Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Africa

Africa: Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues was 27.39 million t in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
27.39 million t
Change on year
down 74.4%
Rank
5th
of 31 groups
All-time high
201.67 million t
in 2011
All-time low
15.32 million t
in 2019
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Africa, 1990–2024

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M1990200720241990: 79.2M t1991: 79.2M t1992: 79.2M t1993: 79.2M t1994: 79.2M t1995: 79.2M t1996: 97.7M t1997: 100.9M t1998: 131.9M t1999: 125.7M t2000: 110.0M t2001: 99.2M t2002: 95.9M t2003: 50.8M t2004: 48.7M t2005: 53.5M t2006: 62.7M t2007: 61.3M t2008: 92.9M t2009: 54.8M t2010: 119.8M t2011: 201.7M t2012: 119.8M t2013: 54.5M t2014: 25.8M t2015: 31.4M t2016: 29.1M t2017: 50.8M t2018: 32.1M t2019: 15.3M t2020: 64.5M t2021: 121.3M t2022: 79.3M t2023: 107.1M t2024: 27.4M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Africa stood at 27.39 million t.

The figure is down 74.4% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Africa peaked at 201.67 million t in 2011 and was at its lowest, 15.32 million t, in 2019.

Africa ranks 5th of 31 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 79.15 million t
1991 79.15 million t +0.0%
1992 79.15 million t +0.0%
1993 79.15 million t +0.0%
1994 79.15 million t +0.0%
1995 79.15 million t +0.0%
1996 97.65 million t +23.4%
1997 100.90 million t +3.3%
1998 131.93 million t +30.8%
1999 125.66 million t -4.8%
2000 109.98 million t -12.5%
2001 99.19 million t -9.8%
2002 95.89 million t -3.3%
2003 50.85 million t -47.0%
2004 48.72 million t -4.2%
2005 53.49 million t +9.8%
2006 62.72 million t +17.2%
2007 61.33 million t -2.2%
2008 92.88 million t +51.4%
2009 54.83 million t -41.0%
2010 119.78 million t +118.5%
2011 201.67 million t +68.4%
2012 119.82 million t -40.6%
2013 54.50 million t -54.5%
2014 25.84 million t -52.6%
2015 31.36 million t +21.3%
2016 29.11 million t -7.2%
2017 50.80 million t +74.5%
2018 32.08 million t -36.8%
2019 15.32 million t -52.2%
2020 64.53 million t +321.1%
2021 121.31 million t +88.0%
2022 79.28 million t -34.6%
2023 107.14 million t +35.1%
2024 27.39 million t -74.4%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2020 +321.1% 15.32 million t 64.53 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 93.11 million t 79.15 million t 131.93 million t 10
2000s 72.99 million t 48.72 million t 109.98 million t 10
2010s 68.03 million t 15.32 million t 201.67 million t 10
2020s 79.93 million t 27.39 million t 121.31 million t 5

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 2 Australia 175.77 million t compare
  2. 2 Australia and New Zealand 175.77 million t compare
  3. 4 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 2.10 million t compare
  4. 4 Russian Federation 14.56 million t compare
  5. 5 Botswana 13.64 million t compare
  6. 5 Syrian Arab Republic 902,869 t compare
  7. 6 Angola 7.77 million t compare
  8. 6 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 114,923 t compare
  9. 7 South Africa 3.24 million t compare
  10. 7 Türkiye 28,253 t compare
  11. 8 Democratic Republic of the Congo 21,118 t compare
  12. 8 Iraq 1.33 million t compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for Africa

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Africa?
Closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Africa was 27.39 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 201.67 million t in 2011.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 15.32 million t in 2019.
How does Africa rank for closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues?
Africa ranks 5th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-and-open-shrubland-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter)
Unit
t
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.