Forest fires — Emissions in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Forest fires — Emissions was 8.39 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
8.39 kt
Change on year
up 303.5%
Rank
21st
of 31 groups
All-time high
87.15 kt
in 1998
All-time low
1.43 kt
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in Southern Africa, 1990–2024

0204060801990200720241990: 13.3 kt1991: 13.3 kt1992: 13.3 kt1993: 13.3 kt1994: 13.3 kt1995: 13.3 kt1996: 52.4 kt1997: 51.2 kt1998: 87.2 kt1999: 59 kt2000: 22 kt2001: 2.7 kt2002: 2.3 kt2003: 5.7 kt2004: 2.5 kt2005: 8.2 kt2006: 2.5 kt2007: 11.6 kt2008: 7.1 kt2009: 2.9 kt2010: 4.7 kt2011: 4 kt2012: 4.1 kt2013: 3.9 kt2014: 5.3 kt2015: 2.5 kt2016: 3.1 kt2017: 4.2 kt2018: 9.9 kt2019: 5.2 kt2020: 4 kt2021: 2.9 kt2022: 1.4 kt2023: 2.1 kt2024: 8.4 kt

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

Analysis

Southern Africa recorded 8.39 kt for forest fires — emissions in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 303.5% on the previous year and up 58.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in Southern Africa peaked at 87.15 kt in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.43 kt, in 2022.

That places Southern Africa 21st 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 — Emissions in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CH4) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year kt Change
1990 13.32 kt
1991 13.32 kt +0.0%
1992 13.32 kt +0.0%
1993 13.32 kt +0.0%
1994 13.32 kt +0.0%
1995 13.32 kt +0.0%
1996 52.45 kt +293.8%
1997 51.16 kt -2.5%
1998 87.15 kt +70.4%
1999 58.99 kt -32.3%
2000 22.03 kt -62.7%
2001 2.68 kt -87.9%
2002 2.32 kt -13.4%
2003 5.72 kt +146.6%
2004 2.46 kt -57.0%
2005 8.17 kt +232.7%
2006 2.49 kt -69.6%
2007 11.58 kt +365.6%
2008 7.11 kt -38.6%
2009 2.9 kt -59.1%
2010 4.73 kt +62.9%
2011 4.05 kt -14.5%
2012 4.07 kt +0.5%
2013 3.94 kt -3.0%
2014 5.3 kt +34.4%
2015 2.54 kt -52.0%
2016 3.13 kt +23.1%
2017 4.21 kt +34.6%
2018 9.95 kt +136.1%
2019 5.2 kt -47.8%
2020 3.95 kt -23.9%
2021 2.88 kt -27.1%
2022 1.43 kt -50.5%
2023 2.08 kt +45.4%
2024 8.39 kt +303.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 32.97 kt 13.32 kt 87.15 kt 10
2000s 6.74 kt 2.32 kt 22.03 kt 10
2010s 4.71 kt 2.54 kt 9.95 kt 10
2020s 3.75 kt 1.43 kt 8.39 kt 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  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. 21 Australia 14.61 kt compare
  5. 22 Guatemala 14.31 kt compare
  6. 23 Honduras 14.25 kt compare
  7. 24 Madagascar 13.94 kt compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in Southern Africa?
Forest fires — emissions in Southern Africa was 8.39 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 87.15 kt in 1998.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.43 kt in 2022.
How does Southern Africa rank for forest fires — emissions?
Southern Africa ranks 21st out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern 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 Southern 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/southern-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.