Savanna fires — Burned Area in China, mainland

China, mainland: Savanna fires — Burned Area was 256,982 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
256,982 ha
Change on year
down 46.4%
World rank
52nd
of 221 countries
All-time high
1.75 million ha
in 2003
All-time low
173,782 ha
in 2021
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna fires — Burned Area in China, mainland, 1990–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1990200720241990: 527.1k ha1991: 527.1k ha1992: 527.1k ha1993: 527.1k ha1994: 527.1k ha1995: 527.1k ha1996: 277.2k ha1997: 277.8k ha1998: 330.0k ha1999: 239.8k ha2000: 320.6k ha2001: 377.0k ha2002: 425.0k ha2003: 1.8M ha2004: 771.2k ha2005: 603.6k ha2006: 448.3k ha2007: 639.6k ha2008: 1.6M ha2009: 791.4k ha2010: 903.9k ha2011: 475.5k ha2012: 399.3k ha2013: 444.4k ha2014: 654.8k ha2015: 463.8k ha2016: 392.2k ha2017: 324.6k ha2018: 400.4k ha2019: 508.1k ha2020: 337.7k ha2021: 173.8k ha2022: 213.2k ha2023: 479.9k ha2024: 257.0k ha

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for savanna fires — burned area in China, mainland is 256,982 ha, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 46.4% on the previous year and down 60.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna fires — burned area in China, mainland peaked at 1.75 million ha in 2003 and was at its lowest, 173,782 ha, in 2021.

China, mainland ranks 52nd 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 fires — Burned Area in China, mainland, year by year

Annual values for Savanna fires — Burned Area in China, mainland, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 527,072 ha
1991 527,072 ha +0.0%
1992 527,072 ha +0.0%
1993 527,072 ha +0.0%
1994 527,072 ha +0.0%
1995 527,072 ha +0.0%
1996 277,217 ha -47.4%
1997 277,766 ha +0.2%
1998 330,003 ha +18.8%
1999 239,829 ha -27.3%
2000 320,558 ha +33.7%
2001 377,012 ha +17.6%
2002 425,020 ha +12.7%
2003 1.75 million ha +312.4%
2004 771,182 ha -56.0%
2005 603,593 ha -21.7%
2006 448,257 ha -25.7%
2007 639,556 ha +42.7%
2008 1.60 million ha +150.5%
2009 791,372 ha -50.6%
2010 903,938 ha +14.2%
2011 475,522 ha -47.4%
2012 399,314 ha -16.0%
2013 444,357 ha +11.3%
2014 654,813 ha +47.4%
2015 463,790 ha -29.2%
2016 392,221 ha -15.4%
2017 324,555 ha -17.3%
2018 400,359 ha +23.4%
2019 508,088 ha +26.9%
2020 337,729 ha -33.5%
2021 173,782 ha -48.5%
2022 213,240 ha +22.7%
2023 479,856 ha +125.0%
2024 256,982 ha -46.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 428,725 ha 239,829 ha 527,072 ha 10
2000s 773,174 ha 320,558 ha 1.75 million ha 10
2010s 496,696 ha 324,555 ha 903,938 ha 10
2020s 292,318 ha 173,782 ha 479,856 ha 5

Countries ranked near China, mainland

  1. 49 Mongolia 264,955 ha compare
  2. 50 Ukraine 262,542 ha compare
  3. 51 China 257,196 ha compare
  4. 53 Iraq 238,661 ha compare
  5. 54 Peru 179,857 ha compare
  6. 55 Guyana 177,028 ha compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for China, mainland

All data for China, mainland →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna fires — burned area in China, mainland?
Savanna fires — burned area in China, mainland was 256,982 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna fires — burned area recorded in China, mainland?
The highest recorded value was 1.75 million ha in 2003.
What is the lowest savanna fires — burned area recorded in China, mainland?
The lowest recorded value was 173,782 ha in 2021.
How does China, mainland rank for savanna fires — burned area?
China, mainland ranks 52nd out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
Is savanna fires — burned area rising or falling in China, mainland?
Over the last ten years it is down 60.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China, mainland data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Savanna fires — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna fires — Burned Area in China, mainland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-burned-area-fao-tier-1/china-mainland/

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About this data

Indicator
Savanna fires — 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.