Annual area burnt by wildfires in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 229 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 229 hectares, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of down 57.3% on the previous year and down 82.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Puerto Rico peaked at 3,639 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2020.
That places Puerto Rico 162nd out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it 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 Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,994 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 3,639 hectares | +82.5% |
| 2014 | 1,955 hectares | -46.3% |
| 2015 | 1,528 hectares | -21.8% |
| 2016 | 1,329 hectares | -13.0% |
| 2017 | 1,028 hectares | -22.6% |
| 2018 | 1,509 hectares | +46.8% |
| 2019 | 2,517 hectares | +66.8% |
| 2020 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 827 hectares | — |
| 2022 | 1,377 hectares | +66.5% |
| 2023 | 523 hectares | -62.0% |
| 2024 | 1,260 hectares | +140.9% |
| 2025 | 536 hectares | -57.5% |
| 2026 | 229 hectares | -57.3% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 229 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 273 hectares, 84% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 229 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,198 hectares, 2% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1,937 hectares | 1,028 hectares | 3,639 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 678.86 hectares | 0 hectares | 1,377 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More reference data data for Puerto Rico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2501 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1709 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 326.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1,009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 34.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 34.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 36.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0077 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Puerto Rico?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Puerto Rico was 229 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 3,639 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2020.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Puerto Rico ranks 162nd out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 82.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.