Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Western Africa

Western Africa: Savanna fires — Burning crop residues was 161.88 million t in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
161.88 million t
Change on year
up 14.6%
Rank
12th
of 31 groups
All-time high
259.34 million t
in 2000
All-time low
128.67 million t
in 2018
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Western Africa, 1990–2024

0100.0M200.0M300.0M1990200720241990: 190.1M t1991: 190.1M t1992: 190.1M t1993: 190.1M t1994: 190.1M t1995: 190.1M t1996: 214.7M t1997: 215.5M t1998: 249.6M t1999: 230.0M t2000: 259.3M t2001: 191.3M t2002: 196.6M t2003: 196.6M t2004: 193.2M t2005: 252.2M t2006: 225.2M t2007: 210.7M t2008: 192.4M t2009: 170.7M t2010: 175.9M t2011: 185.1M t2012: 165.3M t2013: 178.6M t2014: 155.0M t2015: 150.2M t2016: 197.6M t2017: 158.1M t2018: 128.7M t2019: 138.5M t2020: 167.4M t2021: 144.2M t2022: 156.5M t2023: 141.2M t2024: 161.9M t

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

Analysis

Western Africa recorded 161.88 million t for savanna fires — burning crop residues in 2024.

The figure is up 14.6% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna fires — burning crop residues in Western Africa peaked at 259.34 million t in 2000 and was at its lowest, 128.67 million t, in 2018.

Western Africa ranks 12th of 31 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Savanna fires — Burning crop residues in Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna fires — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Western Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 190.15 million t
1991 190.15 million t +0.0%
1992 190.15 million t +0.0%
1993 190.15 million t +0.0%
1994 190.15 million t +0.0%
1995 190.15 million t +0.0%
1996 214.73 million t +12.9%
1997 215.49 million t +0.4%
1998 249.61 million t +15.8%
1999 229.96 million t -7.9%
2000 259.34 million t +12.8%
2001 191.35 million t -26.2%
2002 196.58 million t +2.7%
2003 196.61 million t +0.0%
2004 193.18 million t -1.7%
2005 252.22 million t +30.6%
2006 225.22 million t -10.7%
2007 210.71 million t -6.4%
2008 192.39 million t -8.7%
2009 170.68 million t -11.3%
2010 175.85 million t +3.0%
2011 185.15 million t +5.3%
2012 165.27 million t -10.7%
2013 178.63 million t +8.1%
2014 155.04 million t -13.2%
2015 150.25 million t -3.1%
2016 197.61 million t +31.5%
2017 158.05 million t -20.0%
2018 128.67 million t -18.6%
2019 138.47 million t +7.6%
2020 167.43 million t +20.9%
2021 144.21 million t -13.9%
2022 156.54 million t +8.6%
2023 141.24 million t -9.8%
2024 161.88 million t +14.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 205.07 million t 190.15 million t 249.61 million t 10
2000s 208.83 million t 170.68 million t 259.34 million t 10
2010s 163.30 million t 128.67 million t 197.61 million t 10
2020s 154.26 million t 141.24 million t 167.43 million t 5

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 9 Lao People's Democratic Republic 3.47 million t compare
  2. 9 Mozambique 99.98 million t compare
  3. 10 Central African Republic 74.80 million t compare
  4. 10 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 2.89 million t compare
  5. 11 Russian Federation 41.07 million t compare
  6. 11 Syrian Arab Republic 925,593 t compare
  7. 12 Mali 33.95 million t compare
  8. 12 Viet Nam 844,523 t compare
  9. 13 Sudan 28.32 million t compare
  10. 13 Melanesia 698,656 t compare
  11. 14 Chad 24.91 million t compare
  12. 14 Türkiye 248,271 t compare
  13. 15 Ghana 23.80 million t compare
  14. 15 Timor-Leste 17,695 t compare

See the full ranking of 274 places →

More climate change data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna fires — burning crop residues in Western Africa?
Savanna fires — burning crop residues in Western Africa was 161.88 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 Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 259.34 million t in 2000.
What is the lowest savanna fires — burning crop residues recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 128.67 million t in 2018.
How does Western Africa rank for savanna fires — burning crop residues?
Western Africa ranks 12th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is savanna fires — burning crop residues rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western Africa 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 Western Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/western-africa/

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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.