Average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand
New Zealand: Average area burnt per wildfire was 171.03 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 171.03 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 17.6% on the previous year and down 12.9% 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, 171.03 hectares, in 2026.
New Zealand ranks 152nd of 182 countries on this measure, 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 186 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 193.49 hectares | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 205.91 hectares | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 205.25 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 196.36 hectares | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 215.89 hectares | +9.9% |
| 2018 | 183.52 hectares | -15.0% |
| 2019 | 213.47 hectares | +16.3% |
| 2020 | 214.49 hectares | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 206.62 hectares | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 202.22 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 226.92 hectares | +12.2% |
| 2024 | 237.65 hectares | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 207.68 hectares | -12.6% |
| 2026 | 171.03 hectares | -17.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 171.03 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 80% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 171.03 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 276.78 hectares, 62% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 199.99 hectares | 183.52 hectares | 215.89 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 209.52 hectares | 171.03 hectares | 237.65 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in New Zealand was 171.03 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 171.03 hectares in 2026.
- How does New Zealand rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- New Zealand ranks 152nd out of 182 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 12.9%. 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
Average area burnt per wildfire, in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.