Annual area burnt by wildfires in Somalia
Somalia: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 2,608 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Somalia, 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 Somalia stood at 2,608 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 71.1% on the previous year and down 90.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Somalia peaked at 84,558 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 2,608 hectares, in 2026.
Somalia ranks 132nd 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 84,558 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 75,445 hectares | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 53,178 hectares | -29.5% |
| 2015 | 9,374 hectares | -82.4% |
| 2016 | 27,258 hectares | +190.8% |
| 2017 | 8,641 hectares | -68.3% |
| 2018 | 5,338 hectares | -38.2% |
| 2019 | 19,419 hectares | +263.8% |
| 2020 | 15,796 hectares | -18.7% |
| 2021 | 23,113 hectares | +46.3% |
| 2022 | 10,442 hectares | -54.8% |
| 2023 | 8,291 hectares | -20.6% |
| 2024 | 12,736 hectares | +53.6% |
| 2025 | 9,024 hectares | -29.1% |
| 2026 | 2,608 hectares | -71.1% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 2,608 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 198,497 hectares, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 2,608 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 506,694 hectares, 1% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 35,401 hectares | 5,338 hectares | 84,558 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 11,716 hectares | 2,608 hectares | 23,113 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 129 Poland 4,087 hectares compare
- 130 New Caledonia 2,872 hectares compare
- 131 South Korea 2,659 hectares compare
- 133 Trinidad and Tobago 2,352 hectares compare
- 134 Lebanon 2,084 hectares compare
- 135 French Guiana 2,034 hectares compare
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 1,290 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8842 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.4444 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 11,378 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 3.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 40,976 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 42.94 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Somalia?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Somalia was 2,608 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 84,558 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,608 hectares in 2026.
- How does Somalia rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Somalia ranks 132nd out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 90.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.