Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Forest fires — Emissions was 5,571 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest fires — emissions in South Africa is 5,571 kt, measured in 2024.
The figure is 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 6,885 kt in 2018 and was at its lowest, 941.1 kt, in 2022.
That places South Africa 30th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | kt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,631 kt | — |
| 2002 | 1,511 kt | -7.3% |
| 2003 | 3,710 kt | +145.5% |
| 2004 | 1,376 kt | -62.9% |
| 2005 | 5,512 kt | +300.6% |
| 2006 | 1,653 kt | -70.0% |
| 2007 | 6,036 kt | +265.1% |
| 2008 | 3,556 kt | -41.1% |
| 2009 | 1,897 kt | -46.6% |
| 2010 | 2,821 kt | +48.7% |
| 2011 | 2,333 kt | -17.3% |
| 2012 | 2,452 kt | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 2,368 kt | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 3,289 kt | +38.9% |
| 2015 | 1,595 kt | -51.5% |
| 2016 | 1,968 kt | +23.4% |
| 2017 | 2,821 kt | +43.3% |
| 2018 | 6,885 kt | +144.1% |
| 2019 | 3,074 kt | -55.4% |
| 2020 | 2,634 kt | -14.3% |
| 2021 | 1,772 kt | -32.7% |
| 2022 | 941.1 kt | -46.9% |
| 2023 | 1,315 kt | +39.7% |
| 2024 | 5,571 kt | +323.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,987 kt | 1,376 kt | 6,036 kt | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,961 kt | 1,595 kt | 6,885 kt | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,446 kt | 941.1 kt | 5,571 kt | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest fires — emissions in South Africa?
- Forest fires — emissions in South Africa was 5,571 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 6,885 kt in 2018.
- What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 941.1 kt in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for forest fires — emissions?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 181 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 (CO2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
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.