Forest fires — Emissions in Australia

Australia: Forest fires — Emissions was 14.61 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
14.61 kt
Change on year
down 22.2%
World rank
21st
of 219 countries
All-time high
380.57 kt
in 2019
All-time low
7.68 kt
in 2021
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in Australia, 1990–2024

01002003004001990200720241990: 84.1 kt1991: 84.1 kt1992: 84.1 kt1993: 84.1 kt1994: 84.1 kt1995: 84.1 kt1996: 167.4 kt1997: 251.1 kt1998: 195.4 kt1999: 270.7 kt2000: 88.1 kt2001: 57.7 kt2002: 86.5 kt2003: 136.6 kt2004: 15.3 kt2005: 13.7 kt2006: 111.1 kt2007: 41.8 kt2008: 8.1 kt2009: 65.1 kt2010: 10.3 kt2011: 24.3 kt2012: 37.6 kt2013: 57.4 kt2014: 42.2 kt2015: 26.5 kt2016: 34.4 kt2017: 21.8 kt2018: 37.5 kt2019: 380.6 kt2020: 209.3 kt2021: 7.7 kt2022: 7.9 kt2023: 18.8 kt2024: 14.6 kt

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — emissions in Australia stood at 14.61 kt.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.2% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in Australia peaked at 380.57 kt in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.68 kt, in 2021.

That places Australia 21st 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 — Emissions in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CH4) in Australia, 1990 to 2024.
Year kt Change
1990 84.12 kt —
1991 84.12 kt +0.0%
1992 84.12 kt +0.0%
1993 84.12 kt +0.0%
1994 84.12 kt +0.0%
1995 84.12 kt +0.0%
1996 167.39 kt +99.0%
1997 251.12 kt +50.0%
1998 195.44 kt -22.2%
1999 270.66 kt +38.5%
2000 88.09 kt -67.5%
2001 57.68 kt -34.5%
2002 86.47 kt +49.9%
2003 136.65 kt +58.0%
2004 15.31 kt -88.8%
2005 13.67 kt -10.7%
2006 111.14 kt +713.2%
2007 41.77 kt -62.4%
2008 8.07 kt -80.7%
2009 65.06 kt +705.8%
2010 10.25 kt -84.2%
2011 24.28 kt +136.8%
2012 37.61 kt +54.9%
2013 57.4 kt +52.6%
2014 42.24 kt -26.4%
2015 26.54 kt -37.2%
2016 34.36 kt +29.5%
2017 21.8 kt -36.6%
2018 37.5 kt +72.0%
2019 380.57 kt +914.8%
2020 209.35 kt -45.0%
2021 7.68 kt -96.3%
2022 7.9 kt +2.9%
2023 18.78 kt +137.6%
2024 14.61 kt -22.2%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 14.61 kt is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0053 kt, 2756.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Forest fires — Emissions in Australia 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
2019 +914.8% 37.5 kt 380.57 kt
2006 +713.2% 13.67 kt 111.14 kt
2009 +705.8% 8.07 kt 65.06 kt

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 138.93 kt 84.12 kt 270.66 kt 10
2000s 62.39 kt 8.07 kt 136.65 kt 10
2010s 67.26 kt 10.25 kt 380.57 kt 10
2020s 51.66 kt 7.68 kt 209.35 kt 5

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 18 Congo 20.54 kt compare
  2. 19 Ethiopia 16.42 kt compare
  3. 20 Australia and New Zealand 14.68 kt compare
  4. 22 Guatemala 14.31 kt compare
  5. 23 Honduras 14.25 kt compare
  6. 24 Madagascar 13.94 kt compare
  7. 24 Caribbean 1.67 kt 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 — emissions in Australia?
Forest fires — emissions in Australia was 14.61 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 380.57 kt in 2019.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 7.68 kt in 2021.
How does Australia rank for forest fires — emissions?
Australia ranks 21st out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions 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 — Emissions (CH4). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Emissions in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-ch4-fao-tier-1/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — Emissions (CH4)
Unit
kt
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.