Annual area burnt by wildfires in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 1,982 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Afghanistan, 2012–2026
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 in Afghanistan is 1,982 hectares, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of down 9.9% on the previous year and down 79.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Afghanistan peaked at 29,652 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,929 hectares, in 2022.
Afghanistan ranks 136th of 248 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 in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 10,430 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 5,892 hectares | -43.5% |
| 2014 | 5,134 hectares | -12.9% |
| 2015 | 4,084 hectares | -20.5% |
| 2016 | 9,681 hectares | +137.0% |
| 2017 | 15,400 hectares | +59.1% |
| 2018 | 10,025 hectares | -34.9% |
| 2019 | 7,699 hectares | -23.2% |
| 2020 | 29,652 hectares | +285.1% |
| 2021 | 16,941 hectares | -42.9% |
| 2022 | 1,929 hectares | -88.6% |
| 2023 | 2,204 hectares | +14.3% |
| 2024 | 2,045 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 2,199 hectares | +7.5% |
| 2026 | 1,982 hectares | -9.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 1,982 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 198,497 hectares, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 1,982 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 984 hectares, 2.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires in Afghanistan 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 | +285.1% | 7,699 hectares | 29,652 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8,543 hectares | 4,084 hectares | 15,400 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 8,136 hectares | 1,929 hectares | 29,652 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Afghanistan?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Afghanistan was 1,982 hectares in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 29,652 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,929 hectares in 2022.
- How does Afghanistan rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Afghanistan ranks 136th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Area burnt by wildfires in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.