Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in France
France: Annual area burnt by wildfires by region was 18,997 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in France, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
France recorded 18,997 hectares for annual area burnt by wildfires by region in 2025.
The figure is up 400.0% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in France peaked at 96,232 hectares in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1,374 hectares, in 2018.
France ranks 98th 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 France, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 96,232 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 73,027 hectares | -24.1% |
| 2004 | 67,124 hectares | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 57,936 hectares | -13.7% |
| 2006 | 30,718 hectares | -47.0% |
| 2007 | 11,699 hectares | -61.9% |
| 2008 | 51,604 hectares | +341.1% |
| 2009 | 29,151 hectares | -43.5% |
| 2010 | 32,886 hectares | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 15,563 hectares | -52.7% |
| 2012 | 40,871 hectares | +162.6% |
| 2013 | 9,252 hectares | -77.4% |
| 2014 | 27,627 hectares | +198.6% |
| 2015 | 16,593 hectares | -39.9% |
| 2016 | 22,883 hectares | +37.9% |
| 2017 | 52,656 hectares | +130.1% |
| 2018 | 1,374 hectares | -97.4% |
| 2019 | 47,504 hectares | +3357.8% |
| 2020 | 8,994 hectares | -81.1% |
| 2021 | 21,337 hectares | +137.2% |
| 2022 | 56,241 hectares | +163.6% |
| 2023 | 17,473 hectares | -68.9% |
| 2024 | 3,799 hectares | -78.3% |
| 2025 | 18,997 hectares | +400.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 18,997 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 85.86 hectares, 221.3× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- France's 18,997 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,113 hectares, 6.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in France 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 | +3357.8% | 1,374 hectares | 47,504 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52,186 hectares | 11,699 hectares | 96,232 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 26,721 hectares | 1,374 hectares | 52,656 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,140 hectares | 3,799 hectares | 56,241 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 95 Burundi 22,926 hectares compare
- 96 Uzbekistan 21,165 hectares compare
- 97 North Macedonia 20,028 hectares compare
- 99 United Kingdom 18,697 hectares compare
- 100 Costa Rica 17,709 hectares compare
- 101 Suriname 15,949 hectares compare
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires by region in France?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in France was 18,997 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 96,232 hectares in 2002.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,374 hectares in 2018.
- How does France rank for annual area burnt by wildfires by region?
- France ranks 98th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires by region rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.