Other forest — Burned Area in South America

South America: Other forest — Burned Area was 309,411 ha in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
309,411 ha
Change on year
down 19.8%
Rank
17th
of 31 groups
All-time high
716,035 ha
in 2007
All-time low
98,952 ha
in 2018
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1990200720241990: 329.1k ha1991: 329.1k ha1992: 329.1k ha1993: 329.1k ha1994: 329.1k ha1995: 329.1k ha1996: 302.1k ha1997: 368.1k ha1998: 363.8k ha1999: 473.0k ha2000: 195.3k ha2001: 304.0k ha2002: 437.9k ha2003: 304.2k ha2004: 244.2k ha2005: 334.6k ha2006: 244.6k ha2007: 716.0k ha2008: 465.1k ha2009: 203.8k ha2010: 549.5k ha2011: 312.8k ha2012: 325.2k ha2013: 144.6k ha2014: 116.9k ha2015: 292.5k ha2016: 136.0k ha2017: 358.6k ha2018: 99.0k ha2019: 595.6k ha2020: 404.7k ha2021: 285.6k ha2022: 269.7k ha2023: 385.9k ha2024: 309.4k 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 America is 309,411 ha, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 19.8% on the previous year and up 164.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, other forest — burned area in South America peaked at 716,035 ha in 2007 and was at its lowest, 98,952 ha, in 2018.

South America ranks 17th of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Other forest — Burned Area in South America, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 329,068 ha
1991 329,068 ha +0.0%
1992 329,068 ha +0.0%
1993 329,068 ha +0.0%
1994 329,068 ha +0.0%
1995 329,068 ha +0.0%
1996 302,119 ha -8.2%
1997 368,143 ha +21.9%
1998 363,830 ha -1.2%
1999 472,973 ha +30.0%
2000 195,297 ha -58.7%
2001 304,021 ha +55.7%
2002 437,913 ha +44.0%
2003 304,239 ha -30.5%
2004 244,229 ha -19.7%
2005 334,616 ha +37.0%
2006 244,596 ha -26.9%
2007 716,035 ha +192.7%
2008 465,094 ha -35.0%
2009 203,849 ha -56.2%
2010 549,500 ha +169.6%
2011 312,821 ha -43.1%
2012 325,222 ha +4.0%
2013 144,613 ha -55.5%
2014 116,855 ha -19.2%
2015 292,522 ha +150.3%
2016 135,973 ha -53.5%
2017 358,616 ha +163.7%
2018 98,952 ha -72.4%
2019 595,594 ha +501.9%
2020 404,723 ha -32.0%
2021 285,580 ha -29.4%
2022 269,703 ha -5.6%
2023 385,925 ha +43.1%
2024 309,411 ha -19.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 348,147 ha 302,119 ha 472,973 ha 10
2000s 344,989 ha 195,297 ha 716,035 ha 10
2010s 293,067 ha 98,952 ha 595,594 ha 10
2020s 331,068 ha 269,703 ha 404,723 ha 5

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 14 Australia and New Zealand 122,337 ha compare
  2. 15 Australia 121,693 ha compare
  3. 16 China 85,294 ha compare
  4. 16 China, mainland 85,294 ha compare
  5. 18 Angola 84,318 ha compare
  6. 19 South Africa 68,340 ha compare
  7. 20 Madagascar 64,408 ha compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is other forest — burned area in South America?
Other forest — burned area in South America was 309,411 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest other forest — burned area recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 716,035 ha in 2007.
What is the lowest other forest — burned area recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 98,952 ha in 2018.
How does South America rank for other forest — burned area?
South America ranks 17th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is other forest — burned area rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 164.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South America 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 America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/other-forest-burned-area-fao-tier-1/south-america/

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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.