Average area burnt per wildfire in Portugal
Portugal: Average area burnt per wildfire was 190 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in Portugal, 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 Portugal stood at 190 hectares.
That represents a change of down 45.5% on the previous year and down 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Portugal peaked at 348.52 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 130.11 hectares, in 2021.
That places Portugal 143rd 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 173.22 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 162.31 hectares | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 133.78 hectares | -17.6% |
| 2015 | 133.77 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 213.6 hectares | +59.7% |
| 2017 | 256.9 hectares | +20.3% |
| 2018 | 212.13 hectares | -17.4% |
| 2019 | 136.29 hectares | -35.8% |
| 2020 | 187.26 hectares | +37.4% |
| 2021 | 130.11 hectares | -30.5% |
| 2022 | 202.58 hectares | +55.7% |
| 2023 | 171.55 hectares | -15.3% |
| 2024 | 323.74 hectares | +88.7% |
| 2025 | 348.52 hectares | +7.7% |
| 2026 | 190 hectares | -45.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 190 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 88% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 190 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 207.64 hectares, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 177.75 hectares | 133.77 hectares | 256.9 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 221.96 hectares | 130.11 hectares | 348.52 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Portugal?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Portugal was 190 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 348.52 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 130.11 hectares in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Portugal ranks 143rd out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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.