Average area burnt per wildfire in Canada
Canada: Average area burnt per wildfire was 782.34 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in Canada, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2026, average area burnt per wildfire in Canada stood at 782.34 hectares.
The figure is down 38.0% on the previous year and up 80.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Canada peaked at 1,330 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 240.18 hectares, in 2020.
Canada ranks 3rd of 182 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 569.49 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 699.43 hectares | +22.8% |
| 2014 | 738.24 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 697.27 hectares | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 432.72 hectares | -37.9% |
| 2017 | 702.99 hectares | +62.5% |
| 2018 | 659.52 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 710.32 hectares | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 240.18 hectares | -66.2% |
| 2021 | 813.3 hectares | +238.6% |
| 2022 | 595.75 hectares | -26.7% |
| 2023 | 1,330 hectares | +123.3% |
| 2024 | 1,119 hectares | -15.9% |
| 2025 | 1,262 hectares | +12.8% |
| 2026 | 782.34 hectares | -38.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 782.34 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 3.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average area burnt per wildfire in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +238.6% | 240.18 hectares | 813.3 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 651.25 hectares | 432.72 hectares | 738.24 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 877.54 hectares | 240.18 hectares | 1,330 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Canada?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Canada was 782.34 hectares in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 1,330 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 240.18 hectares in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Canada ranks 3rd out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average area burnt per wildfire. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average area burnt per wildfire, in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.