||||
| Malawi | 2016-2023 | 23757.17 | 75.25 | |||||
| Malaysia | 2010-2016 | 3907.33 | 5520.64 | 14500000000000 | ||||
| Maldives | 2016 | 16.72 | ||||||
| Mali | 2016-2023 | 1493.27 | 70 | |||||
| Malta | 2016-2023 | 2.8 | 6.67 | |||||
| Marshall Islands | 2016-2023 | 19.83 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 87 | |||
| Martinique | 2016 | 1.43 | ||||||
| Mauritania | 2016 | 152.75 | ||||||
| Mauritius | 2016 | 16.28 | ||||||
| Mayotte | 2016 | 2.82 | ||||||
| Mexico | 2016-2023 | 10345.59 | 56.89 | |||||
| Micronesia (Federated States of) | 2016 | 4.16 | ||||||
| Monaco | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Mongolia | 2016 | 14021.39 | ||||||
| Montenegro | 2016-2023 | 262.52 | 95.35 | |||||
| Montserrat | 2016 | 0.58 | ||||||
| Morocco | 2016-2023 | 630.89 | 18340 | 79.15 | ||||
| Mozambique | 2016 | 11620.37 | ||||||
| Myanmar | 2016 | 6533.38 | ||||||
| Namibia | 2016-2023 | 289.8 | 63 | |||||
| Nauru | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Nepal | 2016 | 203.4 | ||||||
| Netherlands | 2015-2023 | 1042.49 | 3627.6 | 12.67 | ||||
| New Caledonia | 2016 | 71.76 | ||||||
| New Zealand | 2016-2023 | 7072 | 57.93 | |||||
| Nicaragua | 2016 | 9761.65 | ||||||
| Niger | 2016-2020 | 326.06 | 80 | |||||
| Nigeria | 2016-2023 | 4212.87 | 50.78 | |||||
| Niue | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Norfolk Island | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| North Macedonia | 2016-2023 | 502.85 | 72.22 | |||||
| Northern Africa and Western Asia | 2016-2023 | 103868.32 | 67.3 | |||||
| Northern Mariana Islands | 2016 | 3.38 | ||||||
| Norway | 2016-2023 | 17590.13 | 100 | |||||
| Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) | 2016-2023 | 6723.8 | 97.3 | |||||
| Oman | 2016 | 235.96 | ||||||
| Pakistan | 2016 | 2468.87 | ||||||
| Palau | 2016 | 1.91 | ||||||
| Panama | 2016-2023 | 729.8 | 75.23 | |||||
| Papua New Guinea | 2016 | 5280.96 | ||||||
| Paraguay | 2016-2023 | 3407.61 | 71.61 | |||||
| Peru | 2016-2023 | 12763.17 | 99.2 | 37.44 | ||||
| Philippines | 2016 | 6102.27 | ||||||
| Pitcairn | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Poland | 2015-2023 | 3552.05 | 4204.45 | 1670000000000 | 67.59 | |||
| Portugal | 2016-2023 | 773.56 | 52.94 | |||||
| Puerto Rico | 2016 | 28.64 | ||||||
| Qatar | 2016-2023 | 166.06 | 50 | |||||
| Republic of Korea | 2016-2023 | 1820.02 | 93.56 | |||||
| Republic of Moldova | 2016 | 290.05 | ||||||
| Romania | 2016-2023 | 2419.15 | 5477.27 | 10075.35 | 50.86 | |||
| Russian Federation | 2016-2023 | 546991.95 | 100 | |||||
| Rwanda | 2016-2023 | 1505.15 | 77.78 | |||||
| Saint Helena | 2016 | 1.18 | ||||||
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2016-2023 | 1.68 | 82 | |||||
| Saint Lucia | 2016 | 0.36 | ||||||
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 2016 | 16.78 | ||||||
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2016 | 1.74 | ||||||
| Samoa | 2016-2023 | 5.17 | 100 | |||||
| San Marino | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Sao Tome and Principe | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Saudi Arabia | 2016 | 1481.16 | ||||||
| Senegal | 2016-2023 | 1269.66 | 44.44 | |||||
| Serbia | 2016-2023 | 566.21 | 50.79 | |||||
| Seychelles | 2016 | 5.85 | ||||||
| Sierra Leone | 2016-2023 | 155.9 | 70 | |||||
| Singapore | 2016-2023 | 36.98 | 100 | |||||
| Slovakia | 2016-2023 | 265.91 | 61.44 | |||||
| Slovenia | 2015-2023 | 42.13 | 472.65 | 36026 | 86.81 | |||
| Solomon Islands | 2016 | 309.67 | ||||||
| Somalia | 2016 | 56.6 | ||||||
| South Africa | 2016-2023 | 3415.37 | 58455.3 | 5637506990 | 70.69 | |||
| South Sudan | 2016-2023 | 594.4 | 100 | |||||
| Spain | 2016-2023 | 3222.98 | 21.6 | |||||
| Sri Lanka | 2016 | 1025.46 | ||||||
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 2016-2023 | 233457.33 | 78.7 | |||||
| Sudan | 2016-2023 | 1571.87 | 178875969.8 | 100 | ||||
| Suriname | 2016 | 1866.88 | ||||||
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands | 2016 | 0 | ||||||
| Sweden | 2015-2023 | 35683.82 | 31857.11 | 48.37 | ||||
| Switzerland | 2007-2023 | 1367.29 | 43500 | 233643.4 | 79.41 | |||
| Syrian Arab Republic | 2016 | 1009.77 | ||||||
| Tajikistan | 2016 | 1540.07 | ||||||
| Thailand | 2016-2023 | 5434.41 | 36.76 | |||||
| Timor-Leste | 2016 | 10.25 | ||||||
| Togo | 2016-2020 | 101.73 | 100 | |||||
| Tokelau | 2016 | 1.74 | ||||||
| Tonga | 2016 | 15.74 | ||||||
| Trinidad and Tobago | 2016-2023 | 12.85 | 87.5 | |||||
| Tunisia | 2016-2023 | 304.96 | 84.94 | |||||
| Turkey | 2016 | 11993.4 | ||||||
| Turkmenistan | 2016 | 86383.38 | ||||||
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 2016 | 35.64 | ||||||
| Tuvalu | 2016 | 12 | ||||||
| Türkiye | 2023 | 78.45 | ||||||
| Uganda | 2016-2023 | 36212.66 | 84.09 | |||||
| Ukraine | 2016 | 13115.74 | ||||||
| United Arab Emirates | 2016-2023 | 162.39 | 100 | |||||
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 2016-2023 | 3677.98 | 32.88 | |||||
| United Republic of Tanzania | 2016-2023 | 55582.32 | 88.89 | |||||
| United States Virgin Islands | 2016 | 2.73 | ||||||
| United States of America | 2016-2023 | 154786.25 | 41.97 | |||||
| Uruguay | 2016-2023 | 3973.67 | 81.75 | |||||
| Uzbekistan | 2016 | 9345.05 | ||||||
| Vanuatu | 2016 | 65.67 | ||||||
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 2016 | 10397.65 | ||||||
| Viet Nam | 2016 | 5614.44 | ||||||
| Wallis and Futuna Islands | 2016 | 0.38 | ||||||
| Western Sahara | 2016 | 8.66 | ||||||
| World | 2016-2023 | 2727520.54 | 56 | |||||
| Yemen | 2016-2023 | 917.3 | 37.8 | |||||
| Zambia | 2016-2023 | 11941.07 | 55534.5 | 193120 | 85.71 | |||
| Zimbabwe | 2016-2023 | 3489.35 | 80.95 | |||||