Average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria
Nigeria: Average area burnt per wildfire was 340.23 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria is 340.23 hectares, measured in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria peaked at 349.12 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 310.17 hectares, in 2012.
Nigeria ranks 47th of 182 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 310.17 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 310.7 hectares | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 318.26 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 317.35 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 345.99 hectares | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 330.84 hectares | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 312.12 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 323.17 hectares | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 325.96 hectares | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 340.58 hectares | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 324.59 hectares | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 348.14 hectares | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 340.95 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 349.12 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2026 | 340.23 hectares | -2.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 340.23 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 299.57 hectares, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 340.23 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 314.75 hectares, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 321.08 hectares | 310.17 hectares | 345.99 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 338.51 hectares | 324.59 hectares | 349.12 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 44 Dominican Republic 344.74 hectares compare
- 45 Colombia 343.7 hectares compare
- 46 Bangladesh 342 hectares compare
- 48 Togo 334.25 hectares compare
- 49 Angola 333.48 hectares compare
- 50 Democratic Republic of Congo 333.09 hectares compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Nigeria was 340.23 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 349.12 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 310.17 hectares in 2012.
- How does Nigeria rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Nigeria ranks 47th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.