Annual area burnt by wildfires in Rwanda
Rwanda: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 10,183 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 10,183 hectares, measured in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 43.6% on the previous year and down 76.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Rwanda peaked at 47,891 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, 7,089 hectares, in 2025.
Rwanda ranks 113th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 22,757 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 47,891 hectares | +110.4% |
| 2014 | 16,952 hectares | -64.6% |
| 2015 | 46,333 hectares | +173.3% |
| 2016 | 42,346 hectares | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 23,372 hectares | -44.8% |
| 2018 | 16,667 hectares | -28.7% |
| 2019 | 25,665 hectares | +54.0% |
| 2020 | 24,122 hectares | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 19,681 hectares | -18.4% |
| 2022 | 24,313 hectares | +23.5% |
| 2023 | 13,423 hectares | -44.8% |
| 2024 | 16,629 hectares | +23.9% |
| 2025 | 7,089 hectares | -57.4% |
| 2026 | 10,183 hectares | +43.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 10,183 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 198,497 hectares, 5% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 10,183 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 506,694 hectares, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30,248 hectares | 16,667 hectares | 47,891 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 16,491 hectares | 7,089 hectares | 24,313 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Rwanda?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Rwanda was 10,183 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 47,891 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,089 hectares in 2025.
- How does Rwanda rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Rwanda ranks 113th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.