Woody savanna — Burned Area in Western Africa

Western Africa: Woody savanna — Burned Area was 327,858 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
327,858 ha
Change on year
up 101.1%
Rank
17th
of 31 groups
All-time high
12.55 million ha
in 1998
All-time low
28,559 ha
in 2002
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M1990200720241990: 2.3M ha1991: 2.3M ha1992: 2.3M ha1993: 2.3M ha1994: 2.3M ha1995: 2.3M ha1996: 11.3M ha1997: 11.3M ha1998: 12.5M ha1999: 10.9M ha2000: 11.6M ha2001: 49.9k ha2002: 28.6k ha2003: 281.5k ha2004: 356.5k ha2005: 123.4k ha2006: 653.5k ha2007: 530.3k ha2008: 135.9k ha2009: 516.3k ha2010: 77.0k ha2011: 110.4k ha2012: 424.6k ha2013: 170.7k ha2014: 418.3k ha2015: 799.7k ha2016: 371.1k ha2017: 198.1k ha2018: 121.1k ha2019: 274.4k ha2020: 383.2k ha2021: 111.9k ha2022: 213.4k ha2023: 163.0k ha2024: 327.9k ha

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

Analysis

Western Africa recorded 327,858 ha for woody savanna — burned area in 2024.

That represents a change of up 101.1% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, woody savanna — burned area in Western Africa peaked at 12.55 million ha in 1998 and was at its lowest, 28,559 ha, in 2002.

That places Western Africa 17th 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 Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Woody savanna — Burned Area in Western Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 2.33 million ha
1991 2.33 million ha +0.0%
1992 2.33 million ha +0.0%
1993 2.33 million ha +0.0%
1994 2.33 million ha +0.0%
1995 2.33 million ha +0.0%
1996 11.34 million ha +386.7%
1997 11.32 million ha -0.2%
1998 12.55 million ha +10.9%
1999 10.93 million ha -12.9%
2000 11.64 million ha +6.5%
2001 49,850 ha -99.6%
2002 28,559 ha -42.7%
2003 281,536 ha +885.8%
2004 356,486 ha +26.6%
2005 123,426 ha -65.4%
2006 653,550 ha +429.5%
2007 530,342 ha -18.9%
2008 135,924 ha -74.4%
2009 516,264 ha +279.8%
2010 77,016 ha -85.1%
2011 110,429 ha +43.4%
2012 424,607 ha +284.5%
2013 170,663 ha -59.8%
2014 418,318 ha +145.1%
2015 799,704 ha +91.2%
2016 371,092 ha -53.6%
2017 198,127 ha -46.6%
2018 121,134 ha -38.9%
2019 274,417 ha +126.5%
2020 383,176 ha +39.6%
2021 111,901 ha -70.8%
2022 213,371 ha +90.7%
2023 163,007 ha -23.6%
2024 327,858 ha +101.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 6.01 million ha 2.33 million ha 12.55 million ha 10
2000s 1.43 million ha 28,559 ha 11.64 million ha 10
2010s 296,551 ha 77,016 ha 799,704 ha 10
2020s 239,863 ha 111,901 ha 383,176 ha 5

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 14 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 408.27 ha compare
  2. 14 Thailand 171,490 ha compare
  3. 15 Cambodia 158,309 ha compare
  4. 15 Syrian Arab Republic 128.81 ha compare
  5. 16 India 139,372 ha compare
  6. 16 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 0 ha compare
  7. 16 Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 ha
  8. 16 Republic of Moldova 0 ha compare
  9. 16 Wallis and Futuna Islands 0 ha
  10. 16 Micronesia 0 ha
  11. 16 Polynesia 0 ha
  12. 17 Madagascar 115,976 ha compare
  13. 18 Gabon 106,853 ha compare
  14. 19 Honduras 102,474 ha compare
  15. 20 Australia and New Zealand 96,001 ha compare

See the full ranking of 273 places →

More climate change data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is woody savanna — burned area in Western Africa?
Woody savanna — burned area in Western Africa was 327,858 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest woody savanna — burned area recorded in Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12.55 million ha in 1998.
What is the lowest woody savanna — burned area recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 28,559 ha in 2002.
How does Western Africa rank for woody savanna — burned area?
Western Africa ranks 17th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is woody savanna — burned area rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Western 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 Western 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/western-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.