Annual area burnt by wildfires in El Salvador
El Salvador: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 37,083 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in El Salvador, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2026, annual area burnt by wildfires in El Salvador stood at 37,083 hectares.
The figure is up 245.1% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in El Salvador peaked at 128,324 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 10,745 hectares, in 2025.
El Salvador ranks 88th 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 36,901 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 126,365 hectares | +242.4% |
| 2014 | 55,231 hectares | -56.3% |
| 2015 | 124,234 hectares | +124.9% |
| 2016 | 41,175 hectares | -66.9% |
| 2017 | 128,324 hectares | +211.7% |
| 2018 | 53,427 hectares | -58.4% |
| 2019 | 90,509 hectares | +69.4% |
| 2020 | 68,161 hectares | -24.7% |
| 2021 | 21,480 hectares | -68.5% |
| 2022 | 57,101 hectares | +165.8% |
| 2023 | 24,716 hectares | -56.7% |
| 2024 | 25,222 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 10,745 hectares | -57.4% |
| 2026 | 37,083 hectares | +245.1% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 37,083 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38,000 hectares, 98% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 37,083 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,198 hectares, 3.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 82,021 hectares | 36,901 hectares | 128,324 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 34,930 hectares | 10,745 hectares | 68,161 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More reference data data for El Salvador
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2714 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6267 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0909 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3176 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4948 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in El Salvador?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in El Salvador was 37,083 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 128,324 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,745 hectares in 2025.
- How does El Salvador rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- El Salvador ranks 88th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.