Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana
Botswana: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 25,631 tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana is 25,631 tonnes, measured in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 19.5% on the previous year and down 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana peaked at 338,926 tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, 25,631 tonnes, in 2026.
That places Botswana 58th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 38,558 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 27,279 tonnes | -29.3% |
| 2005 | 51,714 tonnes | +89.6% |
| 2006 | 83,165 tonnes | +60.8% |
| 2007 | 54,914 tonnes | -34.0% |
| 2008 | 180,946 tonnes | +229.5% |
| 2009 | 42,315 tonnes | -76.6% |
| 2010 | 291,000 tonnes | +587.7% |
| 2011 | 338,926 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 2012 | 103,513 tonnes | -69.5% |
| 2013 | 86,629 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2014 | 52,714 tonnes | -39.2% |
| 2015 | 56,008 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 37,929 tonnes | -32.3% |
| 2017 | 75,781 tonnes | +99.8% |
| 2018 | 57,262 tonnes | -24.4% |
| 2019 | 47,035 tonnes | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 42,703 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2021 | 181,579 tonnes | +325.2% |
| 2022 | 163,858 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 234,268 tonnes | +43.0% |
| 2024 | 46,484 tonnes | -80.2% |
| 2025 | 31,837 tonnes | -31.5% |
| 2026 | 25,631 tonnes | -19.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 25,631 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,584 tonnes, 4.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 25,631 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30,647 tonnes, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +587.7% | 42,315 tonnes | 291,000 tonnes |
| 2021 | +325.2% | 42,703 tonnes | 181,579 tonnes |
| 2008 | +229.5% | 54,914 tonnes | 180,946 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68,413 tonnes | 27,279 tonnes | 180,946 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 114,680 tonnes | 37,929 tonnes | 338,926 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 103,766 tonnes | 25,631 tonnes | 234,268 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More climate change data for Botswana
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 17.55 million kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,640 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,846 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 137.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 14.07 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0531 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Botswana was 25,631 tonnes in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 338,926 tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 25,631 tonnes in 2026.
- How does Botswana rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Botswana ranks 58th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.