Average area burnt per wildfire in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Average area burnt per wildfire was 186.31 hectares in 2026. ▼ Falling
Average area burnt per wildfire in Sri Lanka, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 186.31 hectares for average area burnt per wildfire in 2026.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Sri Lanka peaked at 228.02 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, 172.05 hectares, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 145th of 182 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 203.64 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 228.02 hectares | +12.0% |
| 2014 | 227.25 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 203.82 hectares | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 206.82 hectares | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 192.11 hectares | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 198.7 hectares | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 199.12 hectares | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 172.05 hectares | -13.6% |
| 2021 | 203.65 hectares | +18.4% |
| 2022 | 202.95 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 200.19 hectares | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 182.86 hectares | -8.7% |
| 2025 | 192.47 hectares | +5.3% |
| 2026 | 186.31 hectares | -3.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 186.31 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 266 hectares, 70% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 186.31 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 297.14 hectares, 63% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 207.44 hectares | 192.11 hectares | 228.02 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 191.5 hectares | 172.05 hectares | 203.65 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Sri Lanka?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Sri Lanka was 186.31 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 228.02 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 172.05 hectares in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Sri Lanka ranks 145th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.