Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in Central America

Central America: Humid tropical forest — Burned Area was 494,334 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
494,334 ha
Change on year
up 83.3%
Rank
12th
of 31 groups
All-time high
1.04 million ha
in 2003
All-time low
50,728 ha
in 2001
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in Central America, 1990–2024

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1.0M1990200720241990: 271.6k ha1991: 271.6k ha1992: 271.6k ha1993: 271.6k ha1994: 271.6k ha1995: 271.6k ha1996: 210.3k ha1997: 224.6k ha1998: 819.4k ha1999: 301.3k ha2000: 383.7k ha2001: 50.7k ha2002: 183.2k ha2003: 1.0M ha2004: 53.0k ha2005: 553.2k ha2006: 234.2k ha2007: 209.8k ha2008: 178.3k ha2009: 293.0k ha2010: 135.8k ha2011: 373.9k ha2012: 54.4k ha2013: 294.5k ha2014: 119.7k ha2015: 219.3k ha2016: 214.7k ha2017: 142.2k ha2018: 86.4k ha2019: 208.2k ha2020: 395.4k ha2021: 62.0k ha2022: 75.2k ha2023: 269.7k ha2024: 494.3k ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for humid tropical forest — burned area in Central America is 494,334 ha, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 83.3% on the previous year and up 312.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, humid tropical forest — burned area in Central America peaked at 1.04 million ha in 2003 and was at its lowest, 50,728 ha, in 2001.

Central America ranks 12th of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in Central America, year by year

Annual values for Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in Central America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 271,647 ha
1991 271,647 ha +0.0%
1992 271,647 ha +0.0%
1993 271,647 ha +0.0%
1994 271,647 ha +0.0%
1995 271,647 ha +0.0%
1996 210,315 ha -22.6%
1997 224,586 ha +6.8%
1998 819,389 ha +264.8%
1999 301,346 ha -63.2%
2000 383,655 ha +27.3%
2001 50,728 ha -86.8%
2002 183,219 ha +261.2%
2003 1.04 million ha +466.1%
2004 53,021 ha -94.9%
2005 553,197 ha +943.4%
2006 234,205 ha -57.7%
2007 209,795 ha -10.4%
2008 178,320 ha -15.0%
2009 293,021 ha +64.3%
2010 135,759 ha -53.7%
2011 373,888 ha +175.4%
2012 54,403 ha -85.4%
2013 294,479 ha +441.3%
2014 119,742 ha -59.3%
2015 219,260 ha +83.1%
2016 214,660 ha -2.1%
2017 142,236 ha -33.7%
2018 86,420 ha -39.2%
2019 208,209 ha +140.9%
2020 395,420 ha +89.9%
2021 61,964 ha -84.3%
2022 75,176 ha +21.3%
2023 269,739 ha +258.8%
2024 494,334 ha +83.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 318,552 ha 210,315 ha 819,389 ha 10
2000s 317,642 ha 50,728 ha 1.04 million ha 10
2010s 184,906 ha 54,403 ha 373,888 ha 10
2020s 259,327 ha 61,964 ha 494,334 ha 5

Countries ranked near Central America

  1. 9 South Sudan 283,828 ha compare
  2. 10 Sudan (former) 274,784 ha compare
  3. 11 Thailand 226,406 ha compare
  4. 12 India 185,116 ha compare
  5. 12 Türkiye 0 ha
  6. 13 OECD 179,293 ha compare
  7. 14 Mexico 175,141 ha compare
  8. 15 Congo 164,978 ha compare

See the full ranking of 270 places →

More climate change data for Central America

All data for Central America →

Frequently asked questions

What is humid tropical forest — burned area in Central America?
Humid tropical forest — burned area in Central America was 494,334 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest humid tropical forest — burned area recorded in Central America?
The highest recorded value was 1.04 million ha in 2003.
What is the lowest humid tropical forest — burned area recorded in Central America?
The lowest recorded value was 50,728 ha in 2001.
How does Central America rank for humid tropical forest — burned area?
Central America ranks 12th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is humid tropical forest — burned area rising or falling in Central America?
Over the last ten years it is up 312.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Central America data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Humid tropical forest — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in Central America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/humid-tropical-forest-burned-area-fao-tier-1/central-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Humid tropical forest — Burned Area
Unit
ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
270 places, 9,224 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.