Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Annual area burnt by wildfires by region was 4,250 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan is 4,250 hectares, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 209.4% on the previous year and up 115.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan peaked at 133,668 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 880.1 hectares, in 2017.
Afghanistan ranks 119th of 225 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 32,220 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 133,668 hectares | +314.9% |
| 2004 | 28,936 hectares | -78.4% |
| 2005 | 12,300 hectares | -57.5% |
| 2006 | 14,189 hectares | +15.4% |
| 2007 | 10,368 hectares | -26.9% |
| 2008 | 61,500 hectares | +493.2% |
| 2009 | 8,887 hectares | -85.5% |
| 2010 | 71,503 hectares | +704.6% |
| 2011 | 15,842 hectares | -77.8% |
| 2012 | 5,560 hectares | -64.9% |
| 2013 | 6,955 hectares | +25.1% |
| 2014 | 1,181 hectares | -83.0% |
| 2015 | 1,975 hectares | +67.3% |
| 2016 | 4,036 hectares | +104.3% |
| 2017 | 880.1 hectares | -78.2% |
| 2018 | 1,395 hectares | +58.5% |
| 2019 | 14,275 hectares | +923.1% |
| 2020 | 32,800 hectares | +129.8% |
| 2021 | 8,887 hectares | -72.9% |
| 2022 | 1,374 hectares | -84.5% |
| 2023 | 3,950 hectares | +187.5% |
| 2024 | 1,374 hectares | -65.2% |
| 2025 | 4,250 hectares | +209.4% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 4,250 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 582,455 hectares, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 4,250 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,116 hectares, 3.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +923.1% | 1,395 hectares | 14,275 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37,758 hectares | 8,887 hectares | 133,668 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 12,360 hectares | 880.1 hectares | 71,503 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,772 hectares | 1,374 hectares | 32,800 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 116 Tunisia 6,139 hectares compare
- 117 Sri Lanka 5,409 hectares compare
- 118 Kyrgyzstan 4,250 hectares compare
- 120 Tajikistan 3,435 hectares compare
- 121 New Zealand 3,413 hectares compare
- 122 Morocco 3,220 hectares compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Afghanistan was 4,250 hectares in 2025, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 133,668 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 880.1 hectares in 2017.
- How does Afghanistan rank for annual area burnt by wildfires by region?
- Afghanistan ranks 119th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires by region rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 115.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual area burnt by wildfires by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total land area burnt by wildfires each year, in hectares, across all land cover types.