Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in United States
United States: Annual area burnt by wildfires by region was 3.81 million hectares in 2024. ▬ Flat
Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in United States, 2002–2024
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 United States is 3.81 million hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 89.7% on the previous year and up 61.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires by region in United States peaked at 4.96 million hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.01 million hectares, in 2023.
United States ranks 25th of 225 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.40 million hectares | 2.46 million hectares | 4.28 million hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.24 million hectares | 2.13 million hectares | 4.30 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.62 million hectares | 2.01 million hectares | 4.96 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 534.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 3.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure left on Pa 35,363 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied to 17,186 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires by region in United States?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires by region in United States was 3.81 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4.96 million hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires by region recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.01 million hectares in 2023.
- How does United States rank for annual area burnt by wildfires by region?
- United States ranks 25th out of 225 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires by region rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States 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.