Forest fires — Burning crop residues in Northern America

Northern America: Forest fires — Burning crop residues was 45.98 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
45.98 million t
Change on year
down 64.5%
Rank
14th
of 31 groups
All-time high
129.36 million t
in 2023
All-time low
6.31 million t
in 2001
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

025.0M50.0M75.0M100.0M125.0M1990200720241990: 32.7M t1991: 32.7M t1992: 32.7M t1993: 32.7M t1994: 32.7M t1995: 32.7M t1996: 45.0M t1997: 22.3M t1998: 70.2M t1999: 40.6M t2000: 30.1M t2001: 6.3M t2002: 17.9M t2003: 24.5M t2004: 19.6M t2005: 14.3M t2006: 17.7M t2007: 21.5M t2008: 21.1M t2009: 14.7M t2010: 17.0M t2011: 21.4M t2012: 22.1M t2013: 23.6M t2014: 19.7M t2015: 48.6M t2016: 21.2M t2017: 34.1M t2018: 48.7M t2019: 22.7M t2020: 46.8M t2021: 57.5M t2022: 24.4M t2023: 129.4M t2024: 46.0M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — burning crop residues in Northern America stood at 45.98 million t.

The figure is down 64.5% on the previous year and up 133.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — burning crop residues in Northern America peaked at 129.36 million t in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.31 million t, in 2001.

That places Northern America 14th out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Northern America, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 32.73 million t
1991 32.73 million t +0.0%
1992 32.73 million t +0.0%
1993 32.73 million t +0.0%
1994 32.73 million t +0.0%
1995 32.73 million t +0.0%
1996 45.02 million t +37.6%
1997 22.25 million t -50.6%
1998 70.23 million t +215.6%
1999 40.63 million t -42.2%
2000 30.08 million t -26.0%
2001 6.31 million t -79.0%
2002 17.91 million t +183.8%
2003 24.50 million t +36.8%
2004 19.63 million t -19.9%
2005 14.27 million t -27.3%
2006 17.66 million t +23.7%
2007 21.55 million t +22.0%
2008 21.05 million t -2.3%
2009 14.74 million t -30.0%
2010 17.00 million t +15.3%
2011 21.43 million t +26.1%
2012 22.11 million t +3.1%
2013 23.57 million t +6.6%
2014 19.69 million t -16.5%
2015 48.63 million t +146.9%
2016 21.21 million t -56.4%
2017 34.08 million t +60.7%
2018 48.70 million t +42.9%
2019 22.74 million t -53.3%
2020 46.81 million t +105.9%
2021 57.54 million t +22.9%
2022 24.41 million t -57.6%
2023 129.36 million t +430.0%
2024 45.98 million t -64.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 37.45 million t 22.25 million t 70.23 million t 10
2000s 18.77 million t 6.31 million t 30.08 million t 10
2010s 27.92 million t 17.00 million t 48.70 million t 10
2020s 60.82 million t 24.41 million t 129.36 million t 5

Countries ranked near Northern America

  1. 11 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 531,886 t compare
  2. 11 India 27.08 million t compare
  3. 12 Cambodia 24.88 million t compare
  4. 12 Melanesia 477,907 t compare
  5. 13 Nepal 19.50 million t compare
  6. 13 Türkiye 138,606 t compare
  7. 14 Thailand 19.11 million t compare
  8. 14 Timor-Leste 8,619 t compare
  9. 15 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 0 t compare
  10. 15 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 t
  11. 15 Republic of Moldova 0 t compare
  12. 15 South Sudan 15.63 million t compare
  13. 15 Syrian Arab Republic 0 t compare
  14. 15 Wallis and Futuna Islands 0 t
  15. 15 Micronesia 0 t
  16. 15 Polynesia 0 t compare
  17. 16 Sudan (former) 14.93 million t compare
  18. 17 Paraguay 9.18 million t compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for Northern America

All data for Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — burning crop residues in Northern America?
Forest fires — burning crop residues in Northern America was 45.98 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 Northern America?
The highest recorded value was 129.36 million t in 2023.
What is the lowest forest fires — burning crop residues recorded in Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 6.31 million t in 2001.
How does Northern America rank for forest fires — burning crop residues?
Northern America ranks 14th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — burning crop residues rising or falling in Northern America?
Over the last ten years it is up 133.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Northern 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 Northern America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/northern-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.