Closed shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Closed shrubland — Burning crop residues was 1.86 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.86 million t
Change on year
up 166.3%
Rank
7th
of 31 groups
All-time high
25.13 million t
in 2012
All-time low
696,768 t
in 2023
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M25.0M1990200720241990: 8.0M t1991: 8.0M t1992: 8.0M t1993: 8.0M t1994: 8.0M t1995: 8.0M t1996: 7.6M t1997: 7.2M t1998: 8.0M t1999: 7.4M t2000: 7.4M t2001: 2.1M t2002: 6.8M t2003: 6.1M t2004: 12.2M t2005: 7.6M t2006: 6.0M t2007: 5.8M t2008: 5.0M t2009: 9.4M t2010: 6.9M t2011: 23.8M t2012: 25.1M t2013: 8.8M t2014: 5.5M t2015: 4.1M t2016: 10.8M t2017: 11.1M t2018: 3.6M t2019: 967.4k t2020: 16.6M t2021: 11.5M t2022: 928.3k t2023: 696.8k t2024: 1.9M t

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for closed shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa is 1.86 million t, measured in 2024.

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

Over the whole period, closed shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa peaked at 25.13 million t in 2012 and was at its lowest, 696,768 t, 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 — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Closed shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 7.95 million t
1991 7.95 million t +0.0%
1992 7.95 million t +0.0%
1993 7.95 million t +0.0%
1994 7.95 million t +0.0%
1995 7.95 million t +0.0%
1996 7.57 million t -4.8%
1997 7.15 million t -5.6%
1998 7.98 million t +11.7%
1999 7.40 million t -7.3%
2000 7.43 million t +0.4%
2001 2.09 million t -71.8%
2002 6.78 million t +223.5%
2003 6.09 million t -10.2%
2004 12.19 million t +100.3%
2005 7.57 million t -37.9%
2006 5.99 million t -20.9%
2007 5.76 million t -3.9%
2008 5.00 million t -13.2%
2009 9.35 million t +87.2%
2010 6.91 million t -26.1%
2011 23.80 million t +244.5%
2012 25.13 million t +5.6%
2013 8.82 million t -64.9%
2014 5.50 million t -37.7%
2015 4.11 million t -25.1%
2016 10.84 million t +163.5%
2017 11.07 million t +2.1%
2018 3.58 million t -67.6%
2019 967,377 t -73.0%
2020 16.60 million t +1615.5%
2021 11.47 million t -30.9%
2022 928,275 t -91.9%
2023 696,768 t -24.9%
2024 1.86 million t +166.3%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Closed 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 +1615.5% 967,377 t 16.60 million t
2011 +244.5% 6.91 million t 23.80 million t
2002 +223.5% 2.09 million t 6.78 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.78 million t 7.15 million t 7.98 million t 10
2000s 6.82 million t 2.09 million t 12.19 million t 10
2010s 10.07 million t 967,377 t 25.13 million t 10
2020s 6.31 million t 696,768 t 16.60 million t 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 4 Angola 7.12 million t compare
  2. 5 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 9,709 t compare
  3. 5 South Africa 965,302 t compare
  4. 6 Namibia 465,622 t compare
  5. 7 Botswana 423,395 t compare
  6. 7 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 2,283 t compare
  7. 8 Brazil 247,754 t compare
  8. 8 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 0 t compare
  9. 8 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 0 t compare
  10. 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 0 t compare
  11. 8 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 t
  12. 8 Republic of Moldova 0 t
  13. 8 Syrian Arab Republic 0 t compare
  14. 8 Timor-Leste 0 t compare
  15. 8 Türkiye 0 t compare
  16. 8 United Republic of Tanzania 0 t compare
  17. 8 Viet Nam 0 t compare
  18. 8 Wallis and Futuna Islands 0 t
  19. 8 Melanesia 0 t compare
  20. 8 Micronesia 0 t
  21. 8 Polynesia 0 t
  22. 9 Mozambique 144,080 t compare
  23. 10 Mexico 124,851 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 shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa?
Closed shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa was 1.86 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest closed shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 25.13 million t in 2012.
What is the lowest closed shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 696,768 t in 2023.
How does Southern Africa rank for closed shrubland — burning crop residues?
Southern Africa ranks 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is closed shrubland — burning crop residues 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 — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Closed 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-shrubland-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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<a href="https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/closed-shrubland-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/">Closed shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Closed 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.