Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in South Africa
South Africa: Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area was 301,819 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 301,819 ha for savanna and woody savanna — burned area in 2024.
That represents a change of up 129.0% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, savanna and woody savanna — burned area in South Africa peaked at 1.88 million ha in 1998 and was at its lowest, 97,711 ha, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 29th of 221 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 431,536 ha | — |
| 1991 | 431,536 ha | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 431,536 ha | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 431,536 ha | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 431,536 ha | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 431,536 ha | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.75 million ha | +304.4% |
| 1997 | 1.54 million ha | -12.0% |
| 1998 | 1.88 million ha | +22.5% |
| 1999 | 1.78 million ha | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 1.68 million ha | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 161,653 ha | -90.4% |
| 2002 | 169,576 ha | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 154,051 ha | -9.2% |
| 2004 | 102,524 ha | -33.4% |
| 2005 | 179,473 ha | +75.1% |
| 2006 | 123,045 ha | -31.4% |
| 2007 | 202,545 ha | +64.6% |
| 2008 | 195,930 ha | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 191,510 ha | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 175,213 ha | -8.5% |
| 2011 | 130,660 ha | -25.4% |
| 2012 | 201,641 ha | +54.3% |
| 2013 | 211,744 ha | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 214,818 ha | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 104,720 ha | -51.3% |
| 2016 | 139,011 ha | +32.7% |
| 2017 | 128,855 ha | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 150,915 ha | +17.1% |
| 2019 | 169,116 ha | +12.1% |
| 2020 | 116,015 ha | -31.4% |
| 2021 | 137,450 ha | +18.5% |
| 2022 | 97,711 ha | -28.9% |
| 2023 | 131,814 ha | +34.9% |
| 2024 | 301,819 ha | +129.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 953,494 ha | 431,536 ha | 1.88 million ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 315,733 ha | 102,524 ha | 1.68 million ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 162,669 ha | 104,720 ha | 214,818 ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 156,962 ha | 97,711 ha | 301,819 ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 26 Uganda 655,929 ha compare
- 27 Madagascar 430,424 ha compare
- 28 Nicaragua 406,506 ha compare
- 30 India 292,585 ha compare
- 31 Cabo Verde 0 ha
- 31 Guinea-Bissau 272,118 ha compare
- 32 Senegal 259,966 ha compare
More climate change data for South Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 717.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is savanna and woody savanna — burned area in South Africa?
- Savanna and woody savanna — burned area in South Africa was 301,819 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.88 million ha in 1998.
- What is the lowest savanna and woody savanna — burned area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 97,711 ha in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for savanna and woody savanna — burned area?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
- Is savanna and woody savanna — burned area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. 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 Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
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.