Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues was 17.94 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
17.94 million t
Change on year
down 82.3%
Rank
7th
of 31 groups
All-time high
184.89 million t
in 2011
All-time low
5.19 million t
in 2019
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M1990200720241990: 49.0M t1991: 49.0M t1992: 49.0M t1993: 49.0M t1994: 49.0M t1995: 49.0M t1996: 21.4M t1997: 23.7M t1998: 22.2M t1999: 20.2M t2000: 17.5M t2001: 62.0M t2002: 70.0M t2003: 20.6M t2004: 18.4M t2005: 24.1M t2006: 46.6M t2007: 39.8M t2008: 77.4M t2009: 39.4M t2010: 105.3M t2011: 184.9M t2012: 105.9M t2013: 41.8M t2014: 14.7M t2015: 19.0M t2016: 16.1M t2017: 40.9M t2018: 23.0M t2019: 5.2M t2020: 52.3M t2021: 113.6M t2022: 74.0M t2023: 101.6M t2024: 17.9M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa stood at 17.94 million t.

The figure is down 82.3% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa peaked at 184.89 million t in 2011 and was at its lowest, 5.19 million t, in 2019.

Southern Africa ranks 7th of 31 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

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

Annual values for Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 48.96 million t
1991 48.96 million t +0.0%
1992 48.96 million t +0.0%
1993 48.96 million t +0.0%
1994 48.96 million t +0.0%
1995 48.96 million t +0.0%
1996 21.36 million t -56.4%
1997 23.73 million t +11.1%
1998 22.15 million t -6.6%
1999 20.20 million t -8.8%
2000 17.52 million t -13.3%
2001 61.95 million t +253.6%
2002 69.98 million t +13.0%
2003 20.61 million t -70.5%
2004 18.44 million t -10.5%
2005 24.09 million t +30.7%
2006 46.62 million t +93.5%
2007 39.79 million t -14.6%
2008 77.37 million t +94.4%
2009 39.44 million t -49.0%
2010 105.31 million t +167.0%
2011 184.89 million t +75.6%
2012 105.90 million t -42.7%
2013 41.83 million t -60.5%
2014 14.75 million t -64.8%
2015 19.03 million t +29.1%
2016 16.14 million t -15.2%
2017 40.91 million t +153.5%
2018 23.03 million t -43.7%
2019 5.19 million t -77.5%
2020 52.30 million t +907.3%
2021 113.64 million t +117.3%
2022 74.04 million t -34.9%
2023 101.60 million t +37.2%
2024 17.94 million t -82.3%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Closed and open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern 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 +907.3% 5.19 million t 52.30 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 38.12 million t 20.20 million t 48.96 million t 10
2000s 41.58 million t 17.52 million t 77.37 million t 10
2010s 55.70 million t 5.19 million t 184.89 million t 10
2020s 71.90 million t 17.94 million t 113.64 million t 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 4 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 2.10 million t compare
  2. 4 Russian Federation 14.56 million t compare
  3. 5 Botswana 13.64 million t compare
  4. 5 Syrian Arab Republic 902,869 t compare
  5. 6 Angola 7.77 million t compare
  6. 6 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 114,923 t compare
  7. 7 South Africa 3.24 million t compare
  8. 7 Türkiye 28,253 t compare
  9. 8 Democratic Republic of the Congo 21,118 t compare
  10. 8 Iraq 1.33 million t compare
  11. 9 Namibia 1.04 million t compare
  12. 10 Argentina 721,577 t compare
  13. 10 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 2,283 t compare

See the full ranking of 271 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa?
Closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa was 17.94 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 Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 184.89 million t in 2011.
What is the lowest closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5.19 million t in 2019.
How does Southern Africa rank for closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues?
Southern Africa ranks 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed and open shrubland — burning crop residues rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern 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 Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-and-open-shrubland-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/southern-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.