Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Northern America

Northern America: Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area was 115,800 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
115,800 ha
Change on year
down 67.8%
Rank
15th
of 31 groups
All-time high
1.65 million ha
in 1998
All-time low
23,822 ha
in 2001
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1990200720241990: 309.2k ha1991: 309.2k ha1992: 309.2k ha1993: 309.2k ha1994: 309.2k ha1995: 309.2k ha1996: 763.1k ha1997: 477.7k ha1998: 1.6M ha1999: 887.4k ha2000: 526.2k ha2001: 23.8k ha2002: 247.9k ha2003: 193.3k ha2004: 324.8k ha2005: 606.8k ha2006: 146.9k ha2007: 299.0k ha2008: 114.6k ha2009: 127.3k ha2010: 97.5k ha2011: 361.8k ha2012: 111.6k ha2013: 127.9k ha2014: 152.8k ha2015: 252.2k ha2016: 78.4k ha2017: 158.5k ha2018: 102.0k ha2019: 98.5k ha2020: 247.7k ha2021: 107.7k ha2022: 209.7k ha2023: 359.4k ha2024: 115.8k ha

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

Analysis

In 2024, closed and open shrubland — burned area in Northern America stood at 115,800 ha.

That represents a change of down 67.8% on the previous year and down 24.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burned area in Northern America peaked at 1.65 million ha in 1998 and was at its lowest, 23,822 ha, in 2001.

That places Northern America 15th out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Northern America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 309,184 ha
1991 309,184 ha +0.0%
1992 309,184 ha +0.0%
1993 309,184 ha +0.0%
1994 309,184 ha +0.0%
1995 309,184 ha +0.0%
1996 763,078 ha +146.8%
1997 477,692 ha -37.4%
1998 1.65 million ha +244.6%
1999 887,443 ha -46.1%
2000 526,152 ha -40.7%
2001 23,822 ha -95.5%
2002 247,913 ha +940.7%
2003 193,256 ha -22.0%
2004 324,834 ha +68.1%
2005 606,750 ha +86.8%
2006 146,923 ha -75.8%
2007 299,038 ha +103.5%
2008 114,572 ha -61.7%
2009 127,318 ha +11.1%
2010 97,458 ha -23.5%
2011 361,804 ha +271.2%
2012 111,575 ha -69.2%
2013 127,862 ha +14.6%
2014 152,826 ha +19.5%
2015 252,220 ha +65.0%
2016 78,387 ha -68.9%
2017 158,485 ha +102.2%
2018 101,970 ha -35.7%
2019 98,506 ha -3.4%
2020 247,704 ha +151.5%
2021 107,686 ha -56.5%
2022 209,678 ha +94.7%
2023 359,404 ha +71.4%
2024 115,800 ha -67.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 562,949 ha 309,184 ha 1.65 million ha 10
2000s 261,058 ha 23,822 ha 606,750 ha 10
2010s 154,109 ha 78,387 ha 361,804 ha 10
2020s 208,054 ha 107,686 ha 359,404 ha 5

Countries ranked near Northern America

  1. 12 Mexico 23,458 ha compare
  2. 13 Mozambique 21,733 ha compare
  3. 14 Madagascar 21,087 ha compare
  4. 15 Pakistan 18,479 ha compare
  5. 16 Zimbabwe 14,979 ha compare
  6. 17 Brazil 10,755 ha compare
  7. 18 Sudan 10,480 ha compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for Northern America

All data for Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burned area in Northern America?
Closed and open shrubland — burned area in Northern America was 115,800 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 Northern America?
The highest recorded value was 1.65 million ha in 1998.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 23,822 ha in 2001.
How does Northern America rank for closed and open shrubland — burned area?
Northern America ranks 15th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in Northern America?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Northern 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 Northern America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-and-open-shrubland-burned-area-fao-tier-1/northern-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.