Average area burnt per wildfire in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Average area burnt per wildfire was 229 hectares in 2026. ▲ Rising
Average area burnt per wildfire in Puerto Rico, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Puerto Rico recorded 229 hectares for average area burnt per wildfire in 2026.
That represents a change of down 14.6% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Puerto Rico peaked at 315 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 138.91 hectares, in 2015.
That places Puerto Rico 109th out of 182 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 181.27 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 279.92 hectares | +54.4% |
| 2014 | 217.22 hectares | -22.4% |
| 2015 | 138.91 hectares | -36.1% |
| 2016 | 221.5 hectares | +59.5% |
| 2017 | 205.6 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 215.57 hectares | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 193.62 hectares | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 206.75 hectares | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 172.12 hectares | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 174.33 hectares | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 315 hectares | +80.7% |
| 2025 | 268 hectares | -14.9% |
| 2026 | 229 hectares | -14.6% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 229 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 215 hectares, 1.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 229 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 292.3 hectares, 78% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 206.7 hectares | 138.91 hectares | 279.92 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 227.53 hectares | 172.12 hectares | 315 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 106 Guatemala 234.38 hectares compare
- 107 Madagascar 234.3 hectares compare
- 108 Turkmenistan 229.8 hectares compare
- 110 Liberia 226.03 hectares compare
- 111 French Guiana 226 hectares compare
- 112 Iraq 224.45 hectares compare
More reference data data for Puerto Rico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2501 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1709 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 326.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1,009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 34.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 34.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 36.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0077 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Puerto Rico?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Puerto Rico was 229 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 315 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 138.91 hectares in 2015.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Puerto Rico ranks 109th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.