Open shrubland — Burned Area in South America

South America: Open shrubland — Burned Area was 61,714 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
61,714 ha
Change on year
down 48.5%
Rank
16th
of 31 groups
All-time high
1.97 million ha
in 2000
All-time low
46,367 ha
in 2011
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1990200720241990: 436.2k ha1991: 436.2k ha1992: 436.2k ha1993: 436.2k ha1994: 436.2k ha1995: 436.2k ha1996: 747.4k ha1997: 823.8k ha1998: 1.8M ha1999: 1.4M ha2000: 2.0M ha2001: 1.0M ha2002: 680.0k ha2003: 784.5k ha2004: 166.6k ha2005: 228.2k ha2006: 140.5k ha2007: 78.4k ha2008: 93.5k ha2009: 257.6k ha2010: 102.7k ha2011: 46.4k ha2012: 68.8k ha2013: 68.9k ha2014: 103.6k ha2015: 147.8k ha2016: 432.3k ha2017: 379.0k ha2018: 306.3k ha2019: 133.9k ha2020: 144.0k ha2021: 67.3k ha2022: 141.7k ha2023: 119.8k ha2024: 61.7k ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for open shrubland — burned area in South America is 61,714 ha, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 48.5% on the previous year and down 40.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, open shrubland — burned area in South America peaked at 1.97 million ha in 2000 and was at its lowest, 46,367 ha, in 2011.

South America ranks 16th 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.

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

Annual values for Open shrubland — Burned Area in South America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 436,217 ha
1991 436,217 ha +0.0%
1992 436,217 ha +0.0%
1993 436,217 ha +0.0%
1994 436,217 ha +0.0%
1995 436,217 ha +0.0%
1996 747,354 ha +71.3%
1997 823,836 ha +10.2%
1998 1.82 million ha +121.1%
1999 1.44 million ha -20.8%
2000 1.97 million ha +36.3%
2001 1.04 million ha -47.1%
2002 680,015 ha -34.7%
2003 784,546 ha +15.4%
2004 166,649 ha -78.8%
2005 228,229 ha +37.0%
2006 140,538 ha -38.4%
2007 78,411 ha -44.2%
2008 93,520 ha +19.3%
2009 257,633 ha +175.5%
2010 102,730 ha -60.1%
2011 46,367 ha -54.9%
2012 68,797 ha +48.4%
2013 68,862 ha +0.1%
2014 103,586 ha +50.4%
2015 147,773 ha +42.7%
2016 432,308 ha +192.5%
2017 379,047 ha -12.3%
2018 306,279 ha -19.2%
2019 133,910 ha -56.3%
2020 144,005 ha +7.5%
2021 67,256 ha -53.3%
2022 141,684 ha +110.7%
2023 119,799 ha -15.4%
2024 61,714 ha -48.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 745,364 ha 436,217 ha 1.82 million ha 10
2000s 543,809 ha 78,411 ha 1.97 million ha 10
2010s 178,966 ha 46,367 ha 432,308 ha 10
2020s 106,892 ha 61,714 ha 144,005 ha 5

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 13 Pakistan 18,458 ha compare
  2. 14 Madagascar 17,426 ha compare
  3. 15 Mozambique 16,337 ha compare
  4. 16 Zimbabwe 11,256 ha compare
  5. 17 Sudan 10,480 ha compare
  6. 18 Mali 7,765 ha compare
  7. 19 Ethiopia 5,386 ha compare

See the full ranking of 270 places →

More climate change data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is open shrubland — burned area in South America?
Open shrubland — burned area in South America was 61,714 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest open shrubland — burned area recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 1.97 million ha in 2000.
What is the lowest open shrubland — burned area recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 46,367 ha in 2011.
How does South America rank for open shrubland — burned area?
South America ranks 16th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is open shrubland — burned area rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.4%. 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 Open shrubland — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Open shrubland — Burned Area in South America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/open-shrubland-burned-area-fao-tier-1/south-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.