Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) was 108.43 kt in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
108.43 kt
Change on year
up 45.4%
Rank
25th
of 32 groups
All-time high
3,379 kt
in 1998
All-time low
74.56 kt
in 2022
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa, 1990–2023

01.0k2.0k3.0k1990200620231990: 566.6 kt1991: 566.6 kt1992: 566.6 kt1993: 566.6 kt1994: 566.6 kt1995: 566.6 kt1996: 2.0k kt1997: 2.0k kt1998: 3.4k kt1999: 2.3k kt2000: 855 kt2001: 139.6 kt2002: 121 kt2003: 298.4 kt2004: 128.2 kt2005: 426.6 kt2006: 129.8 kt2007: 604.3 kt2008: 370.9 kt2009: 151.6 kt2010: 246.9 kt2011: 211.2 kt2012: 212.2 kt2013: 205.8 kt2014: 276.6 kt2015: 132.7 kt2016: 163.3 kt2017: 219.9 kt2018: 519.2 kt2019: 271.2 kt2020: 206.4 kt2021: 150.5 kt2022: 74.6 kt2023: 108.4 kt

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

Analysis

In 2023, forest fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa stood at 108.43 kt.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 45.4% on the previous year and down 47.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa peaked at 3,379 kt in 1998 and was at its lowest, 74.56 kt, in 2022.

That places Southern Africa 25th out of 32 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year kt Change
1990 566.58 kt
1991 566.58 kt +0.0%
1992 566.58 kt +0.0%
1993 566.58 kt +0.0%
1994 566.58 kt +0.0%
1995 566.58 kt +0.0%
1996 2,013 kt +255.2%
1997 1,959 kt -2.7%
1998 3,379 kt +72.5%
1999 2,283 kt -32.4%
2000 854.95 kt -62.6%
2001 139.63 kt -83.7%
2002 120.99 kt -13.4%
2003 298.39 kt +146.6%
2004 128.19 kt -57.0%
2005 426.57 kt +232.8%
2006 129.78 kt -69.6%
2007 604.25 kt +365.6%
2008 370.88 kt -38.6%
2009 151.57 kt -59.1%
2010 246.95 kt +62.9%
2011 211.19 kt -14.5%
2012 212.21 kt +0.5%
2013 205.8 kt -3.0%
2014 276.64 kt +34.4%
2015 132.69 kt -52.0%
2016 163.33 kt +23.1%
2017 219.89 kt +34.6%
2018 519.19 kt +136.1%
2019 271.18 kt -47.8%
2020 206.39 kt -23.9%
2021 150.53 kt -27.1%
2022 74.56 kt -50.5%
2023 108.43 kt +45.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1,303 kt 566.58 kt 3,379 kt 10
2000s 322.52 kt 120.99 kt 854.95 kt 10
2010s 245.9 kt 132.69 kt 519.19 kt 10
2020s 134.98 kt 74.56 kt 206.39 kt 4

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 22 Madagascar 727.78 kt compare
  2. 23 China 672.74 kt compare
  3. 23 China, mainland 672.74 kt compare
  4. 25 Honduras 665.83 kt compare
  5. 26 Cameroon 627.74 kt compare
  6. 27 Chad 604.65 kt compare
  7. 28 Nicaragua 396.97 kt compare

See the full ranking of 273 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa?
Forest fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa was 108.43 kt in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions (co2eq) recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 3,379 kt in 1998.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions (co2eq) recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 74.56 kt in 2022.
How does Southern Africa rank for forest fires — emissions (co2eq)?
Southern Africa ranks 25th out of 32 groups with data for 2023.
Is forest fires — emissions (co2eq) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 47.3%. 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 (CO2eq) (AR5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-co2eq-ar5-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
273 places, 9,061 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions Totals summarizes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disseminated in the FAOSTAT Climate Change domains of emissions from agrifood systems. Data are computed following the Tier 1 methods of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventories (IPCC, 1996; 1997; 2000; 2002; 2006; 2014). Emissions from other economic sectors as defined by the IPCC are also disseminated in the domain for completeness. Methodological details can be found at: https://files-faostat.fao.org/production/GT/GT_en.pdf