Annual area burnt by wildfires in Uruguay
Uruguay: Annual area burnt by wildfires was 11,982 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual area burnt by wildfires in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay stood at 11,982 hectares.
The figure is down 37.1% on the previous year and down 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual area burnt by wildfires in Uruguay peaked at 76,411 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9,577 hectares, in 2024.
Uruguay ranks 110th 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 43,329 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 34,163 hectares | -21.2% |
| 2014 | 18,293 hectares | -46.5% |
| 2015 | 70,310 hectares | +284.4% |
| 2016 | 20,893 hectares | -70.3% |
| 2017 | 20,774 hectares | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 29,245 hectares | +40.8% |
| 2019 | 30,866 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 76,411 hectares | +147.6% |
| 2021 | 54,723 hectares | -28.4% |
| 2022 | 38,610 hectares | -29.4% |
| 2023 | 32,692 hectares | -15.3% |
| 2024 | 9,577 hectares | -70.7% |
| 2025 | 19,057 hectares | +99.0% |
| 2026 | 11,982 hectares | -37.1% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 11,982 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 273 hectares, 43.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 11,982 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12,198 hectares, 98% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual area burnt by wildfires in Uruguay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +284.4% | 18,293 hectares | 70,310 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 33,484 hectares | 18,293 hectares | 70,310 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 34,722 hectares | 9,577 hectares | 76,411 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More reference data data for Uruguay
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2999 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3685 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2195 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 33.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.01 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual area burnt by wildfires in Uruguay?
- Annual area burnt by wildfires in Uruguay was 11,982 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 76,411 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual area burnt by wildfires recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,577 hectares in 2024.
- How does Uruguay rank for annual area burnt by wildfires?
- Uruguay ranks 110th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual area burnt by wildfires rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.