Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area was 347,037 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
347,037 ha
Change on year
up 108.9%
Rank
21st
of 31 groups
All-time high
12.83 million ha
in 1996
All-time low
112,850 ha
in 2004
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M1990200720241990: 2.2M ha1991: 2.2M ha1992: 2.2M ha1993: 2.2M ha1994: 2.2M ha1995: 2.2M ha1996: 12.8M ha1997: 11.2M ha1998: 11.6M ha1999: 10.9M ha2000: 10.7M ha2001: 210.6k ha2002: 219.9k ha2003: 171.6k ha2004: 112.8k ha2005: 190.3k ha2006: 128.3k ha2007: 229.8k ha2008: 222.7k ha2009: 204.3k ha2010: 199.0k ha2011: 156.9k ha2012: 230.2k ha2013: 248.3k ha2014: 237.3k ha2015: 141.4k ha2016: 156.4k ha2017: 151.4k ha2018: 173.4k ha2019: 216.2k ha2020: 126.8k ha2021: 168.7k ha2022: 113.2k ha2023: 166.1k ha2024: 347.0k 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 Southern Africa is 347,037 ha, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 108.9% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa peaked at 12.83 million ha in 1996 and was at its lowest, 112,850 ha, in 2004.

Southern Africa ranks 21st of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 2.15 million ha
1991 2.15 million ha +0.0%
1992 2.15 million ha +0.0%
1993 2.15 million ha +0.0%
1994 2.15 million ha +0.0%
1995 2.15 million ha +0.0%
1996 12.83 million ha +496.1%
1997 11.21 million ha -12.6%
1998 11.61 million ha +3.5%
1999 10.87 million ha -6.4%
2000 10.69 million ha -1.6%
2001 210,630 ha -98.0%
2002 219,862 ha +4.4%
2003 171,587 ha -22.0%
2004 112,850 ha -34.2%
2005 190,331 ha +68.7%
2006 128,272 ha -32.6%
2007 229,815 ha +79.2%
2008 222,745 ha -3.1%
2009 204,276 ha -8.3%
2010 199,012 ha -2.6%
2011 156,902 ha -21.2%
2012 230,198 ha +46.7%
2013 248,325 ha +7.9%
2014 237,291 ha -4.4%
2015 141,432 ha -40.4%
2016 156,351 ha +10.5%
2017 151,358 ha -3.2%
2018 173,420 ha +14.6%
2019 216,208 ha +24.7%
2020 126,792 ha -41.4%
2021 168,738 ha +33.1%
2022 113,241 ha -32.9%
2023 166,137 ha +46.7%
2024 347,037 ha +108.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 5.94 million ha 2.15 million ha 12.83 million ha 10
2000s 1.24 million ha 112,850 ha 10.69 million ha 10
2010s 191,050 ha 141,432 ha 248,325 ha 10
2020s 184,389 ha 113,241 ha 347,037 ha 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 18 Cambodia 1.19 million ha compare
  2. 18 Côte d'Ivoire 1.06 million ha compare
  3. 19 Cameroon 1.01 million ha compare
  4. 20 Colombia 963,760 ha compare
  5. 21 Mexico 949,966 ha compare
  6. 22 Nigeria 785,222 ha compare
  7. 23 Sierra Leone 715,803 ha compare
  8. 24 Myanmar 680,384 ha compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa?
Savanna and woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa was 347,037 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 Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12.83 million ha in 1996.
What is the lowest savanna and woody savanna — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 112,850 ha in 2004.
How does Southern Africa rank for savanna and woody savanna — burned area?
Southern Africa ranks 21st out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is savanna and woody savanna — burned area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern 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.

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Savanna and woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-and-woody-savanna-burned-area-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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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.