Savanna fires — Emissions in South Africa

South Africa: Savanna fires — Emissions was 49.24 kt in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
49.24 kt
Change on year
down 38.5%
World rank
17th
of 221 countries
All-time high
80.1 kt
in 2023
All-time low
22.9 kt
in 2016
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Savanna fires — Emissions in South Africa, 1990–2024

204060801990200720241990: 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 kt2024: 49.2 kt

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

Analysis

In 2024, savanna fires — emissions in South Africa stood at 49.24 kt.

The figure is down 38.5% on the previous year and up 21.5% 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 17th of 221 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 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 2024.
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%
2024 49.24 kt -38.5%

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 56.78 kt 30.95 kt 80.1 kt 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 14 Chad 57.3 kt compare
  2. 14 Türkiye 0.571 kt compare
  3. 15 Ghana 54.74 kt compare
  4. 15 Timor-Leste 0.0407 kt compare
  5. 16 Congo 52.9 kt compare
  6. 18 Guinea 49.22 kt compare
  7. 19 Ethiopia 49.08 kt compare
  8. 20 Nigeria 47.02 kt compare

See the full ranking of 274 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 49.24 kt in 2024, 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 17th out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
Is savanna fires — emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.5%. 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 31 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-emissions-ch4-fao-tier-1/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
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.