Average area burnt per wildfire in Greenland
Greenland: Average area burnt per wildfire was 164.5 hectares in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Average area burnt per wildfire in Greenland, 2014–2026
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 Greenland stood at 164.5 hectares.
The figure is up 29.5% on the previous year and up 56.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Greenland peaked at 748 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 105 hectares, in 2016.
Greenland ranks 159th of 182 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Greenland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 139 hectares | — |
| 2015 | 506 hectares | +264.0% |
| 2016 | 105 hectares | -79.2% |
| 2017 | 748 hectares | +612.4% |
| 2019 | 644 hectares | -13.9% |
| 2020 | 118.75 hectares | -81.6% |
| 2025 | 127 hectares | +6.9% |
| 2026 | 164.5 hectares | +29.5% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's 164.5 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 77% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Greenland's 164.5 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 207.64 hectares, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 428.4 hectares | 105 hectares | 748 hectares | 5 |
| 2020s | 136.75 hectares | 118.75 hectares | 164.5 hectares | 3 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
More reference data data for Greenland
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2128 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0004 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0986 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1141 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0041 (2019)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 6.82 (2017)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 7.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture, per unit of GDP 0 metric tons per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture, per capita 0.0005 metric tons per person (2024)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture 30 metric tons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Greenland?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Greenland was 164.5 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 Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 748 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was 105 hectares in 2016.
- How does Greenland rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Greenland ranks 159th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greenland 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.
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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.