Open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America

Central America: Open shrubland — Burned Area was 18,782 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
18,782 ha
Change on year
down 49.1%
Rank
19th
of 31 groups
All-time high
273,569 ha
in 2011
All-time low
4,095 ha
in 2001
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America, 1990–2024

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1990200720241990: 57.0k ha1991: 57.0k ha1992: 57.0k ha1993: 57.0k ha1994: 57.0k ha1995: 57.0k ha1996: 50.5k ha1997: 38.3k ha1998: 189.6k ha1999: 148.2k ha2000: 122.2k ha2001: 4.1k ha2002: 23.8k ha2003: 33.8k ha2004: 6.8k ha2005: 26.8k ha2006: 23.9k ha2007: 21.7k ha2008: 38.6k ha2009: 37.4k ha2010: 16.7k ha2011: 273.6k ha2012: 78.9k ha2013: 53.0k ha2014: 14.9k ha2015: 18.9k ha2016: 22.4k ha2017: 65.5k ha2018: 98.5k ha2019: 47.0k ha2020: 22.8k ha2021: 31.8k ha2022: 36.7k ha2023: 36.9k ha2024: 18.8k ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for open shrubland — burned area in Central America is 18,782 ha, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 49.1% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, open shrubland — burned area in Central America peaked at 273,569 ha in 2011 and was at its lowest, 4,095 ha, in 2001.

That places Central America 19th out of 31 groups 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.

Open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America, year by year

Annual values for Open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 57,000 ha
1991 57,000 ha +0.0%
1992 57,000 ha +0.0%
1993 57,000 ha +0.0%
1994 57,000 ha +0.0%
1995 57,000 ha +0.0%
1996 50,453 ha -11.5%
1997 38,277 ha -24.1%
1998 189,615 ha +395.4%
1999 148,162 ha -21.9%
2000 122,187 ha -17.5%
2001 4,095 ha -96.6%
2002 23,844 ha +482.2%
2003 33,780 ha +41.7%
2004 6,798 ha -79.9%
2005 26,838 ha +294.8%
2006 23,946 ha -10.8%
2007 21,652 ha -9.6%
2008 38,558 ha +78.1%
2009 37,433 ha -2.9%
2010 16,658 ha -55.5%
2011 273,569 ha +1542.2%
2012 78,944 ha -71.1%
2013 53,045 ha -32.8%
2014 14,861 ha -72.0%
2015 18,852 ha +26.9%
2016 22,388 ha +18.8%
2017 65,476 ha +192.5%
2018 98,458 ha +50.4%
2019 46,964 ha -52.3%
2020 22,839 ha -51.4%
2021 31,826 ha +39.3%
2022 36,728 ha +15.4%
2023 36,916 ha +0.5%
2024 18,782 ha -49.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 76,851 ha 38,277 ha 189,615 ha 10
2000s 33,913 ha 4,095 ha 122,187 ha 10
2010s 68,922 ha 14,861 ha 273,569 ha 10
2020s 29,418 ha 18,782 ha 36,916 ha 5

Countries ranked near Central America

  1. 16 Zimbabwe 11,256 ha compare
  2. 17 Sudan 10,480 ha compare
  3. 18 Mali 7,765 ha compare
  4. 19 Ethiopia 5,386 ha compare
  5. 20 Zambia 4,748 ha compare
  6. 21 Saudi Arabia 2,809 ha compare
  7. 22 Turkmenistan 2,427 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 open shrubland — burned area in Central America?
Open shrubland — burned area in Central America was 18,782 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest open shrubland — burned area recorded in Central America?
The highest recorded value was 273,569 ha in 2011.
What is the lowest open shrubland — burned area recorded in Central America?
The lowest recorded value was 4,095 ha in 2001.
How does Central America rank for open shrubland — burned area?
Central America ranks 19th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in Central America?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. 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 Open shrubland — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Open shrubland — Burned Area in Central America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/open-shrubland-burned-area-fao-tier-1/central-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Open shrubland — 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.