Forest fires — Burning crop residues in India

India: Forest fires — Burning crop residues was 27.08 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
27.08 million t
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
11th
of 219 countries
All-time high
92.34 million t
in 2021
All-time low
5.34 million t
in 2002
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

020.0M40.0M60.0M80.0M100.0M1990200720241990: 36.2M t1991: 36.2M t1992: 36.2M t1993: 36.2M t1994: 36.2M t1995: 36.2M t1996: 7.4M t1997: 6.3M t1998: 6.4M t1999: 13.4M t2000: 7.6M t2001: 7.9M t2002: 5.3M t2003: 27.1M t2004: 43.7M t2005: 26.4M t2006: 29.3M t2007: 47.1M t2008: 27.5M t2009: 88.6M t2010: 73.1M t2011: 36.2M t2012: 86.0M t2013: 51.1M t2014: 41.7M t2015: 30.4M t2016: 40.5M t2017: 63.6M t2018: 52.9M t2019: 31.6M t2020: 16.2M t2021: 92.3M t2022: 38.3M t2023: 26.2M t2024: 27.1M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — burning crop residues in India stood at 27.08 million t.

The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and down 35.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — burning crop residues in India peaked at 92.34 million t in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.34 million t, in 2002.

That places India 11th out of 219 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 India, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in India, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 36.24 million t
1991 36.24 million t +0.0%
1992 36.24 million t +0.0%
1993 36.24 million t +0.0%
1994 36.24 million t +0.0%
1995 36.24 million t +0.0%
1996 7.38 million t -79.6%
1997 6.34 million t -14.1%
1998 6.44 million t +1.6%
1999 13.41 million t +108.1%
2000 7.62 million t -43.2%
2001 7.85 million t +3.1%
2002 5.34 million t -32.0%
2003 27.08 million t +407.1%
2004 43.65 million t +61.2%
2005 26.40 million t -39.5%
2006 29.27 million t +10.9%
2007 47.13 million t +61.0%
2008 27.49 million t -41.7%
2009 88.65 million t +222.5%
2010 73.06 million t -17.6%
2011 36.23 million t -50.4%
2012 86.00 million t +137.4%
2013 51.06 million t -40.6%
2014 41.72 million t -18.3%
2015 30.36 million t -27.2%
2016 40.46 million t +33.3%
2017 63.63 million t +57.2%
2018 52.86 million t -16.9%
2019 31.56 million t -40.3%
2020 16.22 million t -48.6%
2021 92.34 million t +469.2%
2022 38.28 million t -58.5%
2023 26.18 million t -31.6%
2024 27.08 million t +3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 25.10 million t 6.34 million t 36.24 million t 10
2000s 31.05 million t 5.34 million t 88.65 million t 10
2010s 50.70 million t 30.36 million t 86.00 million t 10
2020s 40.02 million t 16.22 million t 92.34 million t 5

Countries ranked near India

  1. 8 Russian Federation 30.67 million t compare
  2. 9 Canada 30.48 million t compare
  3. 10 Mexico 28.74 million t compare
  4. 10 Viet Nam 4.02 million t compare
  5. 12 Cambodia 24.88 million t compare
  6. 13 Nepal 19.50 million t compare
  7. 13 Türkiye 138,606 t compare
  8. 14 Thailand 19.11 million t compare
  9. 14 Timor-Leste 8,619 t compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — burning crop residues in India?
Forest fires — burning crop residues in India was 27.08 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 India?
The highest recorded value was 92.34 million t in 2021.
What is the lowest forest fires — burning crop residues recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 5.34 million t in 2002.
How does India rank for forest fires — burning crop residues?
India ranks 11th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — burning crop residues rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India 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 India. 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/india/

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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.