Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in South Africa
South Africa: Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area was 195,367 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.
Analysis
In 2024, closed and open shrubland — burned area in South Africa stood at 195,367 ha.
That represents a change of down 82.0% on the previous year and up 67.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burned area in South Africa peaked at 1.08 million ha in 2023 and was at its lowest, 97,318 ha, in 2019.
That places South Africa 7th out of 219 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 402,608 ha | — |
| 1991 | 402,608 ha | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 402,608 ha | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 402,608 ha | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 402,608 ha | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 402,608 ha | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 524,362 ha | +30.2% |
| 1997 | 562,496 ha | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 711,034 ha | +26.4% |
| 1999 | 628,503 ha | -11.6% |
| 2000 | 440,821 ha | -29.9% |
| 2001 | 296,381 ha | -32.8% |
| 2002 | 688,262 ha | +132.2% |
| 2003 | 358,388 ha | -47.9% |
| 2004 | 126,061 ha | -64.8% |
| 2005 | 234,872 ha | +86.3% |
| 2006 | 115,748 ha | -50.7% |
| 2007 | 238,997 ha | +106.5% |
| 2008 | 179,633 ha | -24.8% |
| 2009 | 380,247 ha | +111.7% |
| 2010 | 412,276 ha | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 393,100 ha | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 673,126 ha | +71.2% |
| 2013 | 170,431 ha | -74.7% |
| 2014 | 116,364 ha | -31.7% |
| 2015 | 194,454 ha | +67.1% |
| 2016 | 235,484 ha | +21.1% |
| 2017 | 352,280 ha | +49.6% |
| 2018 | 337,415 ha | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 97,318 ha | -71.2% |
| 2020 | 146,886 ha | +50.9% |
| 2021 | 996,690 ha | +578.5% |
| 2022 | 783,807 ha | -21.4% |
| 2023 | 1.08 million ha | +38.4% |
| 2024 | 195,367 ha | -82.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 484,204 ha | 402,608 ha | 711,034 ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 305,941 ha | 115,748 ha | 688,262 ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 298,225 ha | 97,318 ha | 673,126 ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 641,516 ha | 146,886 ha | 1.08 million ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is closed and open shrubland — burned area in South Africa?
- Closed and open shrubland — burned area in South Africa was 195,367 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.08 million ha in 2023.
- What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 97,318 ha in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for closed and open shrubland — burned area?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
- Is closed and open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
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.