Congo vs South Africa: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires
Congo
128,358 tonnes
in 2026
South Africa
133,796 tonnes
in 2026
Congo rank
25th
South Africa rank
24th
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires over time
- Congo
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 133,796 tonnes against 128,358 tonnes in Congo, a difference of 5,438 tonnes.
Across all 24 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
Congo ranks 25th 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 | Congo | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 88,737 tonnes | 198,761 tonnes | 110,024 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2010s | 94,222 tonnes | 193,313 tonnes | 99,091 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2020s | 90,905 tonnes | 171,383 tonnes | 80,478 tonnes | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires, Congo or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 133,796 tonnes against 128,358 tonnes in Congo as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires between Congo and South Africa?
- 5,438 tonnes, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Congo and South Africa?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do Congo and South Africa rank globally for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Congo ranks 25th and South Africa ranks 24th of 248 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Global Wildfire Information System (2026) β 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.