Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa
South Africa: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 16,149 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
16,149
Change on year
up 180.4%
World rank
22nd
of 152 countries
All-time high
25,152
in 2017
All-time low
2,597
in 2004
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa is 16,149, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 180.4% on the previous year and up 120.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa peaked at 25,152 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2,597, in 2004.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,998 | — |
| 2002 | 3,136 | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 3,234 | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 2,597 | -19.7% |
| 2005 | 3,651 | +40.6% |
| 2006 | 9,577 | +162.3% |
| 2007 | 3,141 | -67.2% |
| 2008 | 3,272 | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 4,572 | +39.7% |
| 2010 | 6,845 | +49.7% |
| 2011 | 3,466 | -49.4% |
| 2012 | 2,935 | -15.3% |
| 2013 | 6,627 | +125.8% |
| 2014 | 7,342 | +10.8% |
| 2015 | 15,034 | +104.8% |
| 2016 | 8,875 | -41.0% |
| 2017 | 25,152 | +183.4% |
| 2018 | 10,964 | -56.4% |
| 2019 | 21,998 | +100.6% |
| 2020 | 11,888 | -46.0% |
| 2021 | 7,934 | -33.3% |
| 2022 | 8,638 | +8.9% |
| 2023 | 5,759 | -33.3% |
| 2024 | 16,149 | +180.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 16,149 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 668.64, 24.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 16,149 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 169.25, 95.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,020 | 2,597 | 9,577 | 9 |
| 2010s | 10,924 | 2,935 | 25,152 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,074 | 5,759 | 16,149 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Africa was 16,149 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 25,152 in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,597 in 2004.
- How does South Africa rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 120.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).