Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America

Central America: Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area was 24,207 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
24,207 ha
Change on year
down 49.8%
Rank
19th
of 31 groups
All-time high
301,412 ha
in 2011
All-time low
5,766 ha
in 2001
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America, 1990–2024

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1990200720241990: 79.4k ha1991: 79.4k ha1992: 79.4k ha1993: 79.4k ha1994: 79.4k ha1995: 79.4k ha1996: 118.1k ha1997: 82.2k ha1998: 256.9k ha1999: 206.1k ha2000: 175.9k ha2001: 5.8k ha2002: 34.4k ha2003: 45.8k ha2004: 12.0k ha2005: 55.8k ha2006: 37.8k ha2007: 39.0k ha2008: 54.2k ha2009: 90.0k ha2010: 22.5k ha2011: 301.4k ha2012: 87.5k ha2013: 58.6k ha2014: 29.3k ha2015: 21.2k ha2016: 23.7k ha2017: 98.7k ha2018: 102.3k ha2019: 70.5k ha2020: 69.4k ha2021: 40.2k ha2022: 37.5k ha2023: 48.2k ha2024: 24.2k ha

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.

Analysis

Central America recorded 24,207 ha for closed and open shrubland — burned area in 2024.

That represents a change of down 49.8% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burned area in Central America peaked at 301,412 ha in 2011 and was at its lowest, 5,766 ha, in 2001.

Central America ranks 19th of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America, year by year

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 79,350 ha
1991 79,350 ha +0.0%
1992 79,350 ha +0.0%
1993 79,350 ha +0.0%
1994 79,350 ha +0.0%
1995 79,350 ha +0.0%
1996 118,080 ha +48.8%
1997 82,220 ha -30.4%
1998 256,914 ha +212.5%
1999 206,097 ha -19.8%
2000 175,855 ha -14.7%
2001 5,766 ha -96.7%
2002 34,436 ha +497.2%
2003 45,768 ha +32.9%
2004 12,010 ha -73.8%
2005 55,761 ha +364.3%
2006 37,772 ha -32.3%
2007 39,000 ha +3.3%
2008 54,233 ha +39.1%
2009 90,021 ha +66.0%
2010 22,468 ha -75.0%
2011 301,412 ha +1241.5%
2012 87,541 ha -71.0%
2013 58,597 ha -33.1%
2014 29,252 ha -50.1%
2015 21,233 ha -27.4%
2016 23,674 ha +11.5%
2017 98,680 ha +316.8%
2018 102,296 ha +3.7%
2019 70,494 ha -31.1%
2020 69,450 ha -1.5%
2021 40,168 ha -42.2%
2022 37,478 ha -6.7%
2023 48,234 ha +28.7%
2024 24,207 ha -49.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 113,941 ha 79,350 ha 256,914 ha 10
2000s 55,062 ha 5,766 ha 175,855 ha 10
2010s 81,565 ha 21,233 ha 301,412 ha 10
2020s 43,907 ha 24,207 ha 69,450 ha 5

Countries ranked near Central America

  1. 16 Zimbabwe 14,979 ha compare
  2. 17 Brazil 10,755 ha compare
  3. 18 Sudan 10,480 ha compare
  4. 19 Ethiopia 9,019 ha compare
  5. 20 Zambia 8,812 ha compare
  6. 21 Mali 7,765 ha compare
  7. 22 Saudi Arabia 2,809 ha compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for Central America

All data for Central America →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burned area in Central America?
Closed and open shrubland — burned area in Central America was 24,207 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in Central America?
The highest recorded value was 301,412 ha in 2011.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in Central America?
The lowest recorded value was 5,766 ha in 2001.
How does Central America rank for closed and open shrubland — burned area?
Central America ranks 19th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in Central America?
Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Central America data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-and-open-shrubland-burned-area-fao-tier-1/central-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area
Unit
ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
271 places, 9,259 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions from Fires consists of estimates of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from biomass burning in a range of vegetation types and from fires in organic soils.