Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Australia

Australia: Forest fires — Burning crop residues was 6.35 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6.35 million t
Change on year
down 22.2%
World rank
21st
of 219 countries
All-time high
165.47 million t
in 2019
All-time low
3.34 million t
in 2021
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Australia, 1990–2024

050.0M100.0M150.0M1990200720241990: 27.6M t1991: 27.6M t1992: 27.6M t1993: 27.6M t1994: 27.6M t1995: 27.6M t1996: 28.3M t1997: 42.5M t1998: 33.0M t1999: 43.4M t2000: 16.1M t2001: 25.1M t2002: 37.6M t2003: 59.4M t2004: 6.7M t2005: 5.9M t2006: 48.3M t2007: 18.2M t2008: 3.5M t2009: 28.3M t2010: 4.5M t2011: 10.6M t2012: 16.4M t2013: 25.0M t2014: 18.4M t2015: 11.5M t2016: 14.9M t2017: 9.5M t2018: 16.3M t2019: 165.5M t2020: 91.0M t2021: 3.3M t2022: 3.4M t2023: 8.2M t2024: 6.4M t

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

Analysis

Australia recorded 6.35 million t for forest fires — burning crop residues in 2024.

The figure is down 22.2% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — burning crop residues in Australia peaked at 165.47 million t in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3.34 million t, in 2021.

Australia ranks 21st of 219 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Australia, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 27.62 million t
1991 27.62 million t +0.0%
1992 27.62 million t +0.0%
1993 27.62 million t +0.0%
1994 27.62 million t +0.0%
1995 27.62 million t +0.0%
1996 28.33 million t +2.6%
1997 42.51 million t +50.1%
1998 33.02 million t -22.3%
1999 43.45 million t +31.6%
2000 16.09 million t -63.0%
2001 25.08 million t +55.9%
2002 37.59 million t +49.9%
2003 59.41 million t +58.0%
2004 6.66 million t -88.8%
2005 5.94 million t -10.7%
2006 48.32 million t +713.2%
2007 18.16 million t -62.4%
2008 3.51 million t -80.7%
2009 28.29 million t +705.8%
2010 4.46 million t -84.2%
2011 10.56 million t +136.8%
2012 16.35 million t +54.9%
2013 24.96 million t +52.6%
2014 18.37 million t -26.4%
2015 11.54 million t -37.2%
2016 14.94 million t +29.5%
2017 9.48 million t -36.6%
2018 16.30 million t +72.0%
2019 165.47 million t +914.8%
2020 91.02 million t -45.0%
2021 3.34 million t -96.3%
2022 3.44 million t +2.9%
2023 8.16 million t +137.6%
2024 6.35 million t -22.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 31.31 million t 27.62 million t 43.45 million t 10
2000s 24.90 million t 3.51 million t 59.41 million t 10
2010s 29.24 million t 4.46 million t 165.47 million t 10
2020s 22.46 million t 3.34 million t 91.02 million t 5

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 18 Congo 8.93 million t compare
  2. 19 Ethiopia 7.14 million t compare
  3. 20 Australia and New Zealand 6.38 million t compare
  4. 22 Guatemala 6.22 million t compare
  5. 23 Honduras 6.20 million t compare
  6. 24 Madagascar 6.06 million t compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — burning crop residues in Australia?
Forest fires — burning crop residues in Australia was 6.35 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — burning crop residues recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 165.47 million t in 2019.
What is the lowest forest fires — burning crop residues recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 3.34 million t in 2021.
How does Australia rank for forest fires — burning crop residues?
Australia ranks 21st out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — burning crop residues rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Forest fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — 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
272 places, 9,294 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.