Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) was 18,875 kt in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
18,875 kt
Change on year
up 38.1%
Rank
11th
of 32 groups
All-time high
32,347 kt
in 2011
All-time low
3,147 kt
in 2019
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa, 1990–2023

010.0k20.0k30.0k1990200620231990: 12.1k kt1991: 12.1k kt1992: 12.1k kt1993: 12.1k kt1994: 12.1k kt1995: 12.1k kt1996: 13.9k kt1997: 12.8k kt1998: 12.8k kt1999: 12.0k kt2000: 11.8k kt2001: 14.0k kt2002: 15.2k kt2003: 6.4k kt2004: 6.6k kt2005: 8.5k kt2006: 12.0k kt2007: 9.9k kt2008: 16.7k kt2009: 10.0k kt2010: 21.9k kt2011: 32.3k kt2012: 19.3k kt2013: 10.2k kt2014: 6.6k kt2015: 5.6k kt2016: 4.5k kt2017: 9.5k kt2018: 6.3k kt2019: 3.1k kt2020: 9.8k kt2021: 20.6k kt2022: 13.7k kt2023: 18.9k kt

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

Analysis

In 2023, savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa stood at 18,875 kt.

The figure is up 38.1% on the previous year and up 85.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa peaked at 32,347 kt in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3,147 kt, in 2019.

That places Southern Africa 11th out of 32 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year kt Change
1990 12,111 kt
1991 12,111 kt +0.0%
1992 12,111 kt +0.0%
1993 12,111 kt +0.0%
1994 12,111 kt +0.0%
1995 12,111 kt +0.0%
1996 13,930 kt +15.0%
1997 12,801 kt -8.1%
1998 12,843 kt +0.3%
1999 11,999 kt -6.6%
2000 11,787 kt -1.8%
2001 13,955 kt +18.4%
2002 15,238 kt +9.2%
2003 6,370 kt -58.2%
2004 6,644 kt +4.3%
2005 8,493 kt +27.8%
2006 11,992 kt +41.2%
2007 9,856 kt -17.8%
2008 16,748 kt +69.9%
2009 9,967 kt -40.5%
2010 21,873 kt +119.5%
2011 32,347 kt +47.9%
2012 19,255 kt -40.5%
2013 10,153 kt -47.3%
2014 6,636 kt -34.6%
2015 5,581 kt -15.9%
2016 4,477 kt -19.8%
2017 9,533 kt +113.0%
2018 6,317 kt -33.7%
2019 3,147 kt -50.2%
2020 9,812 kt +211.8%
2021 20,619 kt +110.1%
2022 13,664 kt -33.7%
2023 18,875 kt +38.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12,424 kt 11,999 kt 13,930 kt 10
2000s 11,105 kt 6,370 kt 16,748 kt 10
2010s 11,932 kt 3,147 kt 32,347 kt 10
2020s 15,742 kt 9,812 kt 20,619 kt 4

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 8 Botswana 12,540 kt compare
  2. 9 Mozambique 12,040 kt compare
  3. 10 Central African Republic 7,100 kt compare
  4. 11 Brazil 6,943 kt compare
  5. 12 Canada 4,957 kt compare
  6. 12 Viet Nam 145.54 kt compare
  7. 13 South Africa 4,181 kt compare
  8. 14 Sudan 3,844 kt compare
  9. 14 Türkiye 17.05 kt compare

See the full ranking of 275 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa?
Savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) in Southern Africa was 18,875 kt in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 32,347 kt in 2011.
What is the lowest savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3,147 kt in 2019.
How does Southern Africa rank for savanna fires — emissions (co2eq)?
Southern Africa ranks 11th out of 32 groups with data for 2023.
Is savanna fires — emissions (co2eq) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 85.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/savanna-fires-emissions-co2eq-ar5-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Savanna fires — Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5)
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