Here’s a list of countries with the highest percentage of their total area covered by water, including lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and coastal waters:
1. Maldives
- Percentage of Water: Over 99%.
- Reason: The Maldives is made up of 1,192 coral islands spread across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. Most of its territory consists of ocean and lagoons, with very little landmass.
2. Micronesia
- Percentage of Water: ~99%.
- Reason: A Pacific island nation consisting of over 600 small islands, most of its territory is water.
3. Seychelles
- Percentage of Water: ~99%.
- Reason: This Indian Ocean archipelago consists of 115 islands, surrounded by vast ocean waters.
4. Marshall Islands
- Percentage of Water: ~98%.
- Reason: Located in the central Pacific Ocean, it is composed of 29 coral atolls and 1,156 individual islands, with most of its territory being ocean.
5. Kiribati
- Percentage of Water: ~98%.
- Reason: Made up of 33 coral atolls and islands spread over a vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
6. Bahamas
- Percentage of Water: ~95%.
- Reason: Composed of 700 islands and over 2,400 cays, the Bahamas is surrounded by shallow seas and coral reefs.
7. Canada
- Percentage of Water: ~8.92% (but second largest by absolute water area).
- Reason: Canada has over 2 million lakes, as well as extensive river systems and access to three oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic). It has the largest total area of freshwater in the world.
8. Finland
- Percentage of Water: ~10%.
- Reason: Known as the “Land of a Thousand Lakes,” Finland actually has over 180,000 lakes, as well as numerous rivers and marshlands.
9. Sweden
- Percentage of Water: ~8.7%.
- Reason: Thousands of lakes and an intricate network of rivers contribute to Sweden’s significant water coverage.
10. Netherlands
- Percentage of Water: ~18.41%.
- Reason: Includes rivers, canals, and extensive reclaimed land protected by dikes and dams, along with parts of the North Sea.
11. Norway
- Percentage of Water: ~6%.
- Reason: Norway has numerous fjords, rivers, and inland lakes, along with an extensive coastline.
Countries by Absolute Water Area
If we look at absolute water area (not percentage), the top contenders are:
- Canada (891,163 km² of water).
- Russia (720,500 km² of water).
- United States (664,709 km² of water).
- China (27,060 km² of water).
These percentages vary based on how countries define their internal waters, including rivers, lakes, and territorial seas.
