Savanna fires — Emissions in South Africa

South Africa: Savanna fires — Emissions was 80.1 kt in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
80.1 kt
Change on year
up 57.6%
World rank
13th
of 221 countries
All-time high
80.1 kt
in 2023
All-time low
22.9 kt
in 2016
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Savanna fires — Emissions in South Africa, 1990–2023

204060801990200620231990: 48.4 kt1991: 48.4 kt1992: 48.4 kt1993: 48.4 kt1994: 48.4 kt1995: 48.4 kt1996: 55.5 kt1997: 52.8 kt1998: 62.7 kt1999: 57.9 kt2000: 53.9 kt2001: 46.9 kt2002: 69.6 kt2003: 43.3 kt2004: 33.7 kt2005: 56.3 kt2006: 38.8 kt2007: 44.7 kt2008: 44.9 kt2009: 50 kt2010: 55.2 kt2011: 52 kt2012: 55.8 kt2013: 41.4 kt2014: 40.5 kt2015: 31.9 kt2016: 22.9 kt2017: 40.4 kt2018: 38.7 kt2019: 29.5 kt2020: 31 kt2021: 72.8 kt2022: 50.8 kt2023: 80.1 kt

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for savanna fires — emissions in South Africa is 80.1 kt, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

The figure is up 57.6% on the previous year and up 93.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna fires — emissions in South Africa peaked at 80.1 kt in 2023 and was at its lowest, 22.9 kt, in 2016.

South Africa ranks 13th of 221 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

Savanna fires — Emissions in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna fires — Emissions (CH4) in South Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year kt Change
1990 48.39 kt
1991 48.39 kt +0.0%
1992 48.39 kt +0.0%
1993 48.39 kt +0.0%
1994 48.39 kt +0.0%
1995 48.39 kt +0.0%
1996 55.52 kt +14.7%
1997 52.83 kt -4.8%
1998 62.7 kt +18.7%
1999 57.92 kt -7.6%
2000 53.9 kt -6.9%
2001 46.92 kt -13.0%
2002 69.55 kt +48.2%
2003 43.33 kt -37.7%
2004 33.69 kt -22.3%
2005 56.3 kt +67.1%
2006 38.76 kt -31.1%
2007 44.7 kt +15.3%
2008 44.93 kt +0.5%
2009 50.03 kt +11.4%
2010 55.25 kt +10.4%
2011 52.03 kt -5.8%
2012 55.83 kt +7.3%
2013 41.38 kt -25.9%
2014 40.54 kt -2.0%
2015 31.86 kt -21.4%
2016 22.9 kt -28.1%
2017 40.35 kt +76.2%
2018 38.74 kt -4.0%
2019 29.51 kt -23.8%
2020 30.95 kt +4.9%
2021 72.81 kt +135.2%
2022 50.82 kt -30.2%
2023 80.1 kt +57.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 51.93 kt 48.39 kt 62.7 kt 10
2000s 48.21 kt 33.69 kt 69.55 kt 10
2010s 40.84 kt 22.9 kt 55.83 kt 10
2020s 58.67 kt 30.95 kt 80.1 kt 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 10 Central African Republic 136.03 kt compare
  2. 11 Brazil 133.03 kt compare
  3. 12 Canada 94.97 kt compare
  4. 12 Viet Nam 2.79 kt compare
  5. 14 Sudan 73.65 kt compare
  6. 14 Türkiye 0.3268 kt compare
  7. 15 Mali 65.53 kt compare
  8. 15 Timor-Leste 0.0755 kt compare
  9. 16 Russian Federation 62.74 kt compare

See the full ranking of 275 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna fires — emissions in South Africa?
Savanna fires — emissions in South Africa was 80.1 kt in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna fires — emissions recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 80.1 kt in 2023.
What is the lowest savanna fires — emissions recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 22.9 kt in 2016.
How does South Africa rank for savanna fires — emissions?
South Africa ranks 13th out of 221 countries with data for 2023.
Is savanna fires — emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 93.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Savanna fires — Emissions (CH4). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna fires — Emissions in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-emissions-ch4-fao-tier-1-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Savanna fires — Emissions (CH4)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
275 places, 9,129 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions Totals summarizes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disseminated in the FAOSTAT Climate Change domains of emissions from agrifood systems. Data are computed following the Tier 1 methods of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventories (IPCC, 1996; 1997; 2000; 2002; 2006; 2014). Emissions from other economic sectors as defined by the IPCC are also disseminated in the domain for completeness. Methodological details can be found at: https://files-faostat.fao.org/production/GT/GT_en.pdf