Madagascar vs South Africa: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires
Madagascar
139,504 tonnes
in 2026
South Africa
133,796 tonnes
in 2026
Madagascar rank
23rd
South Africa rank
24th
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires over time
- Madagascar
- South Africa
How they compare
Madagascar currently reports 139,504 tonnes against 133,796 tonnes in South Africa, a difference of 5,708 tonnes.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2003 it was Madagascar ahead.
Madagascar ranks 23rd and South Africa ranks 24th of 248 countries.
Madagascar has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Madagascar | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 305,761 tonnes | 198,761 tonnes | 107,000 tonnes | Madagascar |
| 2010s | 324,989 tonnes | 193,313 tonnes | 131,677 tonnes | Madagascar |
| 2020s | 221,357 tonnes | 171,383 tonnes | 49,974 tonnes | Madagascar |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires, Madagascar or South Africa?
- Madagascar, at 139,504 tonnes against 133,796 tonnes in South Africa as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires between Madagascar and South Africa?
- 5,708 tonnes, with Madagascar ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Madagascar and South Africa?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do Madagascar and South Africa rank globally for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Madagascar ranks 23rd 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.