Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana
Botswana: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 128.79 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana is 128.79 hectares, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 99.3% on the previous year and down 99.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana peaked at 68,047 hectares in 2019 and was at its lowest, 128.79 hectares, in 2025.
Botswana ranks 71st of 225 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 12,837 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 30,138 hectares | +134.8% |
| 2004 | 321.99 hectares | -98.9% |
| 2005 | 6,118 hectares | +1800.0% |
| 2006 | 300.52 hectares | -95.1% |
| 2007 | 12,987 hectares | +4221.4% |
| 2008 | 2,018 hectares | -84.5% |
| 2009 | 279.06 hectares | -86.2% |
| 2010 | 321.99 hectares | +15.4% |
| 2011 | 386.38 hectares | +20.0% |
| 2012 | 5,216 hectares | +1250.0% |
| 2013 | 14,575 hectares | +179.4% |
| 2014 | 515.18 hectares | -96.5% |
| 2015 | 57,035 hectares | +10970.8% |
| 2016 | 12,665 hectares | -77.8% |
| 2017 | 39,905 hectares | +215.1% |
| 2018 | 26,317 hectares | -34.1% |
| 2019 | 68,047 hectares | +158.6% |
| 2020 | 751.3 hectares | -98.9% |
| 2021 | 16,722 hectares | +2125.7% |
| 2022 | 5,946 hectares | -64.4% |
| 2023 | 25,051 hectares | +321.3% |
| 2024 | 19,706 hectares | -21.3% |
| 2025 | 128.79 hectares | -99.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 128.79 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21.47 hectares, 6.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 128.79 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 52% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +10970.8% | 515.18 hectares | 57,035 hectares |
| 2007 | +4221.4% | 300.52 hectares | 12,987 hectares |
| 2021 | +2125.7% | 751.3 hectares | 16,722 hectares |
| 2005 | +1800.0% | 321.99 hectares | 6,118 hectares |
| 2012 | +1250.0% | 386.38 hectares | 5,216 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8,125 hectares | 279.06 hectares | 30,138 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 22,498 hectares | 321.99 hectares | 68,047 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,384 hectares | 128.79 hectares | 25,051 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More reference data data for Botswana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Botswana was 128.79 hectares in 2025, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 68,047 hectares in 2019.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 128.79 hectares in 2025.
- How does Botswana rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Botswana ranks 71st out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Wildfire area burned by land cover type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Area of other land types burnt by wildfires each year, in hectares. Includes wetlands, urban areas, snow and ice, bare ground, and water bodies.