Average area burnt per wildfire in Italy
Italy: Average area burnt per wildfire was 165.85 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in Italy, 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 Italy stood at 165.85 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.7% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Italy peaked at 181.14 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 123.06 hectares, in 2020.
That places Italy 156th out of 182 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Italy, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 153.4 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 138.01 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 142.29 hectares | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 131.76 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 126.09 hectares | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 163.99 hectares | +30.1% |
| 2018 | 126.61 hectares | -22.8% |
| 2019 | 131.85 hectares | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 123.06 hectares | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 181.14 hectares | +47.2% |
| 2022 | 143.32 hectares | -20.9% |
| 2023 | 156.3 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2024 | 133.69 hectares | -14.5% |
| 2025 | 145.81 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2026 | 165.85 hectares | +13.7% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 165.85 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 77% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Italy's 165.85 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 207.64 hectares, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 139.25 hectares | 126.09 hectares | 163.99 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 149.88 hectares | 123.06 hectares | 181.14 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 153 Haiti 170.79 hectares compare
- 154 Falkland Islands 169 hectares compare
- 155 Cape Verde 167.67 hectares compare
- 157 Moldova 165 hectares compare
- 158 East Timor 164.73 hectares compare
- 159 Greenland 164.5 hectares compare
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Italy?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Italy was 165.85 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 181.14 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 123.06 hectares in 2020.
- How does Italy rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Italy ranks 156th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.