Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia

Australia: Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area was 2.73 million ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
2.73 million ha
Change on year
down 45.8%
World rank
13th
of 221 countries
All-time high
22.05 million ha
in 1999
All-time low
2.18 million ha
in 2010
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia, 1990–2024

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M1990200720241990: 7.0M ha1991: 7.0M ha1992: 7.0M ha1993: 7.0M ha1994: 7.0M ha1995: 7.0M ha1996: 16.1M ha1997: 13.2M ha1998: 15.4M ha1999: 22.1M ha2000: 17.7M ha2001: 6.0M ha2002: 7.6M ha2003: 5.9M ha2004: 5.1M ha2005: 5.4M ha2006: 5.7M ha2007: 3.8M ha2008: 4.3M ha2009: 7.4M ha2010: 2.2M ha2011: 6.9M ha2012: 8.1M ha2013: 4.5M ha2014: 6.3M ha2015: 5.3M ha2016: 3.9M ha2017: 3.4M ha2018: 4.5M ha2019: 6.0M ha2020: 3.8M ha2021: 3.0M ha2022: 2.7M ha2023: 5.0M ha2024: 2.7M ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Australia is 2.73 million ha, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 45.8% on the previous year and down 56.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Australia peaked at 22.05 million ha in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.18 million ha, in 2010.

That places Australia 13th out of 221 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 7.03 million ha
1991 7.03 million ha +0.0%
1992 7.03 million ha +0.0%
1993 7.03 million ha +0.0%
1994 7.03 million ha +0.0%
1995 7.03 million ha +0.0%
1996 16.06 million ha +128.5%
1997 13.18 million ha -17.9%
1998 15.37 million ha +16.6%
1999 22.05 million ha +43.5%
2000 17.67 million ha -19.8%
2001 5.98 million ha -66.2%
2002 7.64 million ha +27.8%
2003 5.94 million ha -22.2%
2004 5.05 million ha -15.0%
2005 5.45 million ha +7.8%
2006 5.73 million ha +5.2%
2007 3.80 million ha -33.7%
2008 4.27 million ha +12.4%
2009 7.36 million ha +72.3%
2010 2.18 million ha -70.4%
2011 6.86 million ha +214.8%
2012 8.06 million ha +17.5%
2013 4.47 million ha -44.5%
2014 6.30 million ha +40.9%
2015 5.33 million ha -15.4%
2016 3.91 million ha -26.6%
2017 3.35 million ha -14.3%
2018 4.50 million ha +34.3%
2019 6.02 million ha +33.9%
2020 3.83 million ha -36.5%
2021 3.00 million ha -21.5%
2022 2.67 million ha -11.0%
2023 5.03 million ha +88.4%
2024 2.73 million ha -45.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 10.88 million ha 7.03 million ha 22.05 million ha 10
2000s 6.89 million ha 3.80 million ha 17.67 million ha 10
2010s 5.10 million ha 2.18 million ha 8.06 million ha 10
2020s 3.45 million ha 2.67 million ha 5.03 million ha 5

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 10 Canada 3.74 million ha compare
  2. 10 Viet Nam 103,642 ha compare
  3. 11 Guinea 2.73 million ha compare
  4. 11 Melanesia 83,835 ha compare
  5. 12 Türkiye 12,889 ha compare
  6. 12 Australia and New Zealand 2.73 million ha compare
  7. 13 Timor-Leste 2,330 ha compare
  8. 14 Ethiopia 2.32 million ha compare
  9. 14 Syrian Arab Republic 966.09 ha compare
  10. 15 Congo 1.87 million ha compare
  11. 15 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 494.22 ha compare
  12. 16 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 236.24 ha compare
  13. 16 Paraguay 1.38 million ha compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Australia?
Savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Australia was 2.73 million ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna and woody savanna — burned area recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 22.05 million ha in 1999.
What is the lowest savanna and woody savanna — burned area recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.18 million ha in 2010.
How does Australia rank for savanna and woody savanna — burned area?
Australia ranks 13th out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
Is savanna and woody savanna — burned area rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 56.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-and-woody-savanna-burned-area-fao-tier-1/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area
Unit
ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
274 places, 9,364 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.