Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa

South Africa: Forest fires — Emissions was 7.94 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
7.94 kt
Change on year
up 323.8%
World rank
30th
of 219 countries
All-time high
71.72 kt
in 1998
All-time low
1.34 kt
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa, 1990–2024

0204060801990200720241990: 10.9 kt1991: 10.9 kt1992: 10.9 kt1993: 10.9 kt1994: 10.9 kt1995: 10.9 kt1996: 42.1 kt1997: 42.3 kt1998: 71.7 kt1999: 47.7 kt2000: 15.4 kt2001: 2.3 kt2002: 2.2 kt2003: 5.3 kt2004: 2 kt2005: 7.9 kt2006: 2.4 kt2007: 8.6 kt2008: 5.1 kt2009: 2.7 kt2010: 4 kt2011: 3.3 kt2012: 3.5 kt2013: 3.4 kt2014: 4.7 kt2015: 2.3 kt2016: 2.8 kt2017: 4 kt2018: 9.8 kt2019: 4.4 kt2020: 3.8 kt2021: 2.5 kt2022: 1.3 kt2023: 1.9 kt2024: 7.9 kt

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 7.94 kt for forest fires — emissions in 2024.

That represents a change of up 323.8% on the previous year and up 69.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in South Africa peaked at 71.72 kt in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.34 kt, in 2022.

South Africa ranks 30th of 219 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CH4) in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year kt Change
1990 10.94 kt
1991 10.94 kt +0.0%
1992 10.94 kt +0.0%
1993 10.94 kt +0.0%
1994 10.94 kt +0.0%
1995 10.94 kt +0.0%
1996 42.09 kt +284.9%
1997 42.27 kt +0.4%
1998 71.72 kt +69.7%
1999 47.71 kt -33.5%
2000 15.38 kt -67.8%
2001 2.33 kt -84.9%
2002 2.15 kt -7.3%
2003 5.29 kt +145.5%
2004 1.96 kt -62.9%
2005 7.86 kt +300.6%
2006 2.36 kt -70.0%
2007 8.61 kt +265.1%
2008 5.07 kt -41.1%
2009 2.71 kt -46.6%
2010 4.02 kt +48.7%
2011 3.33 kt -17.3%
2012 3.5 kt +5.1%
2013 3.38 kt -3.4%
2014 4.69 kt +38.9%
2015 2.27 kt -51.5%
2016 2.81 kt +23.4%
2017 4.02 kt +43.3%
2018 9.82 kt +144.1%
2019 4.38 kt -55.4%
2020 3.76 kt -14.3%
2021 2.53 kt -32.7%
2022 1.34 kt -46.9%
2023 1.87 kt +39.7%
2024 7.94 kt +323.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 26.94 kt 10.94 kt 71.72 kt 10
2000s 5.37 kt 1.96 kt 15.38 kt 10
2010s 4.22 kt 2.27 kt 9.82 kt 10
2020s 3.49 kt 1.34 kt 7.94 kt 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 27 Chad 10.42 kt compare
  2. 28 China 9.91 kt compare
  3. 28 China, mainland 9.91 kt compare
  4. 31 Nicaragua 7.61 kt compare
  5. 32 Nigeria 7.57 kt compare
  6. 33 Belize 6.93 kt compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in South Africa?
Forest fires — emissions in South Africa was 7.94 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 71.72 kt in 1998.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.34 kt in 2022.
How does South Africa rank for forest fires — emissions?
South Africa ranks 30th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 69.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-ch4-fao-tier-1/south-africa/

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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.