Annual area burnt by wildfires in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 19,749 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Sri Lanka, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 19,749 hectares for annual area burnt by wildfires in 2026.
The figure is up 8.0% on the previous year and down 70.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Sri Lanka peaked at 88,177 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 12,983 hectares, in 2024.
Sri Lanka ranks 98th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 88,177 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 76,388 hectares | -13.4% |
| 2014 | 71,129 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 28,739 hectares | -59.6% |
| 2016 | 66,389 hectares | +131.0% |
| 2017 | 26,127 hectares | -60.6% |
| 2018 | 45,105 hectares | +72.6% |
| 2019 | 46,993 hectares | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 33,378 hectares | -29.0% |
| 2021 | 16,699 hectares | -50.0% |
| 2022 | 25,775 hectares | +54.4% |
| 2023 | 42,241 hectares | +63.9% |
| 2024 | 12,983 hectares | -69.3% |
| 2025 | 18,285 hectares | +40.8% |
| 2026 | 19,749 hectares | +8.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 19,749 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38,000 hectares, 52% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 19,749 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 81,866 hectares, 24% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 56,131 hectares | 26,127 hectares | 88,177 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 24,159 hectares | 12,983 hectares | 42,241 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 95 Tunisia 28,228 hectares compare
- 96 North Macedonia 24,812 hectares compare
- 97 Turkmenistan 23,440 hectares compare
- 99 Eswatini 19,206 hectares compare
- 100 Burundi 17,706 hectares compare
- 101 New Zealand 17,103 hectares compare
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Sri Lanka?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Sri Lanka was 19,749 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 88,177 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,983 hectares in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Sri Lanka ranks 98th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.