Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in Africa

Africa: Woody savanna — Burning crop residues was 103.13 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
103.13 million t
Change on year
up 14.6%
Rank
4th
of 31 groups
All-time high
619.83 million t
in 1998
All-time low
75.98 million t
in 2018
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in Africa, 1990–2024

0200.0M400.0M600.0M1990200720241990: 175.6M t1991: 175.6M t1992: 175.6M t1993: 175.6M t1994: 175.6M t1995: 175.6M t1996: 610.0M t1997: 582.0M t1998: 619.8M t1999: 566.6M t2000: 591.7M t2001: 88.5M t2002: 108.4M t2003: 129.2M t2004: 116.4M t2005: 115.6M t2006: 111.9M t2007: 103.7M t2008: 107.7M t2009: 98.1M t2010: 99.5M t2011: 89.4M t2012: 85.0M t2013: 90.8M t2014: 88.2M t2015: 97.5M t2016: 95.6M t2017: 89.1M t2018: 76.0M t2019: 90.8M t2020: 87.1M t2021: 91.3M t2022: 98.8M t2023: 90.0M t2024: 103.1M t

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

Analysis

In 2024, woody savanna — burning crop residues in Africa stood at 103.13 million t.

The figure is up 14.6% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, woody savanna — burning crop residues in Africa peaked at 619.83 million t in 1998 and was at its lowest, 75.98 million t, in 2018.

Africa ranks 4th of 31 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Woody savanna — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 175.57 million t
1991 175.57 million t +0.0%
1992 175.57 million t +0.0%
1993 175.57 million t +0.0%
1994 175.57 million t +0.0%
1995 175.57 million t +0.0%
1996 610.01 million t +247.4%
1997 582.01 million t -4.6%
1998 619.83 million t +6.5%
1999 566.63 million t -8.6%
2000 591.66 million t +4.4%
2001 88.47 million t -85.0%
2002 108.40 million t +22.5%
2003 129.20 million t +19.2%
2004 116.40 million t -9.9%
2005 115.64 million t -0.7%
2006 111.94 million t -3.2%
2007 103.74 million t -7.3%
2008 107.74 million t +3.8%
2009 98.07 million t -9.0%
2010 99.45 million t +1.4%
2011 89.39 million t -10.1%
2012 85.00 million t -4.9%
2013 90.78 million t +6.8%
2014 88.22 million t -2.8%
2015 97.52 million t +10.5%
2016 95.61 million t -2.0%
2017 89.06 million t -6.8%
2018 75.98 million t -14.7%
2019 90.76 million t +19.5%
2020 87.07 million t -4.1%
2021 91.31 million t +4.9%
2022 98.77 million t +8.2%
2023 90.01 million t -8.9%
2024 103.13 million t +14.6%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1996 +247.4% 175.57 million t 610.01 million t
2001 -85.0% 591.66 million t 88.47 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 343.19 million t 175.57 million t 619.83 million t 10
2000s 157.13 million t 88.47 million t 591.66 million t 10
2010s 90.18 million t 75.98 million t 99.45 million t 10
2020s 94.06 million t 87.07 million t 103.13 million t 5

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 1 Angola 29.99 million t compare
  2. 2 Zambia 19.79 million t compare
  3. 3 Democratic Republic of the Congo 37.34 million t compare
  4. 3 OECD 12.40 million t compare
  5. 4 Russian Federation 11.37 million t compare
  6. 5 Brazil 8.97 million t compare
  7. 5 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.67 million t compare
  8. 6 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 2.55 million t compare
  9. 6 Mozambique 8.89 million t compare
  10. 7 Canada 7.33 million t compare
  11. 7 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 1.99 million t compare

See the full ranking of 273 places →

More climate change data for Africa

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is woody savanna — burning crop residues in Africa?
Woody savanna — burning crop residues in Africa was 103.13 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest woody savanna — burning crop residues recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 619.83 million t in 1998.
What is the lowest woody savanna — burning crop residues recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 75.98 million t in 2018.
How does Africa rank for woody savanna — burning crop residues?
Africa ranks 4th out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is woody savanna — burning crop residues rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Woody savanna — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/woody-savanna-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Woody savanna — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter)
Unit
t
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.