Forest fires — Emissions in Northern America

Northern America: Forest fires — Emissions was 74,168 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
74,168 kt
Change on year
down 64.5%
Rank
14th
of 31 groups
All-time high
208,652 kt
in 2023
All-time low
10,182 kt
in 2001
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in Northern America, 2001–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k2001201220242001: 10.2k kt2002: 28.9k kt2003: 39.5k kt2004: 31.7k kt2005: 23.0k kt2006: 28.5k kt2007: 34.8k kt2008: 34.0k kt2009: 23.8k kt2010: 27.4k kt2011: 34.6k kt2012: 35.7k kt2013: 38.0k kt2014: 31.8k kt2015: 78.4k kt2016: 34.2k kt2017: 55.0k kt2018: 78.5k kt2019: 36.7k kt2020: 75.5k kt2021: 92.8k kt2022: 39.4k kt2023: 208.7k kt2024: 74.2k kt

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for forest fires — emissions in Northern America is 74,168 kt, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 64.5% on the previous year and up 133.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in Northern America peaked at 208,652 kt in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10,182 kt, 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 — Emissions in Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CO2) in Northern America, 2001 to 2024.
Year kt Change
2001 10,182 kt
2002 28,896 kt +183.8%
2003 39,520 kt +36.8%
2004 31,668 kt -19.9%
2005 23,018 kt -27.3%
2006 28,478 kt +23.7%
2007 34,753 kt +22.0%
2008 33,954 kt -2.3%
2009 23,769 kt -30.0%
2010 27,415 kt +15.3%
2011 34,574 kt +26.1%
2012 35,657 kt +3.1%
2013 38,026 kt +6.6%
2014 31,767 kt -16.5%
2015 78,437 kt +146.9%
2016 34,206 kt -56.4%
2017 54,975 kt +60.7%
2018 78,549 kt +42.9%
2019 36,673 kt -53.3%
2020 75,499 kt +105.9%
2021 92,818 kt +22.9%
2022 39,372 kt -57.6%
2023 208,652 kt +430.0%
2024 74,168 kt -64.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28,249 kt 10,182 kt 39,520 kt 9
2010s 45,028 kt 27,415 kt 78,549 kt 10
2020s 98,102 kt 39,372 kt 208,652 kt 5

Countries ranked near Northern America

  1. 11 India 43,675 kt compare
  2. 12 Cambodia 40,127 kt compare
  3. 13 Nepal 31,446 kt compare
  4. 14 Thailand 30,823 kt compare
  5. 15 South Sudan 25,207 kt compare
  6. 16 Sudan (former) 24,078 kt compare
  7. 17 Paraguay 14,810 kt compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More climate change data for Northern America

All data for Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in Northern America?
Forest fires — emissions in Northern America was 74,168 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in Northern America?
The highest recorded value was 208,652 kt in 2023.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 10,182 kt in 2001.
How does Northern America rank for forest fires — emissions?
Northern America ranks 14th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions 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 — Emissions (CO2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Emissions in Northern America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-co2-fao-tier-1/northern-america/

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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.