Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Western Africa

Western Africa: Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area was 8,064 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
8,064 ha
Change on year
up 947.2%
Rank
21st
of 31 groups
All-time high
2.65 million ha
in 2000
All-time low
85.53 ha
in 2010
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Western Africa, 1990–2024

01.0M2.0M3.0M1990200720241990: 508.8k ha1991: 508.8k ha1992: 508.8k ha1993: 508.8k ha1994: 508.8k ha1995: 508.8k ha1996: 1.8M ha1997: 1.8M ha1998: 2.0M ha1999: 2.1M ha2000: 2.7M ha2001: 75.6k ha2002: 16.1k ha2003: 21.9k ha2004: 16.9k ha2005: 4.6k ha2006: 7.3k ha2007: 4.9k ha2008: 4.6k ha2009: 1.5k ha2010: 85.5 ha2011: 1.5k ha2012: 1.1k ha2013: 1.8k ha2014: 278 ha2015: 834.2 ha2016: 1.6k ha2017: 577.6 ha2018: 598.9 ha2019: 1.9k ha2020: 1.2k ha2021: 1.1k ha2022: 470.6 ha2023: 770 ha2024: 8.1k ha

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

Analysis

In 2024, closed and open shrubland — burned area in Western Africa stood at 8,064 ha.

That represents a change of up 947.2% on the previous year and up 2,801.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burned area in Western Africa peaked at 2.65 million ha in 2000 and was at its lowest, 85.53 ha, in 2010.

That places Western Africa 21st 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 Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Western Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 508,751 ha
1991 508,751 ha +0.0%
1992 508,751 ha +0.0%
1993 508,751 ha +0.0%
1994 508,751 ha +0.0%
1995 508,751 ha +0.0%
1996 1.77 million ha +246.9%
1997 1.79 million ha +1.2%
1998 2.01 million ha +12.6%
1999 2.08 million ha +3.1%
2000 2.65 million ha +27.9%
2001 75,592 ha -97.2%
2002 16,150 ha -78.6%
2003 21,923 ha +35.7%
2004 16,876 ha -23.0%
2005 4,599 ha -72.8%
2006 7,272 ha +58.1%
2007 4,855 ha -33.2%
2008 4,641 ha -4.4%
2009 1,455 ha -68.7%
2010 85.53 ha -94.1%
2011 1,476 ha +1625.6%
2012 1,070 ha -27.5%
2013 1,818 ha +70.0%
2014 277.98 ha -84.7%
2015 834.24 ha +200.1%
2016 1,582 ha +89.6%
2017 577.58 ha -63.5%
2018 598.9 ha +3.7%
2019 1,947 ha +225.1%
2020 1,176 ha -39.6%
2021 1,134 ha -3.6%
2022 470.56 ha -58.5%
2023 770.05 ha +63.6%
2024 8,064 ha +947.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.07 million ha 508,751 ha 2.08 million ha 10
2000s 280,701 ha 1,455 ha 2.65 million ha 10
2010s 1,027 ha 85.53 ha 1,947 ha 10
2020s 2,323 ha 470.56 ha 8,064 ha 5

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 18 Sudan 10,480 ha compare
  2. 19 Ethiopia 9,019 ha compare
  3. 20 Zambia 8,812 ha compare
  4. 21 Mali 7,765 ha compare
  5. 22 Saudi Arabia 2,809 ha compare
  6. 23 Turkmenistan 2,427 ha compare
  7. 24 Nicaragua 2,374 ha compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burned area in Western Africa?
Closed and open shrubland — burned area in Western Africa was 8,064 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 Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 2.65 million ha in 2000.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 85.53 ha in 2010.
How does Western Africa rank for closed and open shrubland — burned area?
Western Africa ranks 21st out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 2,801.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Western 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.

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Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in Western Africa. 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/western-africa/

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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.