Woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Woody savanna — Burned Area was 77,987 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
77,987 ha
Change on year
up 265.2%
Rank
22nd
of 31 groups
All-time high
2.07 million ha
in 1996
All-time low
19,877 ha
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1990200720241990: 378.1k ha1991: 378.1k ha1992: 378.1k ha1993: 378.1k ha1994: 378.1k ha1995: 378.1k ha1996: 2.1M ha1997: 2.1M ha1998: 1.8M ha1999: 1.7M ha2000: 1.6M ha2001: 31.5k ha2002: 57.3k ha2003: 56.4k ha2004: 26.3k ha2005: 58.9k ha2006: 32.1k ha2007: 66.7k ha2008: 59.9k ha2009: 49.2k ha2010: 29.4k ha2011: 24.2k ha2012: 38.5k ha2013: 41.2k ha2014: 45.2k ha2015: 24.8k ha2016: 33.9k ha2017: 35.5k ha2018: 71.2k ha2019: 34.5k ha2020: 30.8k ha2021: 25.0k ha2022: 19.9k ha2023: 21.4k ha2024: 78.0k ha

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

Analysis

In 2024, woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa stood at 77,987 ha.

That represents a change of up 265.2% on the previous year and up 72.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa peaked at 2.07 million ha in 1996 and was at its lowest, 19,877 ha, in 2022.

That places Southern Africa 22nd out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Woody savanna — Burned Area in Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 378,071 ha
1991 378,071 ha +0.0%
1992 378,071 ha +0.0%
1993 378,071 ha +0.0%
1994 378,071 ha +0.0%
1995 378,071 ha +0.0%
1996 2.07 million ha +448.4%
1997 2.06 million ha -0.9%
1998 1.82 million ha -11.6%
1999 1.74 million ha -4.1%
2000 1.59 million ha -8.6%
2001 31,530 ha -98.0%
2002 57,272 ha +81.6%
2003 56,384 ha -1.5%
2004 26,281 ha -53.4%
2005 58,943 ha +124.3%
2006 32,096 ha -45.5%
2007 66,748 ha +108.0%
2008 59,927 ha -10.2%
2009 49,231 ha -17.8%
2010 29,441 ha -40.2%
2011 24,158 ha -17.9%
2012 38,480 ha +59.3%
2013 41,169 ha +7.0%
2014 45,243 ha +9.9%
2015 24,845 ha -45.1%
2016 33,887 ha +36.4%
2017 35,455 ha +4.6%
2018 71,158 ha +100.7%
2019 34,541 ha -51.5%
2020 30,762 ha -10.9%
2021 24,998 ha -18.7%
2022 19,877 ha -20.5%
2023 21,352 ha +7.4%
2024 77,987 ha +265.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 995,687 ha 378,071 ha 2.07 million ha 10
2000s 203,020 ha 26,281 ha 1.59 million ha 10
2010s 37,838 ha 24,158 ha 71,158 ha 10
2020s 34,995 ha 19,877 ha 77,987 ha 5

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 19 Honduras 102,474 ha compare
  2. 20 Australia and New Zealand 96,001 ha compare
  3. 21 Australia 95,636 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
  7. 25 Nepal 81,154 ha compare

See the full ranking of 273 places →

More climate change data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa?
Woody savanna — burned area in Southern Africa was 77,987 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest woody savanna — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 2.07 million ha in 1996.
What is the lowest woody savanna — burned area recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 19,877 ha in 2022.
How does Southern Africa rank for woody savanna — burned area?
Southern Africa ranks 22nd out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is woody savanna — burned area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 72.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern Africa 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 Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/woody-savanna-burned-area-fao-tier-1/southern-africa/

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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.