Savanna — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Savanna — Burning crop residues was 1.57 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.57 million t
Change on year
up 84.8%
Rank
20th
of 31 groups
All-time high
73.41 million t
in 1996
All-time low
514,790 t
in 2004
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa, 1990–2024

020.0M40.0M60.0M80.0M1990200720241990: 11.9M t1991: 11.9M t1992: 11.9M t1993: 11.9M t1994: 11.9M t1995: 11.9M t1996: 73.4M t1997: 62.3M t1998: 65.9M t1999: 61.6M t2000: 61.8M t2001: 1.1M t2002: 967.8k t2003: 673.9k t2004: 514.8k t2005: 754.0k t2006: 566.3k t2007: 972.0k t2008: 998.8k t2009: 899.9k t2010: 1.1M t2011: 820.5k t2012: 1.2M t2013: 1.2M t2014: 1.1M t2015: 709.4k t2016: 593.8k t2017: 645.4k t2018: 577.7k t2019: 1.1M t2020: 551.1k t2021: 856.0k t2022: 526.1k t2023: 849.5k t2024: 1.6M t

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

Analysis

Southern Africa recorded 1.57 million t for savanna — burning crop residues in 2024.

The figure is up 84.8% on the previous year and up 40.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna — burning crop residues in Southern Africa peaked at 73.41 million t in 1996 and was at its lowest, 514,790 t, 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 — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 11.93 million t
1991 11.93 million t +0.0%
1992 11.93 million t +0.0%
1993 11.93 million t +0.0%
1994 11.93 million t +0.0%
1995 11.93 million t +0.0%
1996 73.41 million t +515.4%
1997 62.32 million t -15.1%
1998 65.92 million t +5.8%
1999 61.62 million t -6.5%
2000 61.85 million t +0.4%
2001 1.05 million t -98.3%
2002 967,846 t -8.2%
2003 673,925 t -30.4%
2004 514,790 t -23.6%
2005 754,037 t +46.5%
2006 566,320 t -24.9%
2007 971,954 t +71.6%
2008 998,804 t +2.8%
2009 899,866 t -9.9%
2010 1.05 million t +16.9%
2011 820,467 t -22.0%
2012 1.18 million t +43.6%
2013 1.23 million t +4.0%
2014 1.12 million t -8.5%
2015 709,400 t -36.7%
2016 593,800 t -16.3%
2017 645,447 t +8.7%
2018 577,707 t -10.5%
2019 1.12 million t +93.8%
2020 551,099 t -50.8%
2021 855,958 t +55.3%
2022 526,090 t -38.5%
2023 849,461 t +61.5%
2024 1.57 million t +84.8%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Savanna — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1996 +515.4% 11.93 million t 73.41 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 33.48 million t 11.93 million t 73.41 million t 10
2000s 6.93 million t 514,790 t 61.85 million t 10
2010s 904,251 t 577,707 t 1.23 million t 10
2020s 870,462 t 526,090 t 1.57 million t 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 17 Cambodia 7.23 million t compare
  2. 17 Côte d'Ivoire 7.39 million t compare
  3. 17 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 t
  4. 17 Republic of Moldova 0 t compare
  5. 17 Wallis and Futuna Islands 0 t
  6. 17 Micronesia 0 t
  7. 17 Polynesia 0 t
  8. 18 Cameroon 6.78 million t compare
  9. 19 Colombia 6.58 million t compare
  10. 20 Canada 6.23 million t compare
  11. 21 Nigeria 5.25 million t compare
  12. 22 Uganda 4.53 million t compare
  13. 23 Argentina 4.01 million t 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 — burning crop residues in Southern Africa?
Savanna — burning crop residues in Southern Africa was 1.57 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 73.41 million t in 1996.
What is the lowest savanna — burning crop residues recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 514,790 t in 2004.
How does Southern Africa rank for savanna — burning crop residues?
Southern Africa ranks 20th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is savanna — burning crop residues 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 — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna — Burning crop residues in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Savanna — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter)
Unit
t
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.