Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in World

World: Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area was 15.19 million ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
15.19 million ha
Change on year
down 71.8%
Rank
1st
of 31 regions
All-time high
64.85 million ha
in 2011
All-time low
8.28 million ha
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

020.0M40.0M60.0M1990200720241990: 27.1M ha1991: 27.1M ha1992: 27.1M ha1993: 27.1M ha1994: 27.1M ha1995: 27.1M ha1996: 23.7M ha1997: 23.3M ha1998: 32.2M ha1999: 43.7M ha2000: 51.3M ha2001: 53.8M ha2002: 52.0M ha2003: 13.1M ha2004: 25.5M ha2005: 9.5M ha2006: 28.4M ha2007: 26.4M ha2008: 15.1M ha2009: 13.2M ha2010: 14.5M ha2011: 64.9M ha2012: 55.3M ha2013: 12.9M ha2014: 20.0M ha2015: 20.3M ha2016: 8.9M ha2017: 30.2M ha2018: 25.6M ha2019: 12.9M ha2020: 8.3M ha2021: 15.8M ha2022: 15.3M ha2023: 53.8M ha2024: 15.2M ha

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

Analysis

In 2024, closed and open shrubland — burned area in World stood at 15.19 million ha.

That represents a change of down 71.8% on the previous year and down 23.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burned area in World peaked at 64.85 million ha in 2011 and was at its lowest, 8.28 million ha, in 2020.

That places World 1st out of 31 regions 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 World, year by year

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burned Area in World, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 27.09 million ha
1991 27.09 million ha +0.0%
1992 27.09 million ha +0.0%
1993 27.09 million ha +0.0%
1994 27.09 million ha +0.0%
1995 27.09 million ha +0.0%
1996 23.72 million ha -12.4%
1997 23.31 million ha -1.7%
1998 32.17 million ha +38.0%
1999 43.74 million ha +35.9%
2000 51.30 million ha +17.3%
2001 53.80 million ha +4.9%
2002 51.96 million ha -3.4%
2003 13.08 million ha -74.8%
2004 25.51 million ha +95.0%
2005 9.48 million ha -62.8%
2006 28.44 million ha +200.0%
2007 26.43 million ha -7.1%
2008 15.08 million ha -42.9%
2009 13.21 million ha -12.4%
2010 14.45 million ha +9.4%
2011 64.85 million ha +348.8%
2012 55.33 million ha -14.7%
2013 12.86 million ha -76.8%
2014 19.97 million ha +55.3%
2015 20.31 million ha +1.7%
2016 8.87 million ha -56.3%
2017 30.22 million ha +240.7%
2018 25.62 million ha -15.2%
2019 12.86 million ha -49.8%
2020 8.28 million ha -35.6%
2021 15.81 million ha +90.9%
2022 15.29 million ha -3.3%
2023 53.80 million ha +251.9%
2024 15.19 million ha -71.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 28.55 million ha 23.31 million ha 43.74 million ha 10
2000s 28.83 million ha 9.48 million ha 53.80 million ha 10
2010s 26.53 million ha 8.87 million ha 64.85 million ha 10
2020s 21.68 million ha 8.28 million ha 53.80 million ha 5

Countries ranked near World

  1. 1 OECD 12.17 million ha compare
  2. 2 Australia 12.02 million ha compare
  3. 2 Australia and New Zealand 12.02 million ha compare
  4. 4 Russian Federation 1.02 million ha compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burned area in World?
Closed and open shrubland — burned area in World was 15.19 million 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 World?
The highest recorded value was 64.85 million ha in 2011.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burned area recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 8.28 million ha in 2020.
How does World rank for closed and open shrubland — burned area?
World ranks 1st out of 31 regions with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-and-open-shrubland-burned-area-fao-tier-1/world/

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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.