Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in South America

South America: Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area was 72,213 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
72,213 ha
Change on year
down 43.0%
Rank
18th
of 31 groups
All-time high
3.07 million ha
in 2000
All-time low
59,989 ha
in 2011
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

01.0M2.0M3.0M1990200720241990: 567.5k ha1991: 567.5k ha1992: 567.5k ha1993: 567.5k ha1994: 567.5k ha1995: 567.5k ha1996: 1.3M ha1997: 1.4M ha1998: 2.4M ha1999: 2.1M ha2000: 3.1M ha2001: 1.1M ha2002: 708.4k ha2003: 809.5k ha2004: 187.7k ha2005: 253.8k ha2006: 154.5k ha2007: 102.1k ha2008: 111.9k ha2009: 267.9k ha2010: 120.9k ha2011: 60.0k ha2012: 80.1k ha2013: 72.3k ha2014: 110.7k ha2015: 153.9k ha2016: 446.8k ha2017: 394.6k ha2018: 319.2k ha2019: 158.8k ha2020: 158.4k ha2021: 80.6k ha2022: 152.1k ha2023: 126.7k ha2024: 72.2k ha

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

Analysis

South America recorded 72,213 ha for closed and open shrubland — burned area in 2024.

That represents a change of down 43.0% on the previous year and down 34.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burned area in South America peaked at 3.07 million ha in 2000 and was at its lowest, 59,989 ha, in 2011.

That places South America 18th 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 South America, year by year

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in South America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 567,478 ha
1991 567,478 ha +0.0%
1992 567,478 ha +0.0%
1993 567,478 ha +0.0%
1994 567,478 ha +0.0%
1995 567,478 ha +0.0%
1996 1.27 million ha +123.8%
1997 1.37 million ha +7.6%
1998 2.45 million ha +78.9%
1999 2.05 million ha -16.1%
2000 3.07 million ha +49.8%
2001 1.08 million ha -64.9%
2002 708,446 ha -34.4%
2003 809,481 ha +14.3%
2004 187,692 ha -76.8%
2005 253,771 ha +35.2%
2006 154,480 ha -39.1%
2007 102,149 ha -33.9%
2008 111,876 ha +9.5%
2009 267,928 ha +139.5%
2010 120,935 ha -54.9%
2011 59,989 ha -50.4%
2012 80,099 ha +33.5%
2013 72,264 ha -9.8%
2014 110,739 ha +53.2%
2015 153,912 ha +39.0%
2016 446,848 ha +190.3%
2017 394,580 ha -11.7%
2018 319,212 ha -19.1%
2019 158,774 ha -50.3%
2020 158,401 ha -0.2%
2021 80,628 ha -49.1%
2022 152,068 ha +88.6%
2023 126,708 ha -16.7%
2024 72,213 ha -43.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.05 million ha 567,478 ha 2.45 million ha 10
2000s 674,950 ha 102,149 ha 3.07 million ha 10
2010s 191,735 ha 59,989 ha 446,848 ha 10
2020s 118,004 ha 72,213 ha 158,401 ha 5

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 15 Pakistan 18,479 ha compare
  2. 16 Zimbabwe 14,979 ha compare
  3. 17 Brazil 10,755 ha compare
  4. 18 Sudan 10,480 ha compare
  5. 19 Ethiopia 9,019 ha compare
  6. 20 Zambia 8,812 ha compare
  7. 21 Mali 7,765 ha compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burned area in South America?
Closed and open shrubland — burned area in South America was 72,213 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 America?
The highest recorded value was 3.07 million ha in 2000.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 59,989 ha in 2011.
How does South America rank for closed and open shrubland — burned area?
South America ranks 18th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is down 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South 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 South 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/south-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.