Wildfires worldwide · Country
South Africa: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 1,088,438 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 1,088,438
- World rank
- #29 of 223
- Share of the world
- 1%
- Record year
- 2024
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −10%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 20,686 |
| 2002 | 41,858 |
| 2003 | 41,677 |
| 2004 | 33,222 |
| 2005 | 50,044 |
| 2006 | 41,451 |
| 2007 | 51,219 |
| 2008 | 46,668 |
| 2009 | 45,499 |
| 2010 | 54,269 |
| 2011 | 48,549 |
| 2012 | 46,371 |
| 2013 | 47,181 |
| 2014 | 47,530 |
| 2015 | 35,596 |
| 2016 | 28,489 |
| 2017 | 42,060 |
| 2018 | 39,221 |
| 2019 | 37,372 |
| 2020 | 35,403 |
| 2021 | 48,203 |
| 2022 | 38,430 |
| 2023 | 55,099 |
| 2024 | 55,255 |
| 2025 | 29,996 |
| 2026 | 25,898 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2024 is the year with the most detections (55,255); the record month is July 2024, with 15,743.
The fire season is concentrated between July and September: these three months hold 55% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 10% (Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 51.4 MW in 2003-2012 to 56.6 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 25,898 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
South Africa: frequently asked questions
South Africa: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 43,426 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 55,255 in 2024.
South Africa: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 10% (Aqua satellite).
South Africa: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between July and September: these three months hold 55% of an average year's detections.
South Africa: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2024, with 55,255 detections. The record month was July 2024, with 15,743.
Other countries
- Ghana1,228,877
- Cameroon1,193,498
- Kazakhstan1,161,128
- Venezuela1,097,803
- Paraguay1,061,331
- Sudan947,674
- Laos945,633
- Côte d’Ivoire878,350
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