Other forest — Burned Area in South Africa

South Africa: Other forest — Burned Area was 68,340 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
68,340 ha
Change on year
up 325.7%
World rank
19th
of 219 countries
All-time high
245,126 ha
in 1998
All-time low
11,553 ha
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Other forest — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k1990200720241990: 54.2k ha1991: 54.2k ha1992: 54.2k ha1993: 54.2k ha1994: 54.2k ha1995: 54.2k ha1996: 139.8k ha1997: 140.4k ha1998: 245.1k ha1999: 163.1k ha2000: 55.5k ha2001: 19.8k ha2002: 18.3k ha2003: 44.3k ha2004: 16.7k ha2005: 66.1k ha2006: 16.0k ha2007: 74.1k ha2008: 43.4k ha2009: 23.2k ha2010: 32.7k ha2011: 25.5k ha2012: 30.0k ha2013: 28.9k ha2014: 39.1k ha2015: 19.2k ha2016: 24.2k ha2017: 33.9k ha2018: 84.7k ha2019: 36.5k ha2020: 32.2k ha2021: 21.6k ha2022: 11.6k ha2023: 16.1k ha2024: 68.3k ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for other forest — burned area in South Africa is 68,340 ha, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 325.7% on the previous year and up 74.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, other forest — burned area in South Africa peaked at 245,126 ha in 1998 and was at its lowest, 11,553 ha, in 2022.

South Africa ranks 19th of 219 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Other forest — Burned Area in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Other forest — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 54,157 ha
1991 54,157 ha +0.0%
1992 54,157 ha +0.0%
1993 54,157 ha +0.0%
1994 54,157 ha +0.0%
1995 54,157 ha +0.0%
1996 139,850 ha +158.2%
1997 140,414 ha +0.4%
1998 245,126 ha +74.6%
1999 163,145 ha -33.4%
2000 55,498 ha -66.0%
2001 19,783 ha -64.4%
2002 18,310 ha -7.4%
2003 44,320 ha +142.1%
2004 16,742 ha -62.2%
2005 66,077 ha +294.7%
2006 15,990 ha -75.8%
2007 74,129 ha +363.6%
2008 43,399 ha -41.5%
2009 23,157 ha -46.6%
2010 32,728 ha +41.3%
2011 25,542 ha -22.0%
2012 29,959 ha +17.3%
2013 28,943 ha -3.4%
2014 39,118 ha +35.2%
2015 19,182 ha -51.0%
2016 24,210 ha +26.2%
2017 33,913 ha +40.1%
2018 84,695 ha +149.7%
2019 36,522 ha -56.9%
2020 32,238 ha -11.7%
2021 21,609 ha -33.0%
2022 11,553 ha -46.5%
2023 16,055 ha +39.0%
2024 68,340 ha +325.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 101,348 ha 54,157 ha 245,126 ha 10
2000s 37,740 ha 15,990 ha 74,129 ha 10
2010s 35,481 ha 19,182 ha 84,695 ha 10
2020s 29,959 ha 11,553 ha 68,340 ha 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 16 China 85,294 ha compare
  2. 16 China, mainland 85,294 ha compare
  3. 18 Angola 84,318 ha compare
  4. 20 Madagascar 64,408 ha compare
  5. 21 Nepal 39,978 ha compare
  6. 22 Portugal 31,181 ha compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is other forest — burned area in South Africa?
Other forest — burned area in South Africa was 68,340 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest other forest — burned area recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 245,126 ha in 1998.
What is the lowest other forest — burned area recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11,553 ha in 2022.
How does South Africa rank for other forest — burned area?
South Africa ranks 19th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
Is other forest — burned area rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 74.7%. 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 Other forest — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Other forest — Burned Area in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/other-forest-burned-area-fao-tier-1/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Other forest — Burned Area
Unit
ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
272 places, 9,294 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.