Annual area burnt by wildfires in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 28,299 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 28,299 hectares.
That represents a change of down 35.1% on the previous year and up 378.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in United Kingdom peaked at 43,629 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,912 hectares, in 2024.
United Kingdom ranks 94th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 13,971 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 11,263 hectares | -19.4% |
| 2014 | 5,415 hectares | -51.9% |
| 2015 | 10,005 hectares | +84.8% |
| 2016 | 5,909 hectares | -40.9% |
| 2017 | 13,617 hectares | +130.4% |
| 2018 | 19,999 hectares | +46.9% |
| 2019 | 28,100 hectares | +40.5% |
| 2020 | 13,753 hectares | -51.1% |
| 2021 | 5,169 hectares | -62.4% |
| 2022 | 23,215 hectares | +349.1% |
| 2023 | 10,100 hectares | -56.5% |
| 2024 | 3,912 hectares | -61.3% |
| 2025 | 43,629 hectares | +1015.3% |
| 2026 | 28,299 hectares | -35.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 28,299 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 273 hectares, 103.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 28,299 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,034 hectares, 9.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires in United Kingdom 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 | +1015.3% | 3,912 hectares | 43,629 hectares |
| 2022 | +349.1% | 5,169 hectares | 23,215 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13,535 hectares | 5,415 hectares | 28,100 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 18,297 hectares | 3,912 hectares | 43,629 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 91 Albania 31,801 hectares compare
- 92 Uzbekistan 28,940 hectares compare
- 93 Greece 28,805 hectares compare
- 95 Tunisia 28,228 hectares compare
- 96 North Macedonia 24,812 hectares compare
- 97 Turkmenistan 23,440 hectares compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in United Kingdom?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in United Kingdom was 28,299 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 43,629 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,912 hectares in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- United Kingdom ranks 94th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 378.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.