Other forest — Burning crop residues in South Africa

South Africa: Other forest — Burning crop residues was 3.44 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
3.44 million t
Change on year
up 325.7%
World rank
19th
of 219 countries
All-time high
12.72 million t
in 1998
All-time low
582,290 t
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Other forest — Burning crop residues in South Africa, 1990–2024

02.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M1990200720241990: 2.8M t1991: 2.8M t1992: 2.8M t1993: 2.8M t1994: 2.8M t1995: 2.8M t1996: 7.3M t1997: 7.3M t1998: 12.7M t1999: 8.5M t2000: 2.9M t2001: 997.1k t2002: 922.8k t2003: 2.2M t2004: 843.8k t2005: 3.3M t2006: 805.9k t2007: 3.7M t2008: 2.2M t2009: 1.2M t2010: 1.6M t2011: 1.3M t2012: 1.5M t2013: 1.5M t2014: 2.0M t2015: 966.8k t2016: 1.2M t2017: 1.7M t2018: 4.3M t2019: 1.8M t2020: 1.6M t2021: 1.1M t2022: 582.3k t2023: 809.2k t2024: 3.4M t

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for other forest — burning crop residues in South Africa is 3.44 million t, 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 — burning crop residues in South Africa peaked at 12.72 million t in 1998 and was at its lowest, 582,290 t, 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 — Burning crop residues in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Other forest — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 2.77 million t
1991 2.77 million t +0.0%
1992 2.77 million t +0.0%
1993 2.77 million t +0.0%
1994 2.77 million t +0.0%
1995 2.77 million t +0.0%
1996 7.28 million t +162.8%
1997 7.32 million t +0.6%
1998 12.72 million t +73.8%
1999 8.46 million t -33.5%
2000 2.86 million t -66.2%
2001 997,077 t -65.1%
2002 922,798 t -7.4%
2003 2.23 million t +142.1%
2004 843,814 t -62.2%
2005 3.33 million t +294.7%
2006 805,877 t -75.8%
2007 3.74 million t +363.6%
2008 2.19 million t -41.5%
2009 1.17 million t -46.6%
2010 1.65 million t +41.3%
2011 1.29 million t -22.0%
2012 1.51 million t +17.3%
2013 1.46 million t -3.4%
2014 1.97 million t +35.2%
2015 966,776 t -51.0%
2016 1.22 million t +26.2%
2017 1.71 million t +40.1%
2018 4.27 million t +149.7%
2019 1.84 million t -56.9%
2020 1.62 million t -11.7%
2021 1.09 million t -33.0%
2022 582,290 t -46.5%
2023 809,177 t +39.0%
2024 3.44 million t +325.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 5.24 million t 2.77 million t 12.72 million t 10
2000s 1.91 million t 805,877 t 3.74 million t 10
2010s 1.79 million t 966,776 t 4.27 million t 10
2020s 1.51 million t 582,290 t 3.44 million t 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 16 China 4.29 million t compare
  2. 16 China, mainland 4.29 million t compare
  3. 18 Angola 4.25 million t compare
  4. 20 Madagascar 3.25 million t compare
  5. 21 Nepal 2.01 million t compare
  6. 22 Portugal 1.57 million t 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 — burning crop residues in South Africa?
Other forest — burning crop residues in South Africa was 3.44 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest other forest — burning crop residues recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12.72 million t in 1998.
What is the lowest other forest — burning crop residues recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 582,290 t in 2022.
How does South Africa rank for other forest — burning crop residues?
South Africa ranks 19th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
Is other forest — burning crop residues 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 — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Other forest — Burning crop residues in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/other-forest-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Other forest — 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
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.