Annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in New Zealand
New Zealand: Annual area burnt by wildfires gwis was 3,413 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in New Zealand, 2002–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 3,413 for annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in 2025.
That represents a change of up 130.4% on the previous year and up 238.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in New Zealand peaked at 8,672 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2005.
That places New Zealand 121st out of 225 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 gwis in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 21.47 | — |
| 2003 | 923.03 | +4200.0% |
| 2004 | 643.98 | -30.2% |
| 2005 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 3,649 | — |
| 2007 | 3,757 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 944.5 | -74.9% |
| 2009 | 128.79 | -86.4% |
| 2010 | 1,224 | +850.0% |
| 2011 | 923.03 | -24.6% |
| 2012 | 429.32 | -53.5% |
| 2013 | 2,962 | +590.0% |
| 2014 | 815.7 | -72.5% |
| 2015 | 1,009 | +23.7% |
| 2016 | 6,397 | +534.0% |
| 2017 | 3,499 | -45.3% |
| 2018 | 321.99 | -90.8% |
| 2019 | 5,324 | +1553.3% |
| 2020 | 8,672 | +62.9% |
| 2021 | 2,919 | -66.3% |
| 2022 | 686.91 | -76.5% |
| 2023 | 386.39 | -43.7% |
| 2024 | 1,481 | +283.3% |
| 2025 | 3,413 | +130.4% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 3,413 is above the median for high income countries, which is 85.86, 39.8× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 3,413 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 665.44, 5.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +4200.0% | 21.47 | 923.03 |
| 2019 | +1553.3% | 321.99 | 5,324 |
| 2010 | +850.0% | 128.79 | 1,224 |
| 2013 | +590.0% | 429.32 | 2,962 |
| 2016 | +534.0% | 1,009 | 6,397 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,258 | 0 | 3,757 | 8 |
| 2010s | 2,290 | 321.99 | 6,397 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,927 | 386.39 | 8,672 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 118 Kyrgyzstan 4,250 compare
- 119 Afghanistan 4,250 compare
- 120 Tajikistan 3,435 compare
- 122 Morocco 3,220 compare
- 123 Somalia 3,091 compare
- 124 Panama 2,984 compare
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in New Zealand?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires gwis in New Zealand was 3,413 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual area burnt by wildfires gwis recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 8,672 in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires gwis recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2005.
- How does New Zealand rank for annual area burnt by wildfires gwis?
- New Zealand ranks 121st out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires gwis rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 238.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual area burnt by wildfires gwis. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).