Savanna — Burned Area in South Africa
South Africa: Savanna — Burned Area was 227,795 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Savanna — Burned Area in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.
Analysis
In 2024, savanna — burned area in South Africa stood at 227,795 ha.
The figure is up 104.2% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, savanna — burned area in South Africa peaked at 1.38 million ha in 1998 and was at its lowest, 78,621 ha, in 2004.
South Africa ranks 31st 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 — Burned Area in South Africa, year by year
| Year | ha | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 317,326 ha | — |
| 1991 | 317,326 ha | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 317,326 ha | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 317,326 ha | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 317,326 ha | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 317,326 ha | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.28 million ha | +303.4% |
| 1997 | 1.09 million ha | -14.6% |
| 1998 | 1.38 million ha | +25.9% |
| 1999 | 1.27 million ha | -7.6% |
| 2000 | 1.23 million ha | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 131,836 ha | -89.2% |
| 2002 | 115,647 ha | -12.3% |
| 2003 | 100,495 ha | -13.1% |
| 2004 | 78,621 ha | -21.8% |
| 2005 | 122,179 ha | +55.4% |
| 2006 | 92,342 ha | -24.4% |
| 2007 | 141,411 ha | +53.1% |
| 2008 | 141,724 ha | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 143,521 ha | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 146,971 ha | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 108,645 ha | -26.1% |
| 2012 | 165,882 ha | +52.7% |
| 2013 | 172,996 ha | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 172,232 ha | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 81,439 ha | -52.7% |
| 2016 | 106,581 ha | +30.9% |
| 2017 | 94,643 ha | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 81,214 ha | -14.2% |
| 2019 | 137,532 ha | +69.3% |
| 2020 | 87,117 ha | -36.7% |
| 2021 | 114,316 ha | +31.2% |
| 2022 | 78,712 ha | -31.1% |
| 2023 | 111,576 ha | +41.8% |
| 2024 | 227,795 ha | +104.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 692,467 ha | 317,326 ha | 1.38 million ha | 10 |
| 2000s | 229,411 ha | 78,621 ha | 1.23 million ha | 10 |
| 2010s | 126,813 ha | 81,214 ha | 172,996 ha | 10 |
| 2020s | 123,903 ha | 78,712 ha | 227,795 ha | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- 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)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is savanna — burned area in South Africa?
- Savanna — burned area in South Africa was 227,795 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest savanna — burned area recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.38 million ha in 1998.
- What is the lowest savanna — burned area recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 78,621 ha in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for savanna — burned area?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
- Is savanna — burned area rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. 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 — 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.