Closed shrubland — Burned Area in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Closed shrubland — Burned Area was 69,493 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
69,493 ha
Change on year
up 166.3%
Rank
7th
of 31 groups
All-time high
941,168 ha
in 2012
All-time low
26,096 ha
in 2023
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Closed shrubland — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1.0M1990200720241990: 297.9k ha1991: 297.9k ha1992: 297.9k ha1993: 297.9k ha1994: 297.9k ha1995: 297.9k ha1996: 283.6k ha1997: 267.8k ha1998: 299.0k ha1999: 277.3k ha2000: 278.4k ha2001: 78.5k ha2002: 253.8k ha2003: 227.9k ha2004: 456.6k ha2005: 283.4k ha2006: 224.3k ha2007: 215.6k ha2008: 187.1k ha2009: 350.3k ha2010: 258.8k ha2011: 891.6k ha2012: 941.2k ha2013: 330.5k ha2014: 205.8k ha2015: 154.1k ha2016: 406.0k ha2017: 414.6k ha2018: 134.2k ha2019: 36.2k ha2020: 621.6k ha2021: 429.6k ha2022: 34.8k ha2023: 26.1k ha2024: 69.5k ha

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

Analysis

In 2024, closed shrubland — burned area in Southern Africa stood at 69,493 ha.

The figure is up 166.3% on the previous year and down 66.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, closed shrubland — burned area in Southern Africa peaked at 941,168 ha in 2012 and was at its lowest, 26,096 ha, in 2023.

That places Southern Africa 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Closed shrubland — Burned Area in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Closed shrubland — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 297,868 ha
1991 297,868 ha +0.0%
1992 297,868 ha +0.0%
1993 297,868 ha +0.0%
1994 297,868 ha +0.0%
1995 297,868 ha +0.0%
1996 283,630 ha -4.8%
1997 267,799 ha -5.6%
1998 299,009 ha +11.7%
1999 277,311 ha -7.3%
2000 278,383 ha +0.4%
2001 78,452 ha -71.8%
2002 253,792 ha +223.5%
2003 227,930 ha -10.2%
2004 456,650 ha +100.3%
2005 283,433 ha -37.9%
2006 224,326 ha -20.9%
2007 215,619 ha -3.9%
2008 187,091 ha -13.2%
2009 350,304 ha +87.2%
2010 258,815 ha -26.1%
2011 891,569 ha +244.5%
2012 941,168 ha +5.6%
2013 330,473 ha -64.9%
2014 205,809 ha -37.7%
2015 154,101 ha -25.1%
2016 406,034 ha +163.5%
2017 414,597 ha +2.1%
2018 134,153 ha -67.6%
2019 36,231 ha -73.0%
2020 621,551 ha +1615.5%
2021 429,594 ha -30.9%
2022 34,767 ha -91.9%
2023 26,096 ha -24.9%
2024 69,493 ha +166.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 291,496 ha 267,799 ha 299,009 ha 10
2000s 255,598 ha 78,452 ha 456,650 ha 10
2010s 377,295 ha 36,231 ha 941,168 ha 10
2020s 236,300 ha 26,096 ha 621,551 ha 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 4 Angola 266,628 ha compare
  2. 5 South Africa 36,154 ha compare
  3. 6 Namibia 17,439 ha compare
  4. 7 Botswana 15,858 ha compare
  5. 8 Brazil 9,279 ha compare
  6. 8 Timor-Leste 0 ha compare
  7. 8 Türkiye 0 ha compare
  8. 8 Viet Nam 0 ha compare
  9. 9 Mozambique 5,396 ha compare
  10. 10 Mexico 4,676 ha 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 shrubland — burned area in Southern Africa?
Closed shrubland — burned area in Southern Africa was 69,493 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest closed shrubland — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 941,168 ha in 2012.
What is the lowest closed shrubland — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 26,096 ha in 2023.
How does Southern Africa rank for closed shrubland — burned area?
Southern Africa ranks 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed shrubland — burned area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 66.2%. 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 shrubland — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Closed shrubland — Burned Area in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-shrubland-burned-area-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Closed 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.