Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Central America

Central America: Forest fires — Burning crop residues was 46.93 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
46.93 million t
Change on year
up 76.3%
Rank
13th
of 31 groups
All-time high
68.83 million t
in 2003
All-time low
6.17 million t
in 2004
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Central America, 1990–2024

020.0M40.0M60.0M1990200720241990: 25.1M t1991: 25.1M t1992: 25.1M t1993: 25.1M t1994: 25.1M t1995: 25.1M t1996: 13.9M t1997: 15.7M t1998: 66.1M t1999: 32.0M t2000: 37.2M t2001: 7.7M t2002: 17.2M t2003: 68.8M t2004: 6.2M t2005: 44.3M t2006: 20.4M t2007: 19.5M t2008: 20.1M t2009: 24.2M t2010: 12.7M t2011: 32.8M t2012: 11.3M t2013: 31.7M t2014: 7.9M t2015: 16.0M t2016: 20.1M t2017: 22.9M t2018: 12.6M t2019: 29.5M t2020: 35.9M t2021: 14.9M t2022: 13.9M t2023: 26.6M t2024: 46.9M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — burning crop residues in Central America stood at 46.93 million t.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 76.3% on the previous year and up 491.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — burning crop residues in Central America peaked at 68.83 million t in 2003 and was at its lowest, 6.17 million t, in 2004.

Central America ranks 13th of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Central America, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Central America, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 25.14 million t
1991 25.14 million t +0.0%
1992 25.14 million t +0.0%
1993 25.14 million t +0.0%
1994 25.14 million t +0.0%
1995 25.14 million t +0.0%
1996 13.86 million t -44.8%
1997 15.66 million t +13.0%
1998 66.06 million t +321.7%
1999 32.04 million t -51.5%
2000 37.22 million t +16.2%
2001 7.70 million t -79.3%
2002 17.22 million t +123.6%
2003 68.83 million t +299.7%
2004 6.17 million t -91.0%
2005 44.26 million t +616.9%
2006 20.43 million t -53.8%
2007 19.47 million t -4.7%
2008 20.08 million t +3.1%
2009 24.17 million t +20.4%
2010 12.72 million t -47.4%
2011 32.85 million t +158.3%
2012 11.29 million t -65.6%
2013 31.72 million t +181.0%
2014 7.94 million t -75.0%
2015 16.03 million t +101.8%
2016 20.07 million t +25.2%
2017 22.91 million t +14.1%
2018 12.57 million t -45.1%
2019 29.53 million t +135.0%
2020 35.90 million t +21.6%
2021 14.85 million t -58.6%
2022 13.91 million t -6.4%
2023 26.62 million t +91.4%
2024 46.93 million t +76.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 27.85 million t 13.86 million t 66.06 million t 10
2000s 26.56 million t 6.17 million t 68.83 million t 10
2010s 19.76 million t 7.94 million t 32.85 million t 10
2020s 27.64 million t 13.91 million t 46.93 million t 5

Countries ranked near Central America

  1. 10 Mexico 28.74 million t compare
  2. 10 Viet Nam 4.02 million t compare
  3. 11 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 531,886 t compare
  4. 11 India 27.08 million t compare
  5. 12 Cambodia 24.88 million t compare
  6. 12 Melanesia 477,907 t compare
  7. 13 Nepal 19.50 million t compare
  8. 13 Türkiye 138,606 t compare
  9. 14 Thailand 19.11 million t compare
  10. 14 Timor-Leste 8,619 t compare
  11. 15 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 0 t compare
  12. 15 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 t
  13. 15 Republic of Moldova 0 t compare
  14. 15 South Sudan 15.63 million t compare
  15. 15 Syrian Arab Republic 0 t compare
  16. 15 Wallis and Futuna Islands 0 t
  17. 15 Micronesia 0 t
  18. 15 Polynesia 0 t compare
  19. 16 Sudan (former) 14.93 million t compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for Central America

All data for Central America →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — burning crop residues in Central America?
Forest fires — burning crop residues in Central America was 46.93 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 Central America?
The highest recorded value was 68.83 million t in 2003.
What is the lowest forest fires — burning crop residues recorded in Central America?
The lowest recorded value was 6.17 million t in 2004.
How does Central America rank for forest fires — burning crop residues?
Central America ranks 13th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — burning crop residues rising or falling in Central America?
Over the last ten years it is up 491.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Central America 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 Central America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/central-america/

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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.