Forest fires — Emissions in South America

South America: Forest fires — Emissions was 135.08 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
135.08 kt
Change on year
up 251.2%
Rank
7th
of 31 groups
All-time high
135.08 kt
in 2024
All-time low
10.36 kt
in 2000
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in South America, 1990–2024

02550751001251990200720241990: 40.5 kt1991: 40.5 kt1992: 40.5 kt1993: 40.5 kt1994: 40.5 kt1995: 40.5 kt1996: 21.7 kt1997: 26.1 kt1998: 37.3 kt1999: 38.1 kt2000: 10.4 kt2001: 24 kt2002: 47.7 kt2003: 38.7 kt2004: 63.8 kt2005: 57.8 kt2006: 35.2 kt2007: 76.8 kt2008: 28.1 kt2009: 12.8 kt2010: 91.9 kt2011: 22.6 kt2012: 31 kt2013: 13.2 kt2014: 16.6 kt2015: 33.1 kt2016: 28.3 kt2017: 37.2 kt2018: 15.7 kt2019: 53 kt2020: 58.8 kt2021: 39.9 kt2022: 39.8 kt2023: 38.5 kt2024: 135.1 kt

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — emissions in South America stood at 135.08 kt. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.

That represents a change of up 251.2% on the previous year and up 714.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in South America peaked at 135.08 kt in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.36 kt, in 2000.

That places South America 7th out of 31 groups 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 America, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (N2O) in South America, 1990 to 2024.
Year kt Change
1990 40.45 kt
1991 40.45 kt +0.0%
1992 40.45 kt +0.0%
1993 40.45 kt +0.0%
1994 40.45 kt +0.0%
1995 40.45 kt +0.0%
1996 21.74 kt -46.3%
1997 26.14 kt +20.2%
1998 37.35 kt +42.9%
1999 38.08 kt +2.0%
2000 10.36 kt -72.8%
2001 24.01 kt +131.7%
2002 47.66 kt +98.5%
2003 38.71 kt -18.8%
2004 63.78 kt +64.8%
2005 57.78 kt -9.4%
2006 35.18 kt -39.1%
2007 76.82 kt +118.4%
2008 28.13 kt -63.4%
2009 12.82 kt -54.4%
2010 91.85 kt +616.5%
2011 22.55 kt -75.4%
2012 30.97 kt +37.4%
2013 13.18 kt -57.4%
2014 16.59 kt +25.8%
2015 33.07 kt +99.4%
2016 28.27 kt -14.5%
2017 37.24 kt +31.7%
2018 15.73 kt -57.8%
2019 53.02 kt +237.0%
2020 58.8 kt +10.9%
2021 39.9 kt -32.1%
2022 39.8 kt -0.3%
2023 38.46 kt -3.4%
2024 135.08 kt +251.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 36.6 kt 21.74 kt 40.45 kt 10
2000s 39.52 kt 10.36 kt 76.82 kt 10
2010s 34.25 kt 13.18 kt 91.85 kt 10
2020s 62.41 kt 38.46 kt 135.08 kt 5

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 4 Mozambique 24.45 kt compare
  2. 5 Angola 20.9 kt compare
  3. 6 OECD 17.56 kt compare
  4. 7 Myanmar 14.43 kt compare
  5. 8 Russian Federation 6.44 kt compare
  6. 9 Canada 6.4 kt compare
  7. 10 Mexico 6.03 kt compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in South America?
Forest fires — emissions in South America was 135.08 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 135.08 kt in 2024.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 10.36 kt in 2000.
How does South America rank for forest fires — emissions?
South America ranks 7th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 714.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South America 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 America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-n2o-fao-tier-1/south-america/

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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.