Savanna fires — Burned Area in China

China: Savanna fires — Burned Area was 257,196 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
257,196 ha
Change on year
down 46.4%
World rank
51st
of 221 countries
All-time high
1.75 million ha
in 2003
All-time low
174,382 ha
in 2021
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna fires — Burned Area in China, 1990–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1990200720241990: 527.5k ha1991: 527.5k ha1992: 527.5k ha1993: 527.5k ha1994: 527.5k ha1995: 527.5k ha1996: 277.4k ha1997: 278.0k ha1998: 330.2k ha1999: 240.1k ha2000: 320.6k ha2001: 377.1k ha2002: 425.0k ha2003: 1.8M ha2004: 772.1k ha2005: 603.9k ha2006: 449.5k ha2007: 639.8k ha2008: 1.6M ha2009: 792.3k ha2010: 904.7k ha2011: 475.7k ha2012: 399.6k ha2013: 445.2k ha2014: 654.8k ha2015: 463.8k ha2016: 393.4k ha2017: 324.6k ha2018: 400.8k ha2019: 508.1k ha2020: 337.7k ha2021: 174.4k ha2022: 213.2k ha2023: 480.0k ha2024: 257.2k ha

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

Analysis

China recorded 257,196 ha for savanna fires — burned area in 2024.

The figure is down 46.4% on the previous year and down 60.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna fires — burned area in China peaked at 1.75 million ha in 2003 and was at its lowest, 174,382 ha, in 2021.

That places China 51st out of 221 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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, year by year

Annual values for Savanna fires — Burned Area in China, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 527,495 ha
1991 527,495 ha +0.0%
1992 527,495 ha +0.0%
1993 527,495 ha +0.0%
1994 527,495 ha +0.0%
1995 527,495 ha +0.0%
1996 277,382 ha -47.4%
1997 278,013 ha +0.2%
1998 330,208 ha +18.8%
1999 240,056 ha -27.3%
2000 320,593 ha +33.5%
2001 377,055 ha +17.6%
2002 425,020 ha +12.7%
2003 1.75 million ha +312.7%
2004 772,146 ha -56.0%
2005 603,893 ha -21.8%
2006 449,478 ha -25.6%
2007 639,834 ha +42.4%
2008 1.60 million ha +150.6%
2009 792,272 ha -50.6%
2010 904,687 ha +14.2%
2011 475,694 ha -47.4%
2012 399,614 ha -16.0%
2013 445,192 ha +11.4%
2014 654,835 ha +47.1%
2015 463,812 ha -29.2%
2016 393,378 ha -15.2%
2017 324,576 ha -17.5%
2018 400,830 ha +23.5%
2019 508,088 ha +26.8%
2020 337,729 ha -33.5%
2021 174,382 ha -48.4%
2022 213,240 ha +22.3%
2023 479,985 ha +125.1%
2024 257,196 ha -46.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 429,063 ha 240,056 ha 527,495 ha 10
2000s 773,789 ha 320,593 ha 1.75 million ha 10
2010s 497,071 ha 324,576 ha 904,687 ha 10
2020s 292,506 ha 174,382 ha 479,985 ha 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 48 Thailand 265,102 ha compare
  2. 49 Mongolia 264,955 ha compare
  3. 50 Ukraine 262,542 ha compare
  4. 52 China, mainland 256,982 ha compare
  5. 53 Iraq 238,661 ha compare
  6. 54 Peru 179,857 ha compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna fires — burned area in China?
Savanna fires — burned area in China was 257,196 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna fires — burned area recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 1.75 million ha in 2003.
What is the lowest savanna fires — burned area recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 174,382 ha in 2021.
How does China rank for savanna fires — burned area?
China ranks 51st out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
Is savanna fires — burned area rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 60.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-burned-area-fao-tier-1/china/

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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.