Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in South Africa

South Africa: Humid tropical forest — Burned Area was 171.44 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
171.44 ha
Change on year
up 60.0%
World rank
60th
of 218 countries
All-time high
4,050 ha
in 2006
All-time low
0 ha
in 2016
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990–2024

01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k1990200720241990: 867.1 ha1991: 867.1 ha1992: 867.1 ha1993: 867.1 ha1994: 867.1 ha1995: 867.1 ha1996: 2.5k ha1997: 1.0k ha1998: 1.7k ha1999: 2.0k ha2000: 408.3 ha2001: 257.2 ha2002: 257.2 ha2003: 1.2k ha2004: 171.4 ha2005: 1.6k ha2006: 4.1k ha2007: 107.2 ha2008: 321.5 ha2009: 171.4 ha2010: 1.8k ha2011: 2.9k ha2012: 192.9 ha2013: 171.4 ha2014: 1.2k ha2015: 407.2 ha2016: 0 ha2017: 728.6 ha2018: 0 ha2019: 1.2k ha2020: 150 ha2021: 171.4 ha2022: 21.4 ha2023: 107.2 ha2024: 171.4 ha

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 171.44 ha for humid tropical forest — burned area in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 60.0% on the previous year and down 86.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, humid tropical forest — burned area in South Africa peaked at 4,050 ha in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0 ha, in 2016.

That places South Africa 60th out of 218 countries 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.

Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 867.09 ha
1991 867.09 ha +0.0%
1992 867.09 ha +0.0%
1993 867.09 ha +0.0%
1994 867.09 ha +0.0%
1995 867.09 ha +0.0%
1996 2,514 ha +189.9%
1997 1,008 ha -59.9%
1998 1,678 ha +66.4%
1999 2,028 ha +20.9%
2000 408.3 ha -79.9%
2001 257.15 ha -37.0%
2002 257.16 ha +0.0%
2003 1,222 ha +375.0%
2004 171.44 ha -86.0%
2005 1,607 ha +837.5%
2006 4,050 ha +152.0%
2007 107.15 ha -97.4%
2008 321.46 ha +200.0%
2009 171.45 ha -46.7%
2010 1,843 ha +975.0%
2011 2,936 ha +59.3%
2012 192.88 ha -93.4%
2013 171.44 ha -11.1%
2014 1,243 ha +625.0%
2015 407.17 ha -67.2%
2016 0 ha -100.0%
2017 728.62 ha
2018 0 ha -100.0%
2019 1,200 ha
2020 150.01 ha -87.5%
2021 171.45 ha +14.3%
2022 21.43 ha -87.5%
2023 107.15 ha +400.0%
2024 171.44 ha +60.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1,243 ha 867.09 ha 2,514 ha 10
2000s 857.32 ha 107.15 ha 4,050 ha 10
2010s 872.22 ha 0 ha 2,936 ha 10
2020s 124.29 ha 21.43 ha 171.45 ha 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 57 Trinidad and Tobago 256.54 ha compare
  2. 58 French Guiana 256.46 ha compare
  3. 59 Comoros 213.82 ha compare
  4. 61 Fiji 171.15 ha compare
  5. 62 Equatorial Guinea 149.59 ha compare
  6. 63 Mayotte 106.92 ha compare

See the full ranking of 270 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is humid tropical forest — burned area in South Africa?
Humid tropical forest — burned area in South Africa was 171.44 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest humid tropical forest — burned area recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 4,050 ha in 2006.
What is the lowest humid tropical forest — burned area recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0 ha in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for humid tropical forest — burned area?
South Africa ranks 60th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
Is humid tropical forest — burned area rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 86.2%. 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 Humid tropical forest — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Humid tropical forest — Burned Area in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/humid-tropical-forest-burned-area-fao-tier-1/south-africa/

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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.