Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Lesotho
Lesotho: Annual area burnt by wildfires by region was 33,122 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Lesotho, 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 Lesotho is 33,122 hectares, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 22.4% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Lesotho peaked at 130,877 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 7,084 hectares, in 2018.
Lesotho ranks 88th 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 Lesotho, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 45,121 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 130,877 hectares | +190.1% |
| 2004 | 36,986 hectares | -71.7% |
| 2005 | 60,126 hectares | +62.6% |
| 2006 | 46,216 hectares | -23.1% |
| 2007 | 123,665 hectares | +167.6% |
| 2008 | 21,724 hectares | -82.4% |
| 2009 | 56,305 hectares | +159.2% |
| 2010 | 44,885 hectares | -20.3% |
| 2011 | 102,457 hectares | +128.3% |
| 2012 | 55,167 hectares | -46.2% |
| 2013 | 42,331 hectares | -23.3% |
| 2014 | 34,431 hectares | -18.7% |
| 2015 | 44,177 hectares | +28.3% |
| 2016 | 69,056 hectares | +56.3% |
| 2017 | 20,543 hectares | -70.3% |
| 2018 | 7,084 hectares | -65.5% |
| 2019 | 27,369 hectares | +286.4% |
| 2020 | 7,384 hectares | -73.0% |
| 2021 | 41,858 hectares | +466.9% |
| 2022 | 25,759 hectares | -38.5% |
| 2023 | 35,140 hectares | +36.4% |
| 2024 | 42,674 hectares | +21.4% |
| 2025 | 33,122 hectares | -22.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 33,122 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 283,554 hectares, 12% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 33,122 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.23 million hectares, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +466.9% | 7,384 hectares | 41,858 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 65,127 hectares | 21,724 hectares | 130,877 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 44,750 hectares | 7,084 hectares | 102,457 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,990 hectares | 7,384 hectares | 42,674 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Lesotho?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Lesotho was 33,122 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 130,877 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,084 hectares in 2018.
- How does Lesotho rank for annual area burnt by wildfires by region?
- Lesotho ranks 88th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires by region rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.