Forest fires — Emissions in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Forest fires — Emissions was 5,881 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
5,881 kt
Change on year
up 303.5%
Rank
21st
of 31 groups
All-time high
8,119 kt
in 2007
All-time low
1,002 kt
in 2022
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in Southern Africa, 2001–2024

2.0k4.0k6.0k8.0k2001201220242001: 1.9k kt2002: 1.6k kt2003: 4.0k kt2004: 1.7k kt2005: 5.7k kt2006: 1.7k kt2007: 8.1k kt2008: 5.0k kt2009: 2.0k kt2010: 3.3k kt2011: 2.8k kt2012: 2.9k kt2013: 2.8k kt2014: 3.7k kt2015: 1.8k kt2016: 2.2k kt2017: 3.0k kt2018: 7.0k kt2019: 3.6k kt2020: 2.8k kt2021: 2.0k kt2022: 1.0k kt2023: 1.5k kt2024: 5.9k kt

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

Analysis

Southern Africa recorded 5,881 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 8,119 kt in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1,002 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 (CO2) in Southern Africa, 2001 to 2024.
Year kt Change
2001 1,876 kt
2002 1,626 kt -13.3%
2003 4,009 kt +146.6%
2004 1,723 kt -57.0%
2005 5,731 kt +232.7%
2006 1,744 kt -69.6%
2007 8,119 kt +365.6%
2008 4,983 kt -38.6%
2009 2,037 kt -59.1%
2010 3,318 kt +62.9%
2011 2,838 kt -14.5%
2012 2,851 kt +0.5%
2013 2,765 kt -3.0%
2014 3,717 kt +34.4%
2015 1,783 kt -52.0%
2016 2,195 kt +23.1%
2017 2,955 kt +34.6%
2018 6,976 kt +136.1%
2019 3,643 kt -47.8%
2020 2,773 kt -23.9%
2021 2,023 kt -27.1%
2022 1,002 kt -50.5%
2023 1,457 kt +45.4%
2024 5,881 kt +303.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3,539 kt 1,626 kt 8,119 kt 9
2010s 3,304 kt 1,783 kt 6,976 kt 10
2020s 2,627 kt 1,002 kt 5,881 kt 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 18 Congo 14,405 kt compare
  2. 19 Ethiopia 11,513 kt compare
  3. 20 Australia and New Zealand 10,296 kt compare
  4. 21 Australia 10,244 kt compare
  5. 22 Guatemala 10,035 kt compare
  6. 23 Honduras 9,994 kt compare
  7. 24 Madagascar 9,774 kt compare

See the full ranking of 234 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 5,881 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 8,119 kt in 2007.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1,002 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 (CO2). 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-co2-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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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.