Annual area burnt by wildfires in Gambia
Gambia: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 97,664 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Gambia, 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 Gambia is 97,664 hectares, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of up 12.2% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Gambia peaked at 165,012 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 54,417 hectares, in 2015.
Gambia ranks 71st of 248 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Gambia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 91,356 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 108,088 hectares | +18.3% |
| 2014 | 86,422 hectares | -20.0% |
| 2015 | 54,417 hectares | -37.0% |
| 2016 | 106,890 hectares | +96.4% |
| 2017 | 120,160 hectares | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 81,138 hectares | -32.5% |
| 2019 | 82,975 hectares | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 129,342 hectares | +55.9% |
| 2021 | 119,838 hectares | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 136,359 hectares | +13.8% |
| 2023 | 165,012 hectares | +21.0% |
| 2024 | 129,332 hectares | -21.6% |
| 2025 | 87,031 hectares | -32.7% |
| 2026 | 97,664 hectares | +12.2% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 97,664 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 198,497 hectares, 49% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 97,664 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 506,694 hectares, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 91,431 hectares | 54,417 hectares | 120,160 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 123,511 hectares | 87,031 hectares | 165,012 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More reference data data for Gambia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2798 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0232 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1264 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Gambia?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Gambia was 97,664 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 165,012 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 54,417 hectares in 2015.
- How does Gambia rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Gambia ranks 71st out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia 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.