Open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Open shrubland — Burning crop residues was 16.08 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
16.08 million t
Change on year
down 84.1%
Rank
6th
of 31 groups
All-time high
161.09 million t
in 2011
All-time low
4.23 million t
in 2019
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa, 1990–2024

050.0M100.0M150.0M1990200720241990: 41.0M t1991: 41.0M t1992: 41.0M t1993: 41.0M t1994: 41.0M t1995: 41.0M t1996: 13.8M t1997: 16.6M t1998: 14.2M t1999: 12.8M t2000: 10.1M t2001: 59.9M t2002: 63.2M t2003: 14.5M t2004: 6.2M t2005: 16.5M t2006: 40.6M t2007: 34.0M t2008: 72.4M t2009: 30.1M t2010: 98.4M t2011: 161.1M t2012: 80.8M t2013: 33.0M t2014: 9.3M t2015: 14.9M t2016: 5.3M t2017: 29.8M t2018: 19.4M t2019: 4.2M t2020: 35.7M t2021: 102.2M t2022: 73.1M t2023: 100.9M t2024: 16.1M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa stood at 16.08 million t.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 84.1% on the previous year and up 73.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa peaked at 161.09 million t in 2011 and was at its lowest, 4.23 million t, in 2019.

Southern Africa ranks 6th of 31 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 41.00 million t
1991 41.00 million t +0.0%
1992 41.00 million t +0.0%
1993 41.00 million t +0.0%
1994 41.00 million t +0.0%
1995 41.00 million t +0.0%
1996 13.78 million t -66.4%
1997 16.58 million t +20.3%
1998 14.17 million t -14.5%
1999 12.80 million t -9.7%
2000 10.09 million t -21.2%
2001 59.86 million t +493.4%
2002 63.20 million t +5.6%
2003 14.53 million t -77.0%
2004 6.25 million t -57.0%
2005 16.52 million t +164.6%
2006 40.63 million t +145.9%
2007 34.04 million t -16.2%
2008 72.37 million t +112.6%
2009 30.08 million t -58.4%
2010 98.40 million t +227.1%
2011 161.09 million t +63.7%
2012 80.77 million t -49.9%
2013 33.01 million t -59.1%
2014 9.25 million t -72.0%
2015 14.92 million t +61.3%
2016 5.30 million t -64.5%
2017 29.84 million t +463.2%
2018 19.45 million t -34.8%
2019 4.23 million t -78.3%
2020 35.71 million t +745.2%
2021 102.17 million t +186.1%
2022 73.11 million t -28.4%
2023 100.91 million t +38.0%
2024 16.08 million t -84.1%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2020 +745.2% 4.23 million t 35.71 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 30.33 million t 12.80 million t 41.00 million t 10
2000s 34.76 million t 6.25 million t 72.37 million t 10
2010s 45.63 million t 4.23 million t 161.09 million t 10
2020s 65.60 million t 16.08 million t 102.17 million t 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 4 Russian Federation 14.56 million t compare
  2. 4 Syrian Arab Republic 902,869 t compare
  3. 5 Botswana 13.21 million t compare
  4. 6 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 105,214 t compare
  5. 6 South Africa 2.28 million t compare
  6. 7 Iraq 1.33 million t compare
  7. 7 Türkiye 28,253 t compare
  8. 8 Argentina 721,004 t compare
  9. 8 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 0 t compare
  10. 8 Democratic Republic of the Congo 0 t compare
  11. 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 0 t compare
  12. 8 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 t
  13. 8 Republic of Moldova 0 t
  14. 8 Timor-Leste 0 t
  15. 8 United Republic of Tanzania 0 t compare
  16. 8 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 0 t compare
  17. 8 Viet Nam 0 t compare
  18. 8 Wallis and Futuna Islands 0 t
  19. 8 Melanesia 0 t compare
  20. 8 Micronesia 0 t
  21. 8 Polynesia 0 t
  22. 9 Angola 649,907 t compare

See the full ranking of 270 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa?
Open shrubland — burning crop residues in Southern Africa was 16.08 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest open shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 161.09 million t in 2011.
What is the lowest open shrubland — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.23 million t in 2019.
How does Southern Africa rank for open shrubland — burning crop residues?
Southern Africa ranks 6th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is open shrubland — burning crop residues rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 73.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Open shrubland — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/open-shrubland-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Open shrubland — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter)
Unit
t
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.