Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Canada
Canada: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 66,179 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Canada, 2002–2024
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Canada recorded 66,179 hectares for wildfire area burned by land cover type in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 65.7% on the previous year and down 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Canada peaked at 192,914 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,155 hectares, in 2020.
That places Canada 3rd out of 225 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30,318 hectares | 7,771 hectares | 54,072 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 44,014 hectares | 7,663 hectares | 143,306 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 64,793 hectares | 3,155 hectares | 192,914 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Spring temperature anomalies -4.58 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 2.12 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.47 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -2.57 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 140.97 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Canada?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Canada was 66,179 hectares in 2024, 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 192,914 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,155 hectares in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Canada ranks 3rd out of 225 countries with data for 2024.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.
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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.