Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa

South Africa: Forest fires — Emissions was 0.7253 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
0.7253 kt
Change on year
up 323.9%
World rank
30th
of 219 countries
All-time high
3 kt
in 1998
All-time low
0.1225 kt
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in South Africa, 1990–2024

01231990200720241990: 0.624 kt1991: 0.624 kt1992: 0.624 kt1993: 0.624 kt1994: 0.624 kt1995: 0.624 kt1996: 1.7 kt1997: 1.7 kt1998: 3 kt1999: 2 kt2000: 0.696 kt2001: 0.212 kt2002: 0.197 kt2003: 0.483 kt2004: 0.179 kt2005: 0.718 kt2006: 0.215 kt2007: 0.786 kt2008: 0.463 kt2009: 0.247 kt2010: 0.367 kt2011: 0.304 kt2012: 0.319 kt2013: 0.308 kt2014: 0.428 kt2015: 0.208 kt2016: 0.256 kt2017: 0.367 kt2018: 0.896 kt2019: 0.4 kt2020: 0.343 kt2021: 0.231 kt2022: 0.122 kt2023: 0.171 kt2024: 0.725 kt

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 0.7253 kt, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 323.9% on the previous year and up 69.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in South Africa peaked at 3 kt in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.1225 kt, in 2022.

That places South Africa 30th out of 219 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

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (N2O) in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year kt Change
1990 0.6235 kt
1991 0.6235 kt +0.0%
1992 0.6235 kt +0.0%
1993 0.6235 kt +0.0%
1994 0.6235 kt +0.0%
1995 0.6235 kt +0.0%
1996 1.72 kt +175.8%
1997 1.7 kt -1.1%
1998 3 kt +76.6%
1999 2.01 kt -32.9%
2000 0.6955 kt -65.5%
2001 0.2123 kt -69.5%
2002 0.1967 kt -7.3%
2003 0.483 kt +145.6%
2004 0.1791 kt -62.9%
2005 0.7176 kt +300.7%
2006 0.2152 kt -70.0%
2007 0.7858 kt +265.1%
2008 0.463 kt -41.1%
2009 0.247 kt -46.7%
2010 0.3673 kt +48.7%
2011 0.3037 kt -17.3%
2012 0.3193 kt +5.1%
2013 0.3083 kt -3.4%
2014 0.4281 kt +38.9%
2015 0.2076 kt -51.5%
2016 0.2562 kt +23.4%
2017 0.3672 kt +43.3%
2018 0.8964 kt +144.1%
2019 0.4002 kt -55.4%
2020 0.3429 kt -14.3%
2021 0.2307 kt -32.7%
2022 0.1225 kt -46.9%
2023 0.1711 kt +39.7%
2024 0.7253 kt +323.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.22 kt 0.6235 kt 3 kt 10
2000s 0.4195 kt 0.1791 kt 0.7858 kt 10
2010s 0.3854 kt 0.2076 kt 0.8964 kt 10
2020s 0.3185 kt 0.1225 kt 0.7253 kt 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 27 Chad 0.951 kt compare
  2. 28 China 0.9045 kt compare
  3. 28 China, mainland 0.9045 kt compare
  4. 31 Nicaragua 0.6944 kt compare
  5. 32 Nigeria 0.6915 kt compare
  6. 33 Belize 0.6329 kt compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in South Africa?
Forest fires — emissions in South Africa was 0.7253 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 3 kt in 1998.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1225 kt in 2022.
How does South Africa rank for forest fires — emissions?
South Africa ranks 30th out of 219 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 (N2O). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Emissions in South 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-n2o-fao-tier-1/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — Emissions (N2O)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
272 places, 9,294 data points, 1990–2024
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.