Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Canada
Canada: Annual area burnt by wildfires by region was 4.62 million hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Canada, 2002–2024
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Canada stood at 4.62 million hectares.
That represents a change of down 65.3% on the previous year and up 46.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Canada peaked at 13.32 million hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 263,773 hectares, in 2020.
That places Canada 19th out of 225 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.70 million hectares | 685,319 hectares | 2.48 million hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.27 million hectares | 966,908 hectares | 3.84 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.61 million hectares | 263,773 hectares | 13.32 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Spring temperature anomalies -4.58 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 2.12 °C (2026)
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- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.47 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -2.57 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 140.97 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Canada?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Canada was 4.62 million hectares in 2024, 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 13.32 million hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 263,773 hectares in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for annual area burnt by wildfires by region?
- Canada ranks 19th out of 225 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires by region rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.