Woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia

Australia: Woody savanna — Burned Area was 95,636 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
95,636 ha
Change on year
down 77.0%
World rank
21st
of 220 countries
All-time high
9.15 million ha
in 1999
All-time low
60,407 ha
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia, 1990–2024

02.0M4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M1990200720241990: 1.3M ha1991: 1.3M ha1992: 1.3M ha1993: 1.3M ha1994: 1.3M ha1995: 1.3M ha1996: 5.6M ha1997: 5.1M ha1998: 6.1M ha1999: 9.1M ha2000: 5.3M ha2001: 365.9k ha2002: 719.2k ha2003: 457.0k ha2004: 182.9k ha2005: 145.2k ha2006: 390.6k ha2007: 123.2k ha2008: 115.6k ha2009: 378.3k ha2010: 94.7k ha2011: 245.8k ha2012: 533.7k ha2013: 366.2k ha2014: 223.1k ha2015: 436.9k ha2016: 204.2k ha2017: 192.3k ha2018: 264.1k ha2019: 1.1M ha2020: 390.4k ha2021: 106.5k ha2022: 60.4k ha2023: 415.4k ha2024: 95.6k ha

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

Analysis

Australia recorded 95,636 ha for woody savanna — burned area in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 77.0% on the previous year and down 57.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, woody savanna — burned area in Australia peaked at 9.15 million ha in 1999 and was at its lowest, 60,407 ha, in 2022.

That places Australia 21st out of 220 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 1.34 million ha
1991 1.34 million ha +0.0%
1992 1.34 million ha +0.0%
1993 1.34 million ha +0.0%
1994 1.34 million ha +0.0%
1995 1.34 million ha +0.0%
1996 5.62 million ha +319.5%
1997 5.11 million ha -9.0%
1998 6.08 million ha +19.0%
1999 9.15 million ha +50.4%
2000 5.26 million ha -42.5%
2001 365,867 ha -93.0%
2002 719,188 ha +96.6%
2003 457,008 ha -36.5%
2004 182,945 ha -60.0%
2005 145,176 ha -20.6%
2006 390,639 ha +169.1%
2007 123,197 ha -68.5%
2008 115,568 ha -6.2%
2009 378,346 ha +227.4%
2010 94,722 ha -75.0%
2011 245,802 ha +159.5%
2012 533,711 ha +117.1%
2013 366,184 ha -31.4%
2014 223,079 ha -39.1%
2015 436,885 ha +95.8%
2016 204,243 ha -53.3%
2017 192,265 ha -5.9%
2018 264,078 ha +37.4%
2019 1.12 million ha +324.5%
2020 390,420 ha -65.2%
2021 106,539 ha -72.7%
2022 60,407 ha -43.3%
2023 415,387 ha +587.7%
2024 95,636 ha -77.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.40 million ha 1.34 million ha 9.15 million ha 10
2000s 814,076 ha 115,568 ha 5.26 million ha 10
2010s 368,191 ha 94,722 ha 1.12 million ha 10
2020s 213,678 ha 60,407 ha 415,387 ha 5

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 18 Gabon 106,853 ha compare
  2. 19 Honduras 102,474 ha compare
  3. 20 Australia and New Zealand 96,001 ha compare
  4. 22 Guatemala 93,982 ha compare
  5. 23 Argentina 90,730 ha compare
  6. 24 Central African Republic 87,842 ha compare

See the full ranking of 273 places →

More climate change data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is woody savanna — burned area in Australia?
Woody savanna — burned area in Australia was 95,636 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest woody savanna — burned area recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 9.15 million ha in 1999.
What is the lowest woody savanna — burned area recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 60,407 ha in 2022.
How does Australia rank for woody savanna — burned area?
Australia ranks 21st out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
Is woody savanna — burned area rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 57.1%. 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 Woody savanna — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Woody savanna — Burned Area in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/woody-savanna-burned-area-fao-tier-1/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Woody savanna — Burned Area
Unit
ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
273 places, 9,329 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.