Average area burnt per wildfire in Kenya
Kenya: Average area burnt per wildfire was 255.09 hectares in 2026. ▼ Falling
Average area burnt per wildfire in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 255.09 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 34.4% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Kenya peaked at 436.2 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 231.5 hectares, in 2018.
Kenya ranks 99th of 182 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Kenya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 436.2 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 364.86 hectares | -16.4% |
| 2014 | 292.54 hectares | -19.8% |
| 2015 | 278.46 hectares | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 275.67 hectares | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 245.2 hectares | -11.1% |
| 2018 | 231.5 hectares | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 317.3 hectares | +37.1% |
| 2020 | 375.81 hectares | +18.4% |
| 2021 | 332.94 hectares | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 259.02 hectares | -22.2% |
| 2023 | 273.21 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 334.86 hectares | +22.6% |
| 2025 | 388.69 hectares | +16.1% |
| 2026 | 255.09 hectares | -34.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 255.09 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 299.57 hectares, 85% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 255.09 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 314.75 hectares, 81% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 305.22 hectares | 231.5 hectares | 436.2 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 317.09 hectares | 255.09 hectares | 388.69 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 96 Sierra Leone 259.13 hectares compare
- 97 Saint Kitts and Nevis 256.5 hectares compare
- 98 Georgia 256.11 hectares compare
- 100 South Africa 254.76 hectares compare
- 101 Turkey 250.16 hectares compare
- 102 Indonesia 246.94 hectares compare
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Kenya?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Kenya was 255.09 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 436.2 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 231.5 hectares in 2018.
- How does Kenya rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Kenya ranks 99th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.