Average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand
New Zealand: Average area burnt per wildfire was 170.82 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 170.82 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 17.8% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand peaked at 237.65 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 170.82 hectares, in 2026.
New Zealand ranks 151st of 181 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 199.99 hectares | 183.52 hectares | 215.89 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 209.49 hectares | 170.82 hectares | 237.65 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 148 Vietnam 176.84 hectares compare
- 150 Slovenia 172 hectares compare
- 152 Falkland Islands 169 hectares compare
- 153 Kyrgyzstan 165.25 hectares compare
- 154 Greenland 164.5 hectares compare
More reference data data for New Zealand
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- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0464 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2008 °C (2026)
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- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5251 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5536 °C (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand was 170.82 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 237.65 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 170.82 hectares in 2026.
- How does New Zealand rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- New Zealand ranks 151st out of 181 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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
The average area burnt per wildfire, in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 07 August 2026.