Annual area burnt by wildfires in South Korea
South Korea: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 2,659 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 2,659 hectares, measured in 2026.
The figure is down 96.2% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in South Korea peaked at 69,761 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 48 hectares, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 131st 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,089 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 3,773 hectares | +246.5% |
| 2014 | 7,548 hectares | +100.1% |
| 2015 | 7,050 hectares | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 3,943 hectares | -44.1% |
| 2017 | 8,583 hectares | +117.7% |
| 2018 | 3,378 hectares | -60.6% |
| 2019 | 6,606 hectares | +95.6% |
| 2020 | 7,869 hectares | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 1,476 hectares | -81.2% |
| 2022 | 35,502 hectares | +2305.3% |
| 2023 | 5,361 hectares | -84.9% |
| 2024 | 48 hectares | -99.1% |
| 2025 | 69,761 hectares | +145235.4% |
| 2026 | 2,659 hectares | -96.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2,659 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 273 hectares, 9.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2,659 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,872 hectares, 93% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +145235.4% | 48 hectares | 69,761 hectares |
| 2022 | +2305.3% | 1,476 hectares | 35,502 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5,246 hectares | 1,089 hectares | 8,583 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 17,525 hectares | 48 hectares | 69,761 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 128 Saudi Arabia 4,851 hectares compare
- 129 Poland 4,087 hectares compare
- 130 New Caledonia 2,872 hectares compare
- 132 Somalia 2,608 hectares compare
- 133 Trinidad and Tobago 2,352 hectares compare
- 134 Lebanon 2,084 hectares compare
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in South Korea?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in South Korea was 2,659 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 69,761 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 48 hectares in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- South Korea ranks 131st out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Area burnt by wildfires in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.