Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 48,794 tonnes in 2026. ▼ Falling
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2026, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe stood at 48,794 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 29.1% on the previous year and down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe peaked at 146,358 tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, 23,586 tonnes, in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 43rd of 248 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 72,755 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 98,855 tonnes | +35.9% |
| 2005 | 103,118 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 94,072 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 113,038 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 2008 | 134,881 tonnes | +19.3% |
| 2009 | 116,796 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2010 | 136,724 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 2011 | 146,358 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 114,422 tonnes | -21.8% |
| 2013 | 79,394 tonnes | -30.6% |
| 2014 | 95,542 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 2015 | 115,741 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 2016 | 71,292 tonnes | -38.4% |
| 2017 | 67,391 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 82,747 tonnes | +22.8% |
| 2019 | 78,579 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 23,586 tonnes | -70.0% |
| 2021 | 60,694 tonnes | +157.3% |
| 2022 | 87,663 tonnes | +44.4% |
| 2023 | 83,461 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 50,776 tonnes | -39.2% |
| 2025 | 37,803 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 2026 | 48,794 tonnes | +29.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 48,794 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,315 tonnes, 4.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 48,794 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30,647 tonnes, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 104,788 tonnes | 72,755 tonnes | 134,881 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 98,819 tonnes | 67,391 tonnes | 146,358 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 56,111 tonnes | 23,586 tonnes | 87,663 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More climate change data for Zimbabwe
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 178.46 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,716 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,805 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 11,912 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 21.9 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 425.42 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,483 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,345 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 137.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 5.08 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zimbabwe was 48,794 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 146,358 tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,586 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Zimbabwe ranks 43rd out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.