Savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Savanna — Burned Area was 269,050 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
269,050 ha
Change on year
up 85.8%
Rank
20th
of 31 groups
All-time high
10.76 million ha
in 1996
All-time low
86,569 ha
in 2004
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990–2024

02.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M1990200720241990: 1.8M ha1991: 1.8M ha1992: 1.8M ha1993: 1.8M ha1994: 1.8M ha1995: 1.8M ha1996: 10.8M ha1997: 9.2M ha1998: 9.8M ha1999: 9.1M ha2000: 9.1M ha2001: 179.1k ha2002: 162.6k ha2003: 115.2k ha2004: 86.6k ha2005: 131.4k ha2006: 96.2k ha2007: 163.1k ha2008: 162.8k ha2009: 155.0k ha2010: 169.6k ha2011: 132.7k ha2012: 191.7k ha2013: 207.2k ha2014: 192.0k ha2015: 116.6k ha2016: 122.5k ha2017: 115.9k ha2018: 102.3k ha2019: 181.7k ha2020: 96.0k ha2021: 143.7k ha2022: 93.4k ha2023: 144.8k ha2024: 269.1k ha

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

Analysis

In 2024, savanna — burned area in Southern Africa stood at 269,050 ha.

The figure is up 85.8% on the previous year and up 40.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna — burned area in Southern Africa peaked at 10.76 million ha in 1996 and was at its lowest, 86,569 ha, in 2004.

Southern Africa ranks 20th 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 — Burned Area in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 1.77 million ha
1991 1.77 million ha +0.0%
1992 1.77 million ha +0.0%
1993 1.77 million ha +0.0%
1994 1.77 million ha +0.0%
1995 1.77 million ha +0.0%
1996 10.76 million ha +506.2%
1997 9.16 million ha -14.9%
1998 9.79 million ha +6.9%
1999 9.12 million ha -6.8%
2000 9.10 million ha -0.2%
2001 179,100 ha -98.0%
2002 162,590 ha -9.2%
2003 115,203 ha -29.1%
2004 86,569 ha -24.9%
2005 131,388 ha +51.8%
2006 96,176 ha -26.8%
2007 163,067 ha +69.6%
2008 162,819 ha -0.2%
2009 155,045 ha -4.8%
2010 169,571 ha +9.4%
2011 132,744 ha -21.7%
2012 191,717 ha +44.4%
2013 207,156 ha +8.1%
2014 192,049 ha -7.3%
2015 116,587 ha -39.3%
2016 122,464 ha +5.0%
2017 115,903 ha -5.4%
2018 102,262 ha -11.8%
2019 181,668 ha +77.6%
2020 96,029 ha -47.1%
2021 143,740 ha +49.7%
2022 93,364 ha -35.0%
2023 144,784 ha +55.1%
2024 269,050 ha +85.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4.95 million ha 1.77 million ha 10.76 million ha 10
2000s 1.04 million ha 86,569 ha 9.10 million ha 10
2010s 153,212 ha 102,262 ha 207,156 ha 10
2020s 149,393 ha 93,364 ha 269,050 ha 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 17 Paraguay 1.16 million ha compare
  2. 18 Cambodia 1.03 million ha compare
  3. 19 Cameroon 971,149 ha compare
  4. 20 Colombia 941,530 ha compare
  5. 21 Nigeria 750,448 ha compare
  6. 22 Uganda 646,932 ha compare
  7. 23 Argentina 578,819 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 — burned area in Southern Africa?
Savanna — burned area in Southern Africa was 269,050 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 10.76 million ha in 1996.
What is the lowest savanna — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 86,569 ha in 2004.
How does Southern Africa rank for savanna — burned area?
Southern Africa ranks 20th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is savanna — burned area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.1%. 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 — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-burned-area-fao-tier-1/southern-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.