Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in South Africa

South Africa: Woody savanna — Burning crop residues was 284,029 t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
284,029 t
Change on year
up 284.0%
World rank
26th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.27 million t
in 1999
All-time low
66,630 t
in 2022
Years of data
35
1990–2024

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

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M2.5M1990200720241990: 492.6k t1991: 492.6k t1992: 492.6k t1993: 492.6k t1994: 492.6k t1995: 492.6k t1996: 2.2M t1997: 2.1M t1998: 2.3M t1999: 2.3M t2000: 2.0M t2001: 118.6k t2002: 199.1k t2003: 214.1k t2004: 91.6k t2005: 206.9k t2006: 116.6k t2007: 238.1k t2008: 213.2k t2009: 169.6k t2010: 106.6k t2011: 84.7k t2012: 140.7k t2013: 143.6k t2014: 157.2k t2015: 95.6k t2016: 114.4k t2017: 119.8k t2018: 243.7k t2019: 119.8k t2020: 116.2k t2021: 87.2k t2022: 66.6k t2023: 74.0k t2024: 284.0k t

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for woody savanna — burning crop residues in South Africa is 284,029 t, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 284.0% on the previous year and up 80.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, woody savanna — burning crop residues in South Africa peaked at 2.27 million t in 1999 and was at its lowest, 66,630 t, in 2022.

South Africa ranks 26th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Woody savanna — Burning crop residues (Biomass burned, dry matter) in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year t Change
1990 492,553 t
1991 492,553 t +0.0%
1992 492,553 t +0.0%
1993 492,553 t +0.0%
1994 492,553 t +0.0%
1995 492,553 t +0.0%
1996 2.15 million t +336.6%
1997 2.05 million t -4.5%
1998 2.25 million t +9.6%
1999 2.27 million t +1.0%
2000 2.03 million t -10.7%
2001 118,587 t -94.2%
2002 199,087 t +67.9%
2003 214,108 t +7.5%
2004 91,553 t -57.2%
2005 206,892 t +126.0%
2006 116,598 t -43.6%
2007 238,078 t +104.2%
2008 213,188 t -10.5%
2009 169,647 t -20.4%
2010 106,621 t -37.2%
2011 84,682 t -20.6%
2012 140,743 t +66.2%
2013 143,551 t +2.0%
2014 157,198 t +9.5%
2015 95,573 t -39.2%
2016 114,425 t +19.7%
2017 119,786 t +4.7%
2018 243,670 t +103.4%
2019 119,849 t -50.8%
2020 116,199 t -3.0%
2021 87,224 t -24.9%
2022 66,630 t -23.6%
2023 73,960 t +11.0%
2024 284,029 t +284.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 284,029 t is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,589 t, 109.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 284,029 t is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,838 t, 100.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Woody savanna — Burning crop residues in South 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 +336.6% 492,553 t 2.15 million t
2024 +284.0% 73,960 t 284,029 t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.17 million t 492,553 t 2.27 million t 10
2000s 359,785 t 91,553 t 2.03 million t 10
2010s 132,610 t 84,682 t 243,670 t 10
2020s 125,608 t 66,630 t 284,029 t 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Nepal 448,666 t compare
  2. 24 Caribbean 149,584 t compare
  3. 24 Australia and New Zealand 442,661 t compare
  4. 25 Australia 441,456 t compare
  5. 25 Côte d'Ivoire 17,057 t compare
  6. 27 Bangladesh 281,206 t compare
  7. 28 Cameroon 226,068 t compare
  8. 29 Cabo Verde 0 t
  9. 29 Portugal 224,474 t compare

See the full ranking of 273 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is woody savanna — burning crop residues in South Africa?
Woody savanna — burning crop residues in South Africa was 284,029 t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest woody savanna — burning crop residues recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 2.27 million t in 1999.
What is the lowest woody savanna — burning crop residues recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 66,630 t in 2022.
How does South Africa rank for woody savanna — burning crop residues?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
Is woody savanna — burning crop residues rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 80.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/woody-savanna-burning-crop-residues-biomass-burned-dry-matter-fao-tier-1/south-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.