Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Australia

Australia: Savanna fires — Burning crop residues was 295.62 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
295.62 million t
Change on year
down 63.2%
World rank
3rd
of 221 countries
All-time high
936.12 million t
in 2011
All-time low
110.60 million t
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Australia, 1990–2024

200.0M400.0M600.0M800.0M1.0B1990200720241990: 451.7M t1991: 451.7M t1992: 451.7M t1993: 451.7M t1994: 451.7M t1995: 451.7M t1996: 345.5M t1997: 327.6M t1998: 383.2M t1999: 649.4M t2000: 771.2M t2001: 934.2M t2002: 829.2M t2003: 243.5M t2004: 558.9M t2005: 214.0M t2006: 532.3M t2007: 500.5M t2008: 263.2M t2009: 320.6M t2010: 147.3M t2011: 936.1M t2012: 929.6M t2013: 245.0M t2014: 432.4M t2015: 402.9M t2016: 191.8M t2017: 501.3M t2018: 497.2M t2019: 281.9M t2020: 110.6M t2021: 209.9M t2022: 241.7M t2023: 803.4M t2024: 295.6M t

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

Analysis

Australia recorded 295.62 million t for savanna fires — burning crop residues in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 63.2% on the previous year and down 31.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna fires — burning crop residues in Australia peaked at 936.12 million t in 2011 and was at its lowest, 110.60 million t, in 2020.

Australia ranks 3rd of 221 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Savanna fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Australia, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 451.72 million t
1991 451.72 million t +0.0%
1992 451.72 million t +0.0%
1993 451.72 million t +0.0%
1994 451.72 million t +0.0%
1995 451.72 million t +0.0%
1996 345.55 million t -23.5%
1997 327.59 million t -5.2%
1998 383.20 million t +17.0%
1999 649.37 million t +69.5%
2000 771.25 million t +18.8%
2001 934.17 million t +21.1%
2002 829.17 million t -11.2%
2003 243.45 million t -70.6%
2004 558.88 million t +129.6%
2005 213.99 million t -61.7%
2006 532.32 million t +148.8%
2007 500.46 million t -6.0%
2008 263.15 million t -47.4%
2009 320.61 million t +21.8%
2010 147.30 million t -54.1%
2011 936.12 million t +535.5%
2012 929.56 million t -0.7%
2013 244.95 million t -73.6%
2014 432.38 million t +76.5%
2015 402.87 million t -6.8%
2016 191.84 million t -52.4%
2017 501.29 million t +161.3%
2018 497.15 million t -0.8%
2019 281.95 million t -43.3%
2020 110.60 million t -60.8%
2021 209.88 million t +89.8%
2022 241.70 million t +15.2%
2023 803.38 million t +232.4%
2024 295.62 million t -63.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 441.60 million t 327.59 million t 649.37 million t 10
2000s 516.75 million t 213.99 million t 934.17 million t 10
2010s 456.54 million t 147.30 million t 936.12 million t 10
2020s 332.24 million t 110.60 million t 803.38 million t 5

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 1 OECD 330.89 million t compare
  2. 2 Australia and New Zealand 295.62 million t compare
  3. 3 Democratic Republic of the Congo 195.68 million t compare
  4. 4 Angola 223.42 million t compare
  5. 4 United Republic of Tanzania 47.16 million t compare
  6. 5 Sudan (former) 191.28 million t compare
  7. 6 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 29.32 million t compare
  8. 6 South Sudan 156.15 million t compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna fires — burning crop residues in Australia?
Savanna fires — burning crop residues in Australia was 295.62 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna fires — burning crop residues recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 936.12 million t in 2011.
What is the lowest savanna fires — burning crop residues recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 110.60 million t in 2020.
How does Australia rank for savanna fires — burning crop residues?
Australia ranks 3rd out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
Is savanna fires — burning crop residues rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Savanna fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Savanna fires — 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.