Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual area burnt by wildfires by region was 10,003 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia is 10,003 hectares, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 21.8% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Saudi Arabia peaked at 94,536 hectares in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1,159 hectares, in 2019.
Saudi Arabia ranks 109th 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 94,471 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 60,362 hectares | -36.1% |
| 2004 | 76,955 hectares | +27.5% |
| 2005 | 94,536 hectares | +22.8% |
| 2006 | 70,065 hectares | -25.9% |
| 2007 | 57,872 hectares | -17.4% |
| 2008 | 15,584 hectares | -73.1% |
| 2009 | 21,208 hectares | +36.1% |
| 2010 | 20,371 hectares | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 10,712 hectares | -47.4% |
| 2012 | 8,157 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2013 | 14,232 hectares | +74.5% |
| 2014 | 8,264 hectares | -41.9% |
| 2015 | 8,801 hectares | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 7,041 hectares | -20.0% |
| 2017 | 3,735 hectares | -47.0% |
| 2018 | 4,486 hectares | +20.1% |
| 2019 | 1,159 hectares | -74.2% |
| 2020 | 5,882 hectares | +407.4% |
| 2021 | 5,989 hectares | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 9,230 hectares | +54.1% |
| 2023 | 8,178 hectares | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 12,794 hectares | +56.4% |
| 2025 | 10,003 hectares | -21.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 10,003 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 85.86 hectares, 116.5× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 10,003 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,116 hectares, 9.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +407.4% | 1,159 hectares | 5,882 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 61,382 hectares | 15,584 hectares | 94,536 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 8,696 hectares | 1,159 hectares | 20,371 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,679 hectares | 5,882 hectares | 12,794 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 106 Algeria 11,613 hectares compare
- 107 Montenegro 11,549 hectares compare
- 108 North Korea 10,583 hectares compare
- 110 Dominican Republic 9,681 hectares compare
- 111 Ecuador 7,728 hectares compare
- 112 Japan 7,255 hectares compare
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in Saudi Arabia was 10,003 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 94,536 hectares in 2005.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,159 hectares in 2019.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual area burnt by wildfires by region?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 109th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires by region rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.