Average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland
Iceland: Average area burnt per wildfire was 793.25 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland, 2012–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 793.25 hectares for average area burnt per wildfire in 2025.
The figure is down 17.5% on the previous year and up 344.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland peaked at 961.9 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 58 hectares, in 2012.
That places Iceland 2nd out of 182 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 58 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 82.33 hectares | +42.0% |
| 2014 | 513.16 hectares | +523.3% |
| 2015 | 178.5 hectares | -65.2% |
| 2016 | 71 hectares | -60.2% |
| 2018 | 60.75 hectares | -14.4% |
| 2019 | 66 hectares | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 101 hectares | +53.0% |
| 2021 | 943.38 hectares | +834.0% |
| 2022 | 234.05 hectares | -75.2% |
| 2023 | 875 hectares | +273.9% |
| 2024 | 961.9 hectares | +9.9% |
| 2025 | 793.25 hectares | -17.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 793.25 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 3.7× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 793.25 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 207.64 hectares, 3.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland 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 | +834.0% | 101 hectares | 943.38 hectares |
| 2014 | +523.3% | 82.33 hectares | 513.16 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 147.11 hectares | 58 hectares | 513.16 hectares | 7 |
| 2020s | 651.43 hectares | 101 hectares | 961.9 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More reference data data for Iceland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0288 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0708 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0964 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2576 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.7664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0005 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Iceland was 793.25 hectares in 2025, 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 961.9 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 58 hectares in 2012.
- How does Iceland rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Iceland ranks 2nd out of 182 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 344.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.