Forest fires — Emissions in Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand: Forest fires — Emissions was 10,296 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
10,296 kt
Change on year
down 21.9%
World rank
20th
of 181 countries
All-time high
267,026 kt
in 2019
All-time low
5,418 kt
in 2021
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in Australia and New Zealand, 2001–2024

0100.0k200.0k300.0k2001201220242001: 40.5k kt2002: 60.6k kt2003: 95.8k kt2004: 10.7k kt2005: 9.6k kt2006: 77.9k kt2007: 29.4k kt2008: 5.7k kt2009: 45.6k kt2010: 7.2k kt2011: 17.0k kt2012: 26.4k kt2013: 40.3k kt2014: 29.6k kt2015: 18.6k kt2016: 24.1k kt2017: 15.3k kt2018: 26.3k kt2019: 267.0k kt2020: 146.9k kt2021: 5.4k kt2022: 5.6k kt2023: 13.2k kt2024: 10.3k kt

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — emissions in Australia and New Zealand stood at 10,296 kt.

The figure is down 21.9% on the previous year and down 65.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in Australia and New Zealand peaked at 267,026 kt in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5,418 kt, in 2021.

That places Australia and New Zealand 20th out of 181 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Forest fires — Emissions in Australia and New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CO2) in Australia and New Zealand, 2001 to 2024.
Year kt Change
2001 40,484 kt
2002 60,639 kt +49.8%
2003 95,850 kt +58.1%
2004 10,740 kt -88.8%
2005 9,584 kt -10.8%
2006 77,944 kt +713.3%
2007 29,369 kt -62.3%
2008 5,685 kt -80.6%
2009 45,635 kt +702.7%
2010 7,202 kt -84.2%
2011 17,029 kt +136.4%
2012 26,398 kt +55.0%
2013 40,274 kt +52.6%
2014 29,626 kt -26.4%
2015 18,615 kt -37.2%
2016 24,098 kt +29.5%
2017 15,324 kt -36.4%
2018 26,299 kt +71.6%
2019 267,026 kt +915.3%
2020 146,867 kt -45.0%
2021 5,418 kt -96.3%
2022 5,556 kt +2.5%
2023 13,192 kt +137.4%
2024 10,296 kt -21.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 41,770 kt 5,685 kt 95,850 kt 9
2010s 47,189 kt 7,202 kt 267,026 kt 10
2020s 36,266 kt 5,418 kt 146,867 kt 5

Countries ranked near Australia and New Zealand

  1. 17 Paraguay 14,810 kt compare
  2. 18 Congo 14,405 kt compare
  3. 19 Ethiopia 11,513 kt compare
  4. 21 Australia 10,244 kt compare
  5. 22 Guatemala 10,035 kt compare
  6. 23 Honduras 9,994 kt compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More climate change data for Australia and New Zealand

All data for Australia and New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in Australia and New Zealand?
Forest fires — emissions in Australia and New Zealand was 10,296 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 267,026 kt in 2019.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 5,418 kt in 2021.
How does Australia and New Zealand rank for forest fires — emissions?
Australia and New Zealand ranks 20th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions rising or falling in Australia and New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia and New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Forest fires — Emissions (CO2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Emissions in Australia and New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-co2-fao-tier-1/australia-and-new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — Emissions (CO2)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
234 places, 5,513 data points, 2001–2024
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.