Colombia vs South Africa: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires
Colombia
148,210 tonnes
in 2026
South Africa
133,796 tonnes
in 2026
Colombia rank
21st
South Africa rank
24th
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires over time
- Colombia
- South Africa
How they compare
Colombia currently reports 148,210 tonnes against 133,796 tonnes in South Africa, a difference of 14,414 tonnes.
That makes Colombia's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 10 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2003 it was Colombia ahead.
Colombia ranks 21st and South Africa ranks 24th of 248 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Colombia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 180,606 tonnes | 198,761 tonnes | 18,155 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2010s | 144,305 tonnes | 193,313 tonnes | 49,008 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2020s | 145,184 tonnes | 171,383 tonnes | 26,199 tonnes | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires, Colombia or South Africa?
- Colombia, at 148,210 tonnes against 133,796 tonnes in South Africa as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires between Colombia and South Africa?
- 14,414 tonnes, with Colombia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Colombia and South Africa?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do Colombia and South Africa rank globally for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Colombia ranks 21st and South Africa ranks 24th of 248 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
PM2.5 emissions represent the quantity of fine particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) released by wildfires, in tonnes. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.