Average area burnt per wildfire in China
China: Average area burnt per wildfire was 300.36 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in China, 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 China stood at 300.36 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in China peaked at 302.11 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 197.39 hectares, in 2018.
China ranks 71st of 182 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in China, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 250.61 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 244.26 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 260.78 hectares | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 272.78 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 239.92 hectares | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 261.04 hectares | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 197.39 hectares | -24.4% |
| 2019 | 253.95 hectares | +28.7% |
| 2020 | 299.77 hectares | +18.0% |
| 2021 | 277.7 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 259.04 hectares | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 285.35 hectares | +10.2% |
| 2024 | 302.11 hectares | +5.9% |
| 2025 | 293.89 hectares | -2.7% |
| 2026 | 300.36 hectares | +2.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 300.36 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 266 hectares, 1.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 300.36 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 276.78 hectares, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 247.59 hectares | 197.39 hectares | 272.78 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 288.32 hectares | 259.04 hectares | 302.11 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in China?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in China was 300.36 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 302.11 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 197.39 hectares in 2018.
- How does China rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- China ranks 71st out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average area burnt per wildfire, in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.