Savanna — Burned Area in Africa

Africa: Savanna — Burned Area was 105.21 million ha in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
105.21 million ha
Change on year
up 9.7%
Rank
3rd
of 31 groups
All-time high
136.25 million ha
in 2005
All-time low
95.94 million ha
in 2023
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna — Burned Area in Africa, 1990–2024

050.0M100.0M150.0M1990200720241990: 111.5M ha1991: 111.5M ha1992: 111.5M ha1993: 111.5M ha1994: 111.5M ha1995: 111.5M ha1996: 97.7M ha1997: 96.0M ha1998: 109.8M ha1999: 97.8M ha2000: 104.5M ha2001: 99.8M ha2002: 114.3M ha2003: 130.7M ha2004: 120.5M ha2005: 136.3M ha2006: 119.3M ha2007: 123.8M ha2008: 125.7M ha2009: 116.7M ha2010: 119.8M ha2011: 118.2M ha2012: 116.4M ha2013: 116.8M ha2014: 110.4M ha2015: 113.3M ha2016: 119.5M ha2017: 110.9M ha2018: 109.3M ha2019: 102.8M ha2020: 108.8M ha2021: 102.5M ha2022: 107.1M ha2023: 95.9M ha2024: 105.2M ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for savanna — burned area in Africa is 105.21 million ha, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.7% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna — burned area in Africa peaked at 136.25 million ha in 2005 and was at its lowest, 95.94 million ha, in 2023.

That places Africa 3rd out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

Savanna — Burned Area in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna — Burned Area in Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 111.50 million ha
1991 111.50 million ha +0.0%
1992 111.50 million ha +0.0%
1993 111.50 million ha +0.0%
1994 111.50 million ha +0.0%
1995 111.50 million ha +0.0%
1996 97.71 million ha -12.4%
1997 96.00 million ha -1.8%
1998 109.76 million ha +14.3%
1999 97.82 million ha -10.9%
2000 104.50 million ha +6.8%
2001 99.84 million ha -4.5%
2002 114.31 million ha +14.5%
2003 130.69 million ha +14.3%
2004 120.48 million ha -7.8%
2005 136.25 million ha +13.1%
2006 119.26 million ha -12.5%
2007 123.81 million ha +3.8%
2008 125.67 million ha +1.5%
2009 116.72 million ha -7.1%
2010 119.84 million ha +2.7%
2011 118.21 million ha -1.4%
2012 116.35 million ha -1.6%
2013 116.76 million ha +0.4%
2014 110.39 million ha -5.5%
2015 113.29 million ha +2.6%
2016 119.50 million ha +5.5%
2017 110.92 million ha -7.2%
2018 109.32 million ha -1.4%
2019 102.80 million ha -6.0%
2020 108.76 million ha +5.8%
2021 102.47 million ha -5.8%
2022 107.07 million ha +4.5%
2023 95.94 million ha -10.4%
2024 105.21 million ha +9.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 107.03 million ha 96.00 million ha 111.50 million ha 10
2000s 119.15 million ha 99.84 million ha 136.25 million ha 10
2010s 113.74 million ha 102.80 million ha 119.84 million ha 10
2020s 103.89 million ha 95.94 million ha 108.76 million ha 5

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 1 Sudan (former) 16.56 million ha compare
  2. 2 Angola 16.50 million ha compare
  3. 3 South Sudan 16.10 million ha compare
  4. 4 Zambia 11.91 million ha compare
  5. 5 Mozambique 10.99 million ha compare
  6. 6 Central African Republic 9.56 million ha compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for Africa

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna — burned area in Africa?
Savanna — burned area in Africa was 105.21 million ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna — burned area recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 136.25 million ha in 2005.
What is the lowest savanna — burned area recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 95.94 million ha in 2023.
How does Africa rank for savanna — burned area?
Africa ranks 3rd out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is savanna — burned area rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Savanna — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna — Burned Area in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-burned-area-fao-tier-1/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
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.